Moments That Made Us

Our story was never inevitable. We shaped it at every turn.

on display at the Neill-Cochran House mUseum
June 24, 2026 - ???

On July 4, 2026, our nation will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. *Moments That Made US* is an exhibition exploring the ideals at the heart of the Declaration of Independence through moments in our history that have defined their meaning.

The exhibition looks back across centuries and highlights both challenging and celebratory times from the colonial era to more recent generations. Themes featured in this exhibition were drawn directly from the Declaration of Independence: Created Equal; Free and Independent States; and We Mutually Pledge to Each Other. The featured moments from American history inspire curiosity about the events that shaped the nation. They remind us that our story was never inevitable, we shaped it at every turn.

The exhibition was developed through a multi-state collaboration to ensure that Americans throughout the nation would have the opportunity to meaningfully engage in the nation’s 250th anniversary. It adapts the acclaimed Moments That Made US exhibition created by History Colorado and currently on view at the History Colorado Center in Denver into a format that allows host venues to customize it for their audiences and connect local history to the nation’s story.

Through artifacts, photographs, and first-hand accounts, Moments That Made US invites you to see how local moments and experiences became part of the American story as part of the ongoing America250 celebrations at the Neill-Cochran House Museum.

Don’t miss this exhibition that explores how generations of Americans have given meaning to the ideals set out in the Declaration of Independence.

Moments That Made US will be on view at the Neill-Cochran House Museum from [dates of exhibition].

The print-on-demand version of Moments That Made US was developed in collaboration with Arizona America 250, History Colorado, Oklahoma Historical Society and Washington State Historical Society. Additional distribution support was provided by California Association of Museums, Kansas Museums Association, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, America 250 Oregon, America’s 250th South Dakota, Humanities Texas, and Utah Division of Arts and Museums.