America 250
JCPL is celebrating America's 250th birthday throughout the year with special programming. Enjoy a historical presentation and storytellers, make a craft, watch a film and more to learn about our history!
Feb 4, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
Celebrate America's 250th birthday, one minute at a time! Join our Read, Write & Blue Bingo Beanstack Challenge and honor 250 years of stories, innovation, and history. Log your reading and activities, earn fun badges, and help us celebrate the nation's past, present, and future.
Be sure to check out the Recommended Booklists and Events within Beanstack too!
America 250 Reading Recommendations
Upcoming Events
Women Telegraph Operators in the Civil War
Sat • Mar 21 • 11 a.m. • White River Branch
While most men were called away to fight in the Civil War, women played an important role as telegraph operators. Learn about their service to relay these crucial messages. Registration required. For All Ages
Let's Talk Baseball!
Tue • Mar 24 • 2 p.m. • White River Branch
Who was your baseball hero as a kid? What was your favorite team? Join us to reminisce about baseball in the 1940's, 50's and 60's, back when we were young and baseball was fun. Registration required. For Seniors.
Crafting Yesteryear - Colonial Cross-Stitch
Tue • Mar 31 • 6 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Celebrate America's founding by creating a colonial cross-stitch and listening to early American music! Every quarter we will make a fun handmade craft from years past. Registration required. For Adults.
Stout Stories at Main and Madison: "1776" by David McCullough
Mon • Apr 6 • 6:30 p.m. • Main and Madison
You don't have to choose between book club & happy hour! We'll discuss "1776" by David McCullough at Main & Madison in Franklin. To obtain a copy of the book, contact a librarian. Registration required. For Adults.
Uniforms & Equipment of the American Revolution
Mon • Apr 13 • 6 p.m. • Franklin Branch
Bill Hendricks, History in a Trunk, discusses the uniforms worn by the American and British and will explain the weapons and accoutrements carried by each. Tactics covered. Registration required. For Adults and Teens.
DIY Patriotic Rag Wreath
Wed • Apr 15 • 6 p.m. • Franklin Branch
Use red, white, and blue rags to make a wreath perfect for America's 250th anniversary! Registration required. For Adults.
Homeschool Hangout - Children and the American Revolution
Thu • Apr 23 • 2 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
As we approach the 250th anniversary of American Independence, we will talk a look at what life was like for children during this time. Make a related craft from what we learn. Registration required. For School-Age.
America 250 in Film - "Little Women"
Tue • Apr 28 • 6 p.m.
Join us for a special film series at The Historic Artcraft Theatre! We'll celebrate America's 250th by showing beloved films. Admission is free. For All Ages.
Little Women (1994 - PG) starring Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, Clair Danes and Kirsten Dunst.
Voices from the Past Storyteller Series: Benjamin Franklin
Thu • Apr. 30 • 7 p.m. • Franklin College
Join Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by David Mosedale, at Franklin College to learn about his life and inventions to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. For All Ages.
Kids Cooking
Tue • May 5 • 4 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Happy 250th Birthday, America! After a story, we'll all work together to make a no-bake item related to Election Day with red, white, and blue yummy ingredients. Registration required. For School-Age.
American Girl Tea Party
Sat • May 9 • 2 p.m. • White River Branch
Bring your favorite American Girl doll to a tea party celebrating America's 250th. Enjoy tea and snacks with games and crafts played by Molly, Samantha, Felicity, and more. Registration required. For Ages 5-12.
FunAppetit: Revolutionary Recipe
Tue • May 12 • 4 p.m. • Trafalgar Branch
For America's 250th celebration, we will create a popular recipe from the time. For School-Age.
Memorial Day Memories
Tue • May 12 • 4 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Salute the red, white, and blue of our military service members with Memorial Day stories and crafts to share with local veterans in our community. For Families.
Exploring Revolutionary War Grave Sites in Johnson County: Honoring Memorial Day
Sun • May 17 • 2 p.m. • Franklin Branch
Learn more about revolutionary tombstones and cemeteries close to home, with guest speaker Director David Pfeiffer of the Johnson County Museum of History. For All Ages.
Planting with Purpose
Tue • May 19 • 4 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Dig into History! Learn how kids grew Victory Gardens during wartime to feed their family and neighbors. Help plant our Victory Garden and take a cucumber plant home. Registration required. For School-Age.
America 250 in Film - "Glory"
Tue • May 26 • 6 p.m.
Join us for a special film series at The Historic Artcraft Theatre! We'll celebrate America's 250th by showing beloved films. Admission is free. For Adults.
Glory (1989 - R) starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Carey Elwes.
Raise a Glass: Early American Taverns
Sat • May 30 • 1 p.m. • White River Branch
Celebrate 250 years of the USA with a brief history of the American Tavern with author and American history aficionado Jennifer Tousey! For Adults.
Preschool Edible Science
Fri • Jun 12 • 11 a.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Preschoolers get ready to learn about our patriotic colors and the bald eagle (our national bird) as we celebrate America's 250th Birthday. Make red/white/blue treats. Registration required. For Preschool.
Crafting Yesteryear: Patriotic Wall Decor
Tue • Jun 16 • 6 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Celebrate America's founding by creating vintage patriotic wall decor & listening to early American music! Every quarter we will make a fun handmade craft from years past. Registration required. For Adults.
American Girl Tea Party
Wed • Jun 17 • 2 p.m. • Franklin Branch
Bring your favorite American Girl doll to a tea party celebrating America's 250th. Enjoy tea and snacks with games and crafts played by Molly, Samantha, Felicity, and more. Registration required. For Ages 5-12.
Hooked on Books: "1776" by David McCullough
Wed • Jun 24 • 1:30 p.m. • White River Branch
If you enjoy discussing books you've read, please join us. Copies of the book are available to checkout the month prior. A virtual option is available with the link sent upon request. For Adults.
Homeschool Hangout
Thu • Jun 25 • 2 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Happy 250th Birthday America! Learn about how we became a nation through a short study of the Declaration of Independence. Activities and party treats included! Registration required. For School-Age.
Patriotic Bottle Cap Art
Sat • Jun 27 • 1 p.m. • White River Branch
With July 4 coming up, let's create patriotic artwork with bottle caps! All materials provided. Registration required. For Adults and Teens.
The Glittering Ray of Liberty: The Role of Music in Early American History
Mon • Jun 29 • 2 p.m. • Trafalgar Branch
Explore the role of music as a driving force of the American Revolution, then compose your own lyrics about what being a present-day American means to you as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. For All Ages.
So Wondrous Free: A Musical Journey to the Declaration of Independence
Mon • Jun 29 • 6 p.m. • Trafalgar Community Amphitheater, 335 Pleasant St.
Experience the music & stories of early American history, with costumes and audience participation that will bring our nation’s early history & the signing of the Declaration of Independence to life. For All Ages.
America 250 in Film - "An American Tail: "Fievel Goes West"
Tue • June 30 • 6 p.m.
Join us for a special film series at The Historic Artcraft Theatre! We'll celebrate America's 250th by showing beloved films. Admission is free. For Families.
An American Tail (1986 - G).
Patriotic Bandana Garland
Wed • Jul 1 • 6 p.m. • Franklin Branch
Make a red, white, and blue garland to decorate your home for our 250th year! For Adults.
Happy Birthday USA!
Thu • Jul 2 • 3 p.m. • White River Branch
Join us in celebrating our country's 250th birthday. Registration required. For Families.
American Girl Felicity & the No Tea Party
Tue • Jul 7 • 4 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Bring your doll and enjoy snacks while we watch Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Registration required. For School-Age.
Movie Musical Matinee: "1776" (PG)
Wed • Jul 8 • 2 p.m. • White River Branch
Join John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and others in this star-studded musical about the birth of our great country, starring William Daniels, Ken Howard, and Blythe Danner. Popcorn and drinks provided. For All Ages.
Hoopla Cookbook Club: "U.S.A. Cookbook" by Sheila Lukins
Mon • Jul 13 • 12:30 p.m. • White River Branch
Explore new recipes by preparing one from the month's featured cookbook and bringing it for all to sample. Visit the WRB Adult Reference desk to sign up for your recipe. Registration required. For Adults.
Beyond Little House on the Prairie: Rose Wilder Lane and the Great Depression
Sat • Jul 18 • 11 a.m. • White River Branch
Join Bridget Nash from the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, as we explore the lives of both Laura and Rose during the Great Depression through Rose Wilder Lane's diaries. Registration required. For All Ages.
Countdown to Artemis II: A History of US Space Exploration
Mon • Jul 20 • 4 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
July 20th is the anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Join us for a discussion of the history of US space exploration and the journey to the Artemis II mission. Registration required. For All Ages.
Silver Pathways Documentary: Statue of Liberty
Wed • Jul 22 • 2 p.m. • White River Branch
Come watch a classic Ken Burns documentary about one of the USA's most enduring symbols. Light refreshments provided. For Seniors.
Birch Creek Bluegrass on the Lawn
Sat • Jul 25 • 6 p.m. • Trafalgar Community Amphitheater, 335 Pleasant St.
Bring your lawn chairs to the Trafalgar Community Amphitheater and celebrate America's 250th Anniversary with an evening of bluegrass music with Birch Creek Bluegrass! For All Ages.
Family Movie Series- "Fievel, An American Tail" (G)
Tue • July 28 • 6 p.m. • Clark Pleasant Branch
Bring a comfy pillow and blanket and join us for a Movie Night at the Library, with Popcorn and crafts, watching G-Rated Movie "Fievel: An American Tail." For Families.
America 250 in Film - "Smoke Signals"
Tue • July 28 • 6 p.m.
Join us for a special film series at The Historic Artcraft Theatre! We'll celebrate America's 250th by showing beloved films. Admission is free. For Adults and Teens.
Smoke Signals (1998 PG-13) is the first movie to be written, directed, and co-produced by Native Americans. Directed by Chris Eyre and stars Adam Beach, the film follows two young men from a reservation, Victor and Thomas, on a journey to Phoenix to retrieve Victor's estranged father's ashes. Smoke Signals explores themes of friendship, family, identity, and alcoholism, often blending humor with heartfelt moments.
Johnson County Celebrating America’s 250th
Thu • Jul 30 • 6 p.m. • Trafalgar Branch
David Pfeiffer, Director of the Johnson County Museum of History, will discuss America’s 250th anniversary. For Adults and Teens.
The Longest Table
Fri • Sep. 4
More details to come!
Military Day
Sat • Nov. 7
More details to come!
Thank you to Festival Country Indiana for supporting our “Voices of a Nation: America 250 Concert Series” at the upcoming Trafalgar Community Amphitheater.
