250 Con
Virtual Event
February 27 – 28, 2025
$50 AASLH Members | $75 Nonmembers
This event is made possible with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation
Join us for 250 Con, a galvanizing and unifying moment for the history field as we enter the final year of planning for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States!
With less than two years to go, now is the time for history doers to finalize plans for the 250th, an occasion that could transform both our field and society. Major initiatives are already underway across the country, but the Semiquincentennial will only be as impactful as the strength of our collaboration. Attend 250 Con to learn about national and state planning opportunities, identify actionable ways to participate, and join your peers in generating enthusiasm for this once-in-a-generation event.
205 Con kicks off with a keynote conversation featuring the leaders of the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution. The two-day event will also include “lightning rounds” of presentations about major 250th initiatives, breakout sessions for networking and learning, and a virtual meet-and-greet with state 250th commissions.
Virtual Event
February 27 – 28, 2025
$50 AASLH Members | $75 Nonmembers
This event is made possible with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation
All times Eastern.
Thursday, February 27
Sponsored by Monadnock
Opening Keynote Roundtable Discussion
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
205 Con kicks off with a keynote conversation featuring the leaders of the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, and the National Archives and Records Administration. Moderated by John Dichtl, President and CEO of the American Association for State and Local History.
- Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
- Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress
- Dr. Colleen J. Shogan, Archivist of the United States
Lightning Round One
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Each lightning round features dynamic presentations about major 250th initiatives from across the field. Learn about these projects, their relevance to the history community, and concrete ways to get involved. Directly following each round of presentations, you will have the chance to enter breakout rooms to connect with the presenters. Presenters for all lightning round sessions are subject to change.
Presentations from:
- America250
- History.org
- Made By Us
- National History Day
- Wiki Education
Friday, February 28
Lightning Round Two
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Presentations from:
- American Association for State and Local History
- Clio
- Handwork
- PBS | “The American Revolution”
State 250th Commissions Meet and Greet
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.
This session offers attendees the chance to interact with representatives from their state 250th commissions, which will be organized into breakout rooms geographically. States currently expected to participate include (list is subject to change):
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Lightning Round Three
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
Presentations from:
- National Constitution Center
- National Museum and Center for Service
- National Park Service
- Two Lights for Tomorrow
Closing Conversation
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, will join a conversation with John Dichtl, President and CEO of the American Association for State and Local History. America250 was established by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.
Updated: December 9, 2024