The AASLH has developed Making History at 250: The Field Guide to the U.S. Semi-quincentennial to provide unity of vision and purpose for what will otherwise be a largely grassroots commemoration. Created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and in collaboration with dozens of history leaders nationwide, the Field Guide presents five interpretive themes for history practitioners hoping to make the most of the 250th.

SAR has developed the America 250 SAR Programs Toolkit to assist you in developing individual local events to commemorate America250 in your area. Their website, america250sar.org, also includes numerous instructional resources that you can incorporate into your classroom.

The American Association for State and Local History is a national membership association dedicated to helping the history community thrive. For the better part of a century, AASLH has provided leadership and resources to its members who preserve and interpret state and local history to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH is the professional association for history-doers. This Program Handbook was developed to assist in planning for the U.S. Semi-quincentennial celebration.

Every year, the National Archives digitizes tens of millions of records. The agency uses artificial intelligence and a technology known as optical character recognition to extract text from historical documents. But these methods don’t always work, and they aren’t always accurate.

That’s where human volunteers come in. By transcribing digital pages, volunteers make it easier for scholars, genealogists, and curious history buffs to find and read historical documents. In honor of America250, sign up for the Cursive Handwriting Project to start making history come alive.

The United States will turn 250 in 2026, with Gen Z at the helm. But younger people are disengaged from institutions and under-represented in democracy. They are looking to understand "how we got here" as they shape the future. The Made by US network represents hundreds of history museums stepping up to serve as civic hubs for young adults. Made by US pools knowledge, stories, and efforts to meet younger generations where they are with timely, relevant information from credible sources.

For 250 years, the American story has been written by young people. Today's young adults, Gen Z, are at the helm of a global youth wave, ushering in the future. How this moment is marked matters — for today and for tomorrow. Youth250 is a dynamic, nonpartisan initiative to capture young people's imaginations, ideas and input as the United States turns 250 years old in 2026.

C70 is a Philadelphia-based nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works for a better government that people can trust. That includes helping give first-time and future voters resources they need to vote in every election. This includes a statewide Mock Election, with customized ballots for your school. C70 also runs Can We Talk?, a program to combat polarization that connects students together from across the Commonwealth to learn skills in productive civil dialogue. For teachers in grades K-8, C70’s Democracy for Kids program provides lessons on the most basic, core skills young people need to be members of America’s democracy.

The Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies promotes quality Social Studies education from kindergarten to higher learning by:

1. Advocating for Social Studies at all levels of education in Pennsylvania;
2. Promoting the analysis, dissemination and evaluation of Social Studies materials;
3. Examining and recommending certification requirements for teachers;
4. Assisting educators in organizing local Social Studies councils for professional development; and 
5. Cooperating with schools, districts, intermediate units and other interested entities on Social Studies projects.

The PA Civics Coalition is a statewide, bipartisan coalition formed in 2019 consisting of former public officials and nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations from across the state interested in the promotion and expansion of civics education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The mission of The Rendell Center is to promote civic education and engagement. To do this, they provide tools and opportunities for Students and Educators. The Rendell Center works with K-12 teachers and administrators to promote non-partisan civic education and engagement so that our next generation has the knowledge, skills, and disposition of effective citizens. They achieve this by delivering innovative experiential learning programs for students and professional development opportunities for educators.

Created in 1945, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is responsible for the collection, conservation, and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage. They accomplish this through the Pennsylvania State Archives, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Trails of History (historic sites and museums), the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, and the Bureau of Management Services.

This overview of Pennsylvania history is from The Pennsylvania Manual, a comprehensive guide to Pennsylvania's government. For more than 200 years, the Commonwealth has provided this information for the benefit of Pennsylvanians. It is a valuable reference for schools, libraries, and the general public. You can also view the Pennsylvania State Archives Revolutionary War Records Overview, which outlines key events involving Pennsylvania’s role in the war.

The State Library invites you to engage with its unique collections and explore what Pennsylvania was like 250 years ago, when leaders gathered in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The America250 Collection are primary sources, including both newly digitized and some already available to the public, illustrating various themes of Pennsylvania from its inception to about 1800. Through the lens of historical works such as Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, the publications of the time period shine a light on what Pennsylvanians were thinking, feeling, and doing.

The National Constitution Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.” The National Constitution Center brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution.

The American Historical Association promotes historical work and the importance of historical thinking in public life. Incorporated by Congress in 1889, its mission to enhance the work of historians also encompasses professional standards and ethics, innovative scholarship and teaching, academic freedom, and international collaboration. As the largest membership association of professional historians in the world (over 11,000 members), the AHA serves historians in a wide variety of professions and represents every historical and geographical area.

The Bill of Rights Institute is a civic education organization with a network of over 70,000 history and civics educators, thousands of classroom-ready history and civics resources and annual student and teacher programming. The Bill of Rights Institute is a nonprofit organization founded in September 1999 that teaches civics and equips students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society.

The Center's mission is to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. The Center for Civic Education has reached more than 30 million students and their teachers since 1965.

Teaching American History is a free resource that brings together primary documents, continuing education, and community for American history teachers. They support teachers of American history, government and civics, believing they do the most important work in America. They bring the documents and debates of America’s past into the present through free document-based seminars, document collections both online and in print, and other resources.

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures.

The National Museum of American Diplomacy tells the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy. Through exhibitions and programs, the museum inspires the American public to discover diplomacy and how it impacts their lives every day. No other museum brings diplomatic history to the forefront in its exhibits, and no other institution is solely dedicated to collecting items of diplomacy. Through this work, the museum aims to create a more collaborative world.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute is the leading nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources.