When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
-Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence
These words were adopted approximately two hundred forty-eight years and nine months ago. On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The next fifteen months will serve as an opportunity for Americans to come together to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of Americans from a variety of backgrounds, and consider the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. For many, the Semiquincentennial will encourage patriotism and pride in this nation’s unique contributions to the world while also fostering a critical awareness of our ongoing struggle to live up to the lofty ideals expressed in our founding documents.
One perspective that cannot be ignored is Missouri’s role in the great American story. Several years ago, the Missouri Humanities (MH) Board of Directors identified the need to support initiatives across the state that would align with the America 250 objectives. In addition to budgeting to award $1,000,000 in Semiquincentennial grants, the MH Board of Directors commissioned a documentary by Cat Neville. The three-part documentary details the history of Missouri as a crossroads of the nation as it expanded west across the continent. From the region’s indigenous cultures that thrived for millennia before 1776 to the brink of the Civil War, “Crossroads of a Nation Part I” traces Missouri’s role in shaping the nation that we are today. Elevating Missouri to the national stage during the Semiquincentennial season, the film will air on PBS stations across the country throughout the month of April. You can see the film from Los Angeles to New York and Louisville to Denver! The content will spark curiosity about our history and entice out of state visitors to come see the sites depicted in the film for themselves.
Last month, Missouri Humanities offered a sneak peek of the film to a full crowd in Kansas City. Cat Neville and her crew joined Tori Foushee, Kansas City PBS Content & Programming Manager, to discuss the making of the film after a screening at Kansas City PBS. On April 16th, we will offer another screening of the film at Nine Network studio in St Louis at 6:30 PM. I would love to see you there! Register at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/n3b9w6t
Photo Credit: Michael Saldivar
The story of America told from the lens of Missouri will continue with “Crossroads of a Nation Part II,” exploring the Civil War through Post-Industrial America. This episode will be released in the fall of 2025, while Part III will be released in the spring of 2026. “Crossroads of a Nation Part III” will focus on Missouri’s contributions to American culture, including Route 66, beer, barbecue, and music. Until then, be sure to tune in to your local PBS station to view “Crossroads of a Nation Part 1” as it airs:
- KMOS (Columbia, Warrensburg, Sedalia): 4/3 @ 6pm.
- Kansas City PBS (Kansas City): 4/3 @7pm, 4/5 @2pm, 4/6 @4pm, and 4/20 @11:30am.
- Nine PBS (St. Louis): 4/15 @ 8pm, 4/16 @ 2pm
Words and ideas like, “all men are created equal” can change the world. For the next fifteen months people around the nation will be encouraged to examine our founding father’s ideas. Complexity can be found in our nation’s founding documents, documentaries rooted in history, and in the lived human experiences of Missourians today.
The staff at Missouri Humanities and I recognize that many of our partners in the history and culture sectors are struggling in these uncertain times, where many are feeling the strains of cuts to funding. Missouri Humanities is strong, secure, and looking forward to delivering on our mission for years to come. Through grantmaking and public programming, we promote lifelong learning, impactful storytelling, and cultural heritage tourism designed to strengthen communities across the state. We are actively seeking applicants for programs rooted in history, literature, and cultural heritage for our May Mini Grant cycle. We especially encourage humanities-based organizations who plan to commemorate the Semiquincentennial to apply before May 1, 2025. Learn more at www.mohumanities.org/grants. The occasion of America’s 250th anniversary calls on us to unite as we increase our knowledge of our country’s past to build a stronger future.
