As the nation marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Montgomery County’s America 250 celebrations are giving residents an opportunity not only to look back at the country’s history, but also to reflect on the ideals that continue to shape local communities today.
Local exhibits, concerts, commemorations and educational programs have been underway since April as part of the nationwide Semiquincentennial observance. The Montgomery County Semiquincentennial Committee, working alongside local organizations and government partners, has spent more than a year coordinating events that highlight both national history and Montgomery County’s place within it.
Janna Bennett, curator at the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County, said planning for the anniversary began years ago at the state level through the Indiana Semiquincentennial Commission. Locally, organizers focused on building upon programs and events that were already taking place throughout the county.
“When this whole thing started, the goal of the local county committee was to leverage what we’re already doing rather than recreating all these things,” Bennett said.
That approach led local museums and organizations to incorporate America 250 themes into existing exhibits and programs. Ongoing exhibits include “A Journey Through Conflict: Lanes & the Civil War” at the Montgomery County Historical Society through Nov. 30, “Wallace Family: A Legacy of Service” at the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum throughout 2026 and the Carnegie Museum’s “America @250: Expressions of Freedom” through July 18.
The Carnegie exhibit features artwork exploring the meaning of freedom through a variety of perspectives and experiences. A companion exhibit, “Moments That Made Us,” examines themes found in the Declaration of Independence and key moments in American history.
The Wallace museum’s exhibit focuses on generations of public service within the Wallace family, including military service, elected office and civic involvement dating back to the early years of the nation.
Several public events are also planned throughout the summer. A quilting exhibit, “Stars, Stripes & Stitches, Celebrating America 250,” opened June 1 at Crawfordsville District Public Library and continues through July 15.
On June 20, a Lincoln School Marker Dedication will take place at Lincoln Park as part of the community’s Juneteenth celebration. The event will include the unveiling of the marker followed by a fellowship lunch catered by Norvells BBQ and Catering.
Additional events include a First Friday Concert celebrating America 250 on July 3 at Pike Place Park, community Independence Day celebrations and fireworks throughout the county on and around July 4, an America 250 Birthday Bash Civic Band concert July 5 at Pike Place, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence July 8 at Lane Place and a Masonic Cemetery Walk on Sept. 12.
While the exhibits and events commemorate a milestone anniversary, Bennett said organizers hope they also encourage residents to consider what the nation’s founding principles mean today.
“I think any celebration is an opportunity to look back and to appreciate, but also it’s important to look forward and to see how the ideals that we’ve been founded on and how those look different today and how they don’t look different,” Bennett said.
She said the anniversary offers an opportunity for reflection not only on the country’s past, but on civic life within local communities.
“Politics is such a controversial topic at the moment, but civic life and political life at a local level are very different than what we see at a national level,” Bennett said. “There’s a lot more civility and understanding of neighbors in the community than I think perception plays in a global context.”
For organizers, the yearlong celebration is ultimately intended to connect residents with both history and one another while marking a milestone in the nation’s story.
