Chicago Public Library (CPL) is proud to celebrate America 250 and announce its lineup of events and initiatives that amplify Chicago’s diverse stories and voices, helping all residents explore and reflect on what it means to be American.
The celebration, which will run until the end of the year, will include programming across all 81 CPL locations for adults, teens and children, such as book clubs, film screenings, performances, workshops and story times that invite Chicagoans to engage in a wide range of narratives about America’s past, present and future. The City of Chicago’s celebration is part of the nationwide America 250 and statewide Illinois 250 programs.
“This moment belongs to the people of Chicago and the stories that define our city,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This milestone invites us to celebrate who we are, elevate the voices that shape our city and engage residents across every neighborhood. I invite all Chicagoans to take part in Chicago Public Library’s America 250 programming and help define the story we carry forward together.”
CPL is also launching an archival project, Letters to America, which invites residents across the city to write personal letters to the country that offer reflections, critiques, hopes and stories about America. Letters will be collected at all CPL locations until August 31, when they will be transferred to the Northside Neighborhood History Collection at Sulzer Regional Library to become part of the Letters to America Collection.
“As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the question isn’t just how we remember our history, it’s who gets to shape it,” said CPL Commissioner Chris Brown. “At CPL, we’re capturing the voices of Chicagoans across our neighborhoods so this moment is told by the people living it, and carried forward by the next generation of Chicagoans.”
The yearlong celebration will also incorporate unique events and exhibits at Harold Washington Library Center:
- “Spinner Forest (NVAM),” an installation by acclaimed artist Nick Cave, will be displayed on the third floor of Harold Washington Library Center beginning later this year. Provided by the National Veterans Art Museum, the installation is an immersive exhibition that merges art, community and the voices of veterans, featuring hundreds of suspended, kinetic spinners that create a mesmerizing interplay of color, movement and reflection.
- CPL will host the biennial American Writers Festival on Sunday, June 7, in collaboration with the American Writers Museum. This daylong event for all ages will celebrate American writers, writing, reading and storytelling on multiple stages.
- In collaboration with Library of America, CPL will host a book event and podcast taping for “The Living Declaration: A Biography of America's Founding Text” by Ted Widmer on Thursday, July 16. The discussion will focus on Abraham Lincoln’s grappling with the meaning of the Declaration, especially during the Civil War. A recording of the event will be compiled into a podcast released by Library of America.
"Chicago and Illinois don't just reflect the American story—we write it,” said Gabrielle Lyon, Chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission and Executive Director of Illinois Humanities. "From cultural innovation to social and political movements that have pushed the country forward, the road to America's 250th runs through Illinois."
CPL will also highlight the stories of Black Americans through its Renaissance Project, an initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation to increase access to archival materials that reflect Chicago’s rich Black history. Signature Library events and initiatives including Summer at CPL will also integrate America 250 into their programming.
To learn more, please visit chipublib.org/chicago250, opens a new window.