America at 250

Celebrating the Declaration's 250th

On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence.

The Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative (CTLI) at the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU (CCS) is partnering with America250–Utah to honor this anniversary and the ideals proclaimed by the Declaration.

During this celebration in 2026, we will focus on strengthening love for our country and our ideals, building community, and reflecting on our past to help shape a better future.

These activities will help with that vision:

- Five video-based master classes on the Declaration of Independence
- Utah Reads! David McCullough's 1776 and other recommended books
- Resources from and about our nation's founding for families and teachers

Learn more about each activity by selecting a tile below.

Master Classes: The Declaration

Declaration Master Class

As part of a five-part series, each 12-minute episode is a master class on specific ideas or pieces of history that animate the Declaration of Independence and shows why this document is still vital today.
Watch the trailer.
Learn more about the series.

Utah Reads!

Join Utah Reads! in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding. Learn about the American fight for freedom in David McCullough's 1776, which highlights the values that powered the struggle for independence.
Find out more about Utah Reads! and other suggested titles for 2026.

Family & Teacher Resources

Family resources for Declaration

Find examples of primary-source (original) documents reflecting our heritage, from the writing of state and local declarations to the Declaration itself to at-the-time commentary on independence.
Learn more about that heritage through sources paired with historical insights, context, and questions to consider at home and in the classroom.