Photo | William Henry Jackson Collection

America 250 | Colorado 150

2026 marks America’s Semiquincentennial (250) and Colorado’s Sesquicentennial (150) birthdays! On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. A century later, on August 1, 1876, Colorado—the “Centennial State”—became the 38th state.

Aspen Historical Society is joining organizations around the nation to celebrate this collective history throughout 2026, marking an historic milestone while also inviting Coloradoans, and every American, to think about the future.

Join us to celebrate the past with a pop up display, special events, and a new video series! More information below: 

Moments that Made Us

Pop Up Exhibition

AHS is partnering with History Colorado to bring a collaborative display of their marquee exhibition Moments that Made Us to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2026. The exhibition explores the ideals at the heart of the country’s founding, providing a meaningful way to spark conversation, inspiration, and connection as the nation reflects on the last 250 years. AHS will present the pop-up display with curated selections from Moments That Made Us, paired alongside moments in local history that “made” the Roaring Fork Valley.

The exhibit will be on display throughout the year AND is available for regional partner organizations and businesses to borrow for their site or event, free of charge!

Borrow the Display
The display includes four large format panels in both Spanish and English that are available for partners to borrow throughout 2026 to support celebrations of these milestones. To reserve the display for your site or event, contact Lisa Hancock at curator@aspenhistory.org or 970.925.3721 ext. 110.

Schedule
The exhibition will be on display at AHS events, at select times at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum, and at community events all year long.

AHS Events
Holden/Marolt Hoedown, June 8
Schweitzer Day, July 1
Ice Cream Social, August 15
Twilight in the Cemetery, September 1

Partner Organizations
CMC Aspen | May 15 – 29
CMC Carbondale | June 19 – July 7
Aspen Mall Fest | June 27
Motors on Midland  | August 22
Others tba

Hello, History Fans

Video Series

AHS’s new place-based video series, Hello, History Fans, features local sites and stories “on location” that connect us to each other, and state and national history, illustrating the ties between fellow humans, citizens of the Roaring Fork Valley, Coloradans, Westerners, and Americans against the arc of the history of this country. Look for Hello, History Fans videos across AHS’s social media networks, with new installments each month and the complete series on Youtube!

Land Acknowledgement
We gratefully acknowledge we gather on the land of the Uncompahgre band of the Ute Nation, or Nuche, past and present. We honor this land and the people who lived in harmony with the natural world for generations before their forced removal. We are committed to sharing the complete history of the land, recognizing and partnering with Native Peoples, and supporting the advancement of Native places and heritage. This calls us all to be better stewards of the land we inhabit and the natural resources we benefit from today.