In 2026, historic sites face shrinking budgets and public discourse clouded by misinformation. This session revisits 1976 to examine what worked—and what didn’t—for public engagement and historical interpretation. Part presentation, part workshop, we trace the evolution of interpretive language and the shift from instructive to affective portrayals of history over 50 years. Attendees will explore questions such as the merits of digital versus analog tools to engage audiences, the Bicentennial’s influence on historical narratives, and strategies for executing the 250th with existing resources.
