The University of Kansas’s Dole Institute of Politics announced a summer of programming themed around the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“The America 250 commemorations and World Cup events together in summer 2026 create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Dole Institute to celebrate with the nation and the world,” said Audrey Coleman, director of the institute.
Of note is a conversation between author and historian Beverly Gage and Colleen Shogan, the former archivist of the United States. They will discuss Gage’s latest title, “This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip through U.S. History,” which takes readers through 13 key places in American history from Independence Hall to the Alamo to Disneyland.
That talk will take place from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Monday, June 29. The venue is to be announced. Limited copies of the book will be available for free at the event.
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Below is the full docket of Dole events for America 250. The institute is located at 2350 Petefish Drive, and online events are streamed through their YouTube channel. All of the events are free and open to the public, according to a KU news release.
Learn more about all programming on their website at doleinstitute.org/calendar/.
More featured events
• Recurring every Thursday in June at Dole: “105 Live” hosted by Kansas Public Radio will feature family-friendly live performances from Kansas musicians. Food trucks and family activities kick off at 11:30 a.m. before the concert at 1 p.m.
• 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 at Dole and online: “Kansas 1776: A Dynamic Landscape” with Adam Hodge, head of reference with the Kansas State Historical Society, will discuss how human and natural processes have shaped the land.
• 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays July 5 and 12 at Dole: Sunday Jayhawk Jukebox will offer free concerts by Kansas artists, including The Lost Keys and Mire Pal.
• 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at Dole and online: Author and historian Tim Bascom will discuss his latest book, “The Boundless Game,” about the unifying nature of soccer across the world. Copies of the title will be available for purchase and Bascom will sign books after the talk.
Ongoing events
• As part of Dole’s ongoing Fort Leavenworth event series, there will be two talks this summer.
“Napoleon: The Man and the Method” will go from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Dole and online. That event will feature a military historian Jonathan Abel discussing Napoleon’s personality and strategies.
“Saving the Army: Washington at the Battle of Long Island,” led by military historian Patrick Howlett, will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Dole and online.
• Alongside the Watkins Museum and Lawrence’s Parks, Recreation and Culture department, Dole is developing a tribute gallery highlighting Douglas County teachers, first responders, military service members, government workers and additional state and federal employees who lived or worked here, now or at any time in the nation’s history.
The gallery will debut at 2026 Summerfest, which runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. Dole “will host family activities” that day, according to the news release.
The gallery is still accepting profile submissions through June 20. Learn more here.
• The Dole Institute Museum & Galleries has extended visiting hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sunday hours are still noon to 4 p.m. There are multiple America 250-specific exhibitions people can visit. Learn more here.
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