1976 to 2026: Lessons from DC’s Local Bicentennial

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America 250 is a nationwide initiative to mark the Semiquincentennial.

“1976 to 2026: Lessons from DC’s Local Bicentennial” will explore the untold histories and legacies of DC’s local Bicentennial effort in 1976, and its significance for Washingtonians today. On Thursday, March 6th from 6 to 7:30 pm Heurich Humanities Scholar in Residence, M.J. Rymsza Pawlowska, will present her research in the museum’s conservatory. 

In the 1970s, DC’s commemorative effort was led by the Bicentennial Assembly, a locally elected planning body made up of a diverse group of over two hundred Washingtonians–some longtime residents and others newly arrived– who used the opportunity to advocate for self-determination, build community, and highlight the needs of Washingtonians. Commemorative planning was a foundational experience for many Assembly members—several later served in elected positions, and most continued to be civically engaged for the remainder of their lives.  

Schedule: 

• 5:45 pm: Doors open
• 6:00 pm: Presentation
• 6:30-6:45: Q&A
• 6:45-7:00 pm: Facilitated conversation 
• 7:00-7:30 pm: Mingling
• 7:30: Event ends

Details:

• The program is free, but registration is required.
• The museum’s bar will be open with local craft beverages for guests to purchase prior to and after the program. 

About M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska:

M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska is Associate Professor of History and Public History at American University. She is the author of History Comes Alive: Public History and Popular Culture in the 1970s, (University of North Carolina Press, 2017), as well as numerous scholarly articles and more public-facing pieces in Washington History, the Washington Post and the Inclusive Historian’s Handbook. 

She is currently working on two new book projects—the first about the history of visitors and newcomers to Washington entitled Your Nation’s Capital: How Visitors Made Washington D.C., and Vice Versa. She is also completing a shorter monograph tentatively called How We Do History Now. Rymsza-Pawlowska is an active public historian who is currently a Us@250 Fellow at New America. In 2023-4, she was Scholar in Residence at the Heurich House Museum, and fellow at the Humanities Truck. 

Her work includes serving on the editorial board of Washington History Magazine. She serves on the Board of Directors of Humanities DC, and as series editor for the National Park Service and National Council on Public History’s 2021-2025 American Revolution 250th Commemoration Scholars' Forums. In Summer 2025, she will be in-residence as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History.

About the Humanities Scholar in Residence Fellowship: 

The Heurich Humanities Scholar in Residence Fellowship program is open to DC residents working on books that expand our understanding of Washington, DC history, and whose projects will benefit directly from the additional resources provided by the Heurich House Museum. The Museum appoints two Residence Fellowships per year, during which Fellows are each given use of a private furnished studio space in the Museum. The Residence Fellows also share their work at two public programs a year at the museum. This opportunity is not limited to people with a Ph.D. or other terminal degree.