The revolution is coming!

Well, at least the anniversary is—the 250th specifically.

In 2026, “We the People” celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence. Through the Declaration of Independence in 1776, we set ourselves on a great experiment in self-governance as a democratic republic. But the events and turmoil which led to that celebrated event unfolded over many years before and continued for many years after a long and hard-fought war. Indeed, the 20 years from 1769 to 1789 span a fascinating and honored—if not well well understood—era of America’s history.

Some of the events and consequential people across those two decades are better remembered than others. In particular, events in the Southern colonies during this time have received less notice and consideration than others. Yet, when we look closely, we find that the people and events across what then were the colonies of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia offer valuable history and insights on the actions and decisions which unfolded in creating our country.

So, perhaps as we encounter a series of 250th anniversaries rolling across our calendars from 2019 to 2039, now is a good time to discover or rediscover the history which got us started as an nation. And all across this landscape are historical sites, museums, trails, and reenactments offering myriad opportunities to touch history where it happened, to make it more real, and to experience it because it is interesting.

None of us will ever get to celebrate a personal 250th anniversary, but we can each celebrate the 250th anniversaries which are about “the many” becoming “the one”—
e pluribus unum. This is America’s 250th anniversary—all the events which led us to Becoming America.