Meeting the 250 Moment

Celebrating each other, our place, and our opportunities

We are having the.best.time celebrating America250 with you! Emily’s son made the most adorable Founders Trunk. Rachel’s husband is a direct descendant of Robert Morris, so she obviously cast him as the murder mystery party’s host! Since we started sharing our celebrations, we’ve received a daily drip of delight from all of you.

Look at Rachelle and her people absolutely crushing it

Speaking of delights, we had to share this note from Alana:

Hi Sarah and Beth,

I just wanted to thank you so much for the care and attention you’re bringing to America 250. I live in Fairfax, VA, and the first year of the 2nd Trump administration was hard here. We could not escape the reality of what DOGE and the executive was doing to its own branch of government. In the wake of everything, we housed a coworker of my husband while he was figuring out how to continue remote work for the Navy (a pre-COVID arrangement), had most of our friends dealing with the shutdown and lack of funding, and I watched a former office and coworkers of mine at DOE (Wind Technology) be gutted and practically erased. I didn’t start 2026 with any warm and fuzzy feelings about celebrating America 250.

However, you have done such a great job reminding me that this is a moment in time, and I shouldn’t let the present day president and Congress dictate how I honor this country’s history. It started slow, we took our kids downtown Memorial Day weekend to go to the Smithsonian American History museum. We’ve slowly been introducing books to the kids (5 and 8) around the founding of the country whenever we go to the library. And, on a whim, inspired by your content, we took the kids up to Philadelphia this weekend. What an amazing trip! While the kids will likely remember running in the spray ground we found along Benjamin Franklin Parkway as the #1 highlight, I will remember our time in Independence Hall - with the most amazing NPS guide talking about the real human characteristics of the men who came to the 2nd Constitutional Convention and how some were ready for change and some were reluctant to even be there (new perspective on George Washington for me!) - our time at Betsy Ross’ house’s courtyard where we listened to stories of women of the Revolution, and finding delight in the scavenger hunt and stories in the “Once Upon a Nation” story benches throughout the Old City with our kids. Philly really does historical-tourism well! ( https://historicphiladelphia.org/once-upon-a-nation/)

There were so many other great things about Philly (I also soaked in World Cup fever EVERYWHERE as Sarah did), but I’m just so thankful for the inspiration you provided me to find a way that felt really good to learn, share with the kids, and honor the great experiment that this country is.

I’m not totally sure how we’re going to celebrate the 4th of July (you couldn’t pay me to be with the throngs of people on the Mall), but probably with neighbors doing a potluck. But, thanks to you both, I’m thinking about ways to keep honoring this country in a way that feels true to where I am, whether that’s historical-tourism (Jamestown, Boston, and of course in our own backyard), or teaching history through Hamilton (the musical of course). I also told my kids about Beth’s plays, and while I was met with immediate enthusiasm, I got the follow-up of “but we don’t have costumes!” We’ll get there.

Thanks again for all you do. I really appreciate it.

All my best,

Alana

Listener since 2015, subscriber since before Substack

We appreciate Alana and all of you and your celebrations more than we can say!

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One More Way to Celebrate: America’s Potluck

If you’re still looking for ways to observe America250, there’s plenty of time and opportunity. We love the idea of gathering for America’s Potluck on July 5. There’s no wrong way to participate. Just get together with a friend or two or twenty and share something—a coffee, a cobbler, whatever makes you happy! You can pin your potluck to show that people all over the country are building connections and community.

My favorite potluck dish is a family summer staple: this strawberry pretzel jello “salad” (why, yes, I am from the midwest). Share your favorite potluck recipe in the comments so we can all be inspired on July 5th.

Thanks again for celebrating with us! Please keep those pics and party reports coming!