The United States turns
250 years old in 2026.
The United States turns
250 years old in 2026.
Gen Z will write
its next chapter.
Gen Z will write
its next chapter.
For 250 years, the American story has been written by young people. Today's young adults, Gen Z, are at the helm of a global youth wave, ushering in our future. How we mark this moment matters — for today and for tomorrow.
Youth250 is the dynamic, nonpartisan initiative to capture young people's imaginations, ideas and input as the United States turns 250 years old in 2026.
For 250 years, the American story has been written by young people. Today's young adults, Gen Z, are at the helm of a global youth wave, ushering in our future. How we mark this moment matters — for today and for tomorrow.
Youth250 is the dynamic, nonpartisan initiative to capture young people's imaginations, ideas and input as the United States turns 250 years old in 2026.
Museum directors Jennifer Ortiz, Patrick Madden, Jim Pepper Henry and Norman Burns on "Leaders Making Way for Gen Z" at AAM 2024
Institute for Museum and Library Services awards Youth250 with National Leadership Grant
What We're Building
Over two years, these programs and activities strengthen our institutions and our country - with input from younger generations.
TOOLKIT
What We're Building
Over two years, these programs and activities strengthen our institutions and our country - with input from younger generations.
Youth250 Toolkit for Institutions
Data, tip sheets, program templates and guides to help organizations engage Gen Z in the 250th.
DECEMBER 2024
Docu-Series
Think "Youth250 Live" - we're capturing the Gen Z experience, for all of history.
JULY 2025
Youth250 Toolkit for Institutions
Data, tip sheets, program templates and guides to help organizations engage Gen Z in the 250th.
DECEMBER 2024
Docu-Series
Think "Youth250 Live" - we're capturing the Gen Z experience, for all of history.
JULY 2025
Youth250 Toolkit for Institutions
Data, tip sheets, program templates and guides to help organizations engage Gen Z in the 250th.
DECEMBER 2024
Docu-Series
Think "Youth250 Live" - we're capturing the Gen Z experience, for all of history.
JULY 2025
Want to get involved as a partner, supporter or amplifier?
Want to get involved as a partner, supporter or amplifier?
For the U.S. 250th, at first I was like “meh…” but now I feel a little spark, a catalyst to make it something a bit more impactful, not just about “history” but about the things we’ve experienced and how we can improve upon them.
Atlanta Workshop Participant
Youth Bureau Members
100
Give Gen Z the Reins to Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary
Tufts CIRCLE
Inter-generational Workshops
7
Today we imagined the future in 2076, at America’s 300th anniversary. And I realized, how could people in 1776 possibly envision where we would be today? We have even more options and information and power today… what are we going to do with it?
Philadelphia Workshop Participant
Voices of Gen Z
We're capturing and amplifying young people's experience at this moment – our chapter in history.
Voices of Gen Z
We're capturing and amplifying young people's experience at this moment – our chapter in history.
Today we imagined the future in 2076, at America’s 300th anniversary. And I realized, how could people in 1776 possibly envision where we would be today? We have even more options and information and power today… what are we going to do with it?
Philadelphia Workshop Participant
Youth Bureau Members
100
For the U.S. 250th, at first I was like “meh…” but now I feel a little spark, a catalyst to make it something a bit more impactful, not just about “history” but about the things we’ve experienced and how we can improve upon them.
Atlanta Workshop Participant
Give Gen Z the Reins to Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary
Tufts CIRCLE
Inter-generational Workshops
7
For the U.S. 250th, at first I was like “meh…” but now I feel a little spark, a catalyst to make it something a bit more impactful, not just about “history” but about the things we’ve experienced and how we can improve upon them.
Atlanta Workshop Participant
Youth Bureau Members
100
Give Gen Z the Reins to Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary
Tufts CIRCLE
Inter-generational Workshops
7
Today we imagined the future in 2076, at America’s 300th anniversary. And I realized, how could people in 1776 possibly envision where we would be today? We have even more options and information and power today… what are we going to do with it?
Philadelphia Workshop Participant
Voices of Gen Z
We're capturing and amplifying young people's experience at this moment – our chapter in history.
Resource
Get Your Gen Z Engagement Score
When it comes to engaging younger generations, how is your institution doing? The Gen Z Engagement Scorecard gives you a baseline to work from, ideas to inspire, and a printable scorecard to use with colleagues, emailed to you upon submission.
Resource
Get Your Gen Z Engagement Score
When it comes to engaging younger generations, how is your institution doing? The Gen Z Engagement Scorecard gives you a baseline to work from, ideas to inspire, and a printable scorecard to use with colleagues, emailed to you upon submission.
FAQ
Over two years, we're creating an arc of activities to strengthen our institutions with input from younger generations.
FAQ
Over two years, we're creating an arc of activities to strengthen our institutions with input from younger generations.
What is the U.S. 250th?
What is the U.S. 250th?
Why should we commemorate the 250th?
Why should we commemorate the 250th?
Why should young people be involved in this moment?
Why should young people be involved in this moment?
I wouldn’t call myself patriotic, is this program for me?
I wouldn’t call myself patriotic, is this program for me?
I wouldn’t consider myself a museum or history person, is this program for me?
I wouldn’t consider myself a museum or history person, is this program for me?
What do I get out of joining the bureau?
What do I get out of joining the bureau?
Why are you focusing on the 18-30 year old demographic?
Why are you focusing on the 18-30 year old demographic?
We haven’t thought of doing anything for America’s 250th, why should we?
We haven’t thought of doing anything for America’s 250th, why should we?
How can our organization use the Youth250 Bureau?
How can our organization use the Youth250 Bureau?
Is there a limit to how much a collaborator can access the Youth250 Bureau?
Is there a limit to how much a collaborator can access the Youth250 Bureau?
Who We Are
Who We Are
Project Leadership
A multi-sector, intergenerational effort. Meet some of our fast-growing team.
Alex Edgar
Youth Engagement Manager
Made By Us
Dillon St. Bernard
Brand Strategist
Amplify Pledge
Kaz Brecher
Workshop Designer + Futurist
Curious Catalyst Inc.
Sarah Jencks
Toolkit Editor
Every Museum a Civic Museum
Caroline Kilbanoff
Executive Director
Made By Us
Aaron Wilson-Ahlstrom
Workshop Facilitator
Curious Catalyst
Alex Edgar
Youth Engagement Manager
Made By Us
Dillon St. Bernard
Brand Strategist
Amplify Pledge
Kaz Brecher
Workshop Designer + Futurist
Curious Catalyst Inc.
Sarah Jencks
Toolkit Editor
Every Museum a Civic Museum
Caroline Kilbanoff
Executive Director
Made By Us
Aaron Wilson-Ahlstrom
Workshop Facilitator
Curious Catalyst
Toolkit Advisors
Museum leadership from across the country help design and vet the toolkit for institutional use.
Matt Champagne
Manager of Learning, Interpretation, and Engagement
Surratt House Museum
Ashley Clouse
Museum Education Manager
Utah Historical Society
Ashleigh Coren
Content Strategist
Smithsonian Institution
Liz Covart
Founding Director, Innovation Studios
Colonial Williamsburg
Elizabeth Grant
Senior Strategic Planning Consultant
Schultz & Williams
Claire Haley
Vice President of Special Projects
Atlanta History Center
Emily Hermans
Chief Educator
Texas Historical Commission
Meeghan Kane
Public Programs Producer
South Carolina State Museum
Sam Moore
Managing Director of Public History
Missouri Historical Society
Orlando Serrano
Head of PreK-12 Learning
National Museum of American History
Ryan Shank
Director of Digital Experiences and Research
Conner Prairie
Cainan Townsend
Executive Director
Moton Museum
Lance Wheeler
VP of Learning & Engagement
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Matthew Wilding
Director of Interpretation & Education
Revolutionary Spaces
Lauren Zalut
Director of Education and Tour Programs
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
Matt Champagne
Manager of Learning, Interpretation, and Engagement
Surratt House Museum
Ashley Clouse
Museum Education Manager
Utah Historical Society
Ashleigh Coren
Content Strategist
Smithsonian Institution
Liz Covart
Founding Director, Innovation Studios
Colonial Williamsburg
Elizabeth Grant
Senior Strategic Planning Consultant
Schultz & Williams
Claire Haley
Vice President of Special Projects
Atlanta History Center
Emily Hermans
Chief Educator
Texas Historical Commission
Meeghan Kane
Public Programs Producer
South Carolina State Museum
Sam Moore
Managing Director of Public History
Missouri Historical Society
Orlando Serrano
Head of PreK-12 Learning
National Museum of American History
Ryan Shank
Director of Digital Experiences and Research
Conner Prairie
Cainan Townsend
Executive Director
Moton Museum
Lance Wheeler
VP of Learning & Engagement
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Matthew Wilding
Director of Interpretation & Education
Revolutionary Spaces
Lauren Zalut
Director of Education and Tour Programs
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
Supporters & Champions
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Made By Us © 2024
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Made By Us © 2024