‘It’s Your Story’

This year, the Library of Congress invites every American to explore our nation’s rich history through captivating exhibitions and vibrant programs that bring the institution’s extraordinary collections to life.

Under the theme “It’s Your Story,” the Library is celebrating America’s 250th birthday by offering opportunities for all to explore our shared history in the world’s largest research collections.

As part of the celebration, the Library is launching several exciting new exhibitions.

Opening July 3, “The Declaration’s Promise” highlights treasures like Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, exploring the enduring ideals that shaped the nation.

Then in September, the exhibit “Alive in Many Hands” marks 50 years of the Library’s American Folklife Center, celebrating the center’s work in capturing and sharing living cultural traditions from every corner of the United States.

Plus, the popular “The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution” — the ongoing exhibition bringing George Washington and King George III together through their own words and artifacts — has been extended through July 4.

To help mark the occasion of the 250th, the Library also is offering a variety of vibrant programs: monthly Family Days, Live! At the Library events on Thursday evenings, Afternoons with the Library programs, concerts, symposia and a special initiative, “Fashion at the Library: The Threads that Connect Us,” that celebrates American history through fashion and style.

Digital initiatives will spark nationwide engagement.

The “By the People” virtual volunteer transcription program is launching new campaigns that feature Colonial and founding-era diaries, letters, music, maps and more. Plus, “Revolution Crossroads” — a cutting-edge collaboration with the Smithsonian — uses advanced technology to reveal fresh insights from Revolutionary-era collections.

“It’s Your Story” — discover it in the amazing collections of the Library of Congress.