Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future: America250PA’s Lecture250 Series
Pennsylvania has always been a gathering place for ideas. From the cobblestones of Philadelphia to the coal towns of NEPA, people here have debated, dreamed, and built together. That spirit still runs through our hills and cities today — bold, curious, and proud.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, America250PA is helping communities across the Commonwealth rediscover the stories that connect us.
As the United States prepares to mark 250 years of independence, America250PA is inviting communities to celebrate Pennsylvania’s place in that story through the Lecture250 Series.
The program will award ten $15,000 grants to organizations that host free, public lectures between April and October 2026. Each event will include an open discussion, encouraging neighbors to gather, learn, and reflect together.
Possible topics include:
- The writing of the Declaration of Independence or U.S. Constitution
- Pennsylvania agriculture, food, and spirits
- The state’s legacy of industrial innovation
- Music and performance traditions across the Commonwealth
- The stories of Indigenous nations who first called this land home
- The spread of religion and its influence on communities
- The many cultures and immigrant groups who built Pennsylvania
- The rise of labor, business, and finance that powered our economy
- And any other story that shines a light on our shared Pennsylvania history
The application deadline is October 22, 2025, with awards announced on December 1, 2025. We hope every lecture will be a spark — a way to bring Pennsylvanians together to celebrate where we’ve been and imagine where we’re going.
Learn more and apply at america250pa.org/PPE:_Lecture250.
