The Portage County Historical Society will release a timeline Feb. 16 on its website highlighting key moments in the county’s history as part of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, according to a community announcement.
The timeline is part of a broader series of programs and initiatives marking the anniversary, known as America250.
The timeline places local events within the larger national story, inviting the community to reflect on how local experiences connect to America’s past, present and future.
The Portage County Historical Society debuts its America250 timeline Feb. 16 and announces new talks, exhibits and a student button contest celebrating 250 years of American history.
The Portage County Historical Society debuts its America250 timeline Feb. 16 and announces new talks, exhibits and a student button contest celebrating 250 years of American history.
More events planned
The timeline launch is just one piece of the historical society’s America250 programming. The organization held a talk called “From Poland to Patriot: Casimir Pulaski in the American Revolution” last month.
Upcoming events include two more talks in the America250 Speaker Series: “1700s–1800s: Changes for Native Peoples of Wisconsin” at 6:30 p.m. March 16 and “Wisconsin Residents in the Revolutionary War” at 6:30 p.m. May 12.
In addition to the speaker series, the historical society will debut a special America250 exhibit in Hei Corners School at Heritage Park in time for the One Room Schoolhouse Experience, which begins April 27. A virtual America250 exhibit will also be released on the society’s website in May, expanding access to these stories beyond the museum grounds.
Button contest seeks submissions
To engage younger community members, the society is hosting a county-wide America250 button design contest open to Portage County schoolchildren, encouraging students to explore what it means to be American 250 years in.