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.
100 Young Americans Selected for First Ever National Youth250 Bureau
Institute for Museum and Library Services awards Youth250 with National Leadership Grant
Participate
Participate
Get Tools
Get Tools
What We're Building
Over two years, we're creating an arc of activities to strengthen our institutions with input from younger generations.
What We're Building
Over two years, we're creating an arc of activities to strengthen our institutions with input from younger generations.
Youth250 Toolkit for Institutions
Data, tip sheets, program templates and guides to help organizations engage Gen Z
JANUARY 2025
Docu-Series
Capturing the Gen Z experience, for the history books
JULY 2026
Youth250 Toolkit for Institutions
Data, tip sheets, program templates and guides to help organizations engage Gen Z
JANUARY 2025
Docu-Series
Capturing the Gen Z experience, for the history books
JULY 2026
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.
FAQ
FAQ
FAQ
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?
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?
Why are you doing all this?
Why are you doing all this?
What happens after 2026?
What happens after 2026?
Who We Are
Who We Are
Project Leadership
Alex Edgar
Youth Engagement Manager
Made By Us
Dillon St. Bernard
Docu-Series Direcctor
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
Docu-Series Direcctor
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
YOUTH250 TOOLKIT ADVISORS
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
YOUTH250 Bureau
Jasmine Lewis
Community Lead
Lex Stewart
Community Lead
Allie Pae
Community Lead
Justice Brown
Community Lead
Trey Delida
Community Lead
Grace Vance
Community Lead
Wyatt Nako
Community Lead
Zev van Zanten
Community Lead
Sarah Fling
Community Lead
Kaylee LaTocha
Community Lead
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
CHAMPIONS
MADE BY US
Youth250 is an initiative from Made By Us, a nationwide network of museums, historic sites, libraries and archives joining forces to inform and inspire the next generation. With efforts like Civic Season, 60-Second History and Slice of History Pizza Parties, we connect tens of millions of young adults every year with the credible expertise of historic institutions.
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Made By Us © 2024
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Made By Us © 2024