Wisconsin Historical Society: Announces programs to commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary

MADISON, Wis. – As America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, the Wisconsin Historical Society is marking the occasion with a lineup of special programs at five historic attractions, along with its History Maker Space in downtown Madison. Take the great history road trip and experience America 250 events across the state – from Old World Wisconsin’s 50th birthday bash over Independence Day weekend to Circus World’s dazzling “Jubilee 250” Big Top performances all summer long. After all, America’s semiquincentennial only comes once.  

Looking for a value-added way to explore the state’s historic sites? Become a member of the Wisconsin Historical Society – memberships start at $60 – and enjoy free admission to all 11 historic attractions. Membership also includes a pocket-sized Pastport, filled with historical facts and travel tips. This handy booklet can be stamped at each site, with special gifts earned after collecting three, five and 11 stamps.

Wisconsin Historical Society’s Upcoming America 250 Events:

Circus World, located in Baraboo, is where the Ringling Brothers got their start in 1884. One of the earliest forms of traveling entertainment in the United States, the circus remains a nostalgic art and entertainment form. In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Circus World will present “Jubilee 250,” a live Big Top performance held twice daily through Sept. 6.

First Capitol, located in Belmont, is where Wisconsin got its start. In 46 days, 39 territorial legislators met to determine the first laws, territorial beginnings and founding of its government. The site will be open on weekends through Sept. 6. Special programs include:

• Making Wisconsin: A Hands-On History Day: June 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discover First Capitol and learn about the formation of Wisconsin from its territorial beginning to the founding of its government. Historian Mary Elise Antoine will present a special talk at 5 p.m., entitled “Residents of ‘Wisconsin’ in the American Revolution.”
• Reading of the Declaration of Independence: July 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; reading at 5 p.m. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place on July 8, 1776, when Colonel John Nixon gathered at the Philadelphia State House (now Independence Hall) to publicly read this document approved by Congress on July 4, 1776. In 2026, many locations across the U.S. will present public readings including Wisconsin’s First Capitol.

Old World Wisconsin, a 600-acre living history attraction in Waukesha County, opened in 1976 as part of Wisconsin’s bicentennial celebration. This expansive preservation site features more than 60 original 19th- and early 20th- century buildings, immersing visitors in the sights, sounds, and stories of early immigrant life through hands-on demonstrations and storytelling. In this special year – celebrating both America’s 250th anniversary and Old World Wisconsin’s 50th birthday – guests can enjoy two full days of old-fashioned birthday fun, filled with memorable moments! Special programs include:

• Decoration Day: May 30 and 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a ceremony at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. with Mukwonago Community Choir concert in Clausing Barn at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Experience Decoration Day – the precursor to Memorial Day – at United Brethren Church at Old World Wisconsin on May 30 and 31. Hear how the tradition of decorating the grave sites of Civil War soldiers was practiced in African American communities like Pleasant Ridge in Wisconsin’s Grant County.

• Step Into History: Behind the Scenes Tours: Friday, June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7 and Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For the first time ever, go behind the scenes of Wisconsin’s most famous preservation project – more than a decade in the making. This exclusive experience takes curious visitors into areas normally closed to the public, including locked rooms, upper floors and hidden basements.  Discover the story of its architecture, preservation efforts, and the inner workings of a 600-acre living history attraction. The tour includes lunch at Clausing Café.

• Old World Wisconsin’s Independence Day Weekend Birthday Celebration: July 4 and 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Independence Day celebration on July 4 and 5 will be a star-spangled event, with guests participating in an old-fashioned, flag-flying, banner-waving parade through Crossroads Village. A brass band will play on the green, and each day will feature a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a historic Base Ball game between competing teams, tug-of-war contests, butter churning, spelling bees, pie eating contests and more. Plus, a special50th anniversary exhibition will take place in the Lueskow House.

• For Liberty & Union: A Civil War Living History Experience, July 18 and 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This Civil War living history experience brings the 26th Wisconsin regiment – made up of German immigrants – to life. Guests participate in marching drills, learn about period weaponry and explore the soldiers’ experiences firsthand. This program is presented in partnership with the Badger Light Infantry.

Construction Note: Highway 67 around Old World Wisconsin will be undergoing roadwork in spring and summer 2026. We will remain open during our regular operating hours. To visit, you will need to drive through the construction zones – don’t take the detour! Please plan ahead and give yourself extra time to arrive.

Pendarvis, a historic site in Mineral Point, is a collection of 19th century Cornish stone and log cabins from the region’s lead mining era. This site offers a look at Wisconsin’s Cornish heritage, and the preservation efforts of entrepreneurs and life partners Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum, who salvaged and restored these homes. Special program includes: 

• Pendarvis After Hours: Lectures on Tap: “Zinc: The Lesser Told Story,” July 11, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Head to Pendarvis Pub for an evening of libation and learning. Discover southwest Wisconsin’s mining history with Mark Langenfeld, the former president of the Mining History Association. Mark has spent many years researching the Upper-Mississippi Valley Lead and Zinc District, and he will share the significance of Wisconsin’s mining industry.  

Stonefield, located in Cassville, is the original homestead of Wisconsin’s first Governor, Nelson Dewey, and now the location of a recreated 1900s farming village and the State Agricultural Museum. Special program includes: 

• A Toast to Governor Nelson Dewey: Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn about Wisconsin’s first governor and the development of Stonefield, where his grand estate once stood. Special presentations will take place throughout the day, at various spots on the site, highlighting Dewey’s time in office.

Villa Louis, located in Prairie du Chien, is set along the Mississippi River, in a historically rich area of the state. The 25-acre site features more than a dozen historic structure – from fur trading buildings to the foundations of Fort Crawford – and the meticulously restored, National Historic Landmark Victorian mansion that once served as the residence of the prominent Dousman family. Special programs include:

•  War of 1812: Battlefield Walking Tour, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The grounds of Villa Louis mark the site of Wisconsin’s only War of 1812 battlefield. During this tour, hear how British forces, alongside their Native American allies, captured the American-held Fort Shelby. This special walking tour, with cannon demonstrations, will delve into what brought this war to Prairie du Chien.

• 250 Tuesdays at Villa Louis – An added-value experience for guests visiting on Tuesdays, featuring special programming in the Brisbois Fur Trade Warehouse. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., learn about a historical object or attend a talk on an Upper Mississippi River topic. New topics are introduced weekly and posted on the Villa Louis Facebook page.  Families can also take part in a History Hike scavenger hunt.

History Maker Space, located in the US Bank Plaza building on Madison’s Capitol Square, is the temporary space for public programming while the new Wisconsin History Center is being built. The center offers walking tours, pop up exhibits, author talks and educational, K-12 student programs.

New Tour:

• Democracy in Action Walking Tour, Thursday, July 2 and 9 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m.This walking tour explores the history of Wisconsin and its role in democracy. During the tour, participants will consider the different layers of government that shape everyday lives, as well as discuss the ways Wisconsinites have contributed to the democratic process over time and engaged with issues they care about. Tour stops include the State Capitol, various locations on the Capitol Square, State Street, and the Library Mall on the UW Campus.

History Sandwiched In:

The popular “History Sandwiched In” series, held at the History Maker Space, 1 S. Pinckney in the US Bank Plaza Building on Capitol Square, offers free monthly programs featuring authors and experts. In recognition of America 250, summer topics will span the state’s history, from mid-1700s through the Civil War. Advance registration is recommended.

• Wisconsin During the American Revolution, with Mary Elise Antoine, June 9, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. In the mid-18thcentury, Wisconsin residents – Indigenous and Euro-American – were distant yet informed and took part in the American Revolution.  Explore their roles and the Revolution’s impact on the region. Their involvement spanned key campaigns and reflected the broader struggle shaping North America.

• The Milton House Museum: An Iconic Milton Structure, with Kevin Scannell, July 14, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. How did Milton begin, and what’s the story behind Milton House? Join Kevin Scannell of the Milton House Museum to explore the town’s founding, the house’s construction, and its role in the Underground Railroad. The talk also examines the social and political climate of Wisconsin and the United States in the 1850s-1860s.

• Connoisseurs of Change: Stories from the Iron Brigade’s Sixth Wisconsin, with James Marten, Aug. 11, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Civil War historian Bruce Catton called the Iron Brigade “connoisseurs of courage,” a claim proven by the battle records of the Sixth Wisconsin and its sister regiments. Drawing on his research, James Marten follows the lives of several of the nearly 2,000 soldiers from enlistment across Wisconsin to battle like Battle of Antietam and Battle of Gettysburg, and back home, where the war shaped their lives.

Made By Us Partnership programs:

Held at the Wisconsin Historical Society’s headquarters at 816 State Street on Library Mall, UW-Madison Campus, these new programs –implemented in partnership with Made By Us – aim to spark interest in civics and history among Gen Z (ages 18-30).  Made By Us is a national network of museums, historic sites, and civic organizations dedicated to engaging young adults with American history and encouraging civic participation.

• Wish Wall: What’s Your Wish for the U.S.? June 19-July 18, Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Write a “birthday wish” to America and place it on the Wish Wall at the Wisconsin Historical Society Headquarters, between June 19-July 18. This pop-up, welcoming participants during the building’s open hours, is part of a nationwide initiative for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. In addition, participants can also submit their wishes to a digital wish wall, adding their voice to an ever-evolving virtual tapestry of hopes.

• A Slice of History, June 25, 6 to 8 p.m. Gen Z is invited to learn about civics, democracy and history at an informal pizza party! Taking place on Thursday, June 25 in the Wisconsin Historical Society Headquarters Lobby at 816 State Street, the event features a scavenger hunt, Wisconsin trivia, prizes, and a pop-up display of historic objects. Stories will be shared and history brought to life during this free event from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information or to register for the America 250 programs presented by the Wisconsin Historical Society, visit wisconsinhistory.org.

About the Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit http://www.wisconsinhistory.org.