The Johnson County Museum is inviting residents to explore the county’s history and its connection to the nation’s founding ideals as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday. The museum’s exhibition, ‘Everyday Democracy: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in Johnson County,’ showcases how the county’s residents have understood and pursued these ideals over time.
Understanding Democracy
Democracy is often associated with elections, court decisions, and founding documents, but it is also lived in everyday life. It takes shape in school board meetings, neighborhood conversations, and community decisions. The exhibition explores how people in Johnson County have shaped their communities according to their beliefs and values.
The exhibition features 50-year snapshots, beginning in 1776 and continuing through 2026, before asking visitors to look ahead to 2076. Along the way, it explores stories of Indigenous nations, displacement and settlement, education and segregation, military service and immigration, suburban growth and protest, public institutions, and changing ideas about rights and belonging.
Celebrating America’s 250th
To commemorate America’s 250th birthday, the museum is offering several activities and events. A special display in the Commons of the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center features objects showing how Johnson Countians observed the Centennial in 1876 and the Bicentennial in 1976. The Johnson County Library has created America250 reading lists for various ages and interests, and library cardholders can visit the museum free on certain days.
The Museum Store now carries a book version of ‘Everyday Democracy,’ along with America250 merchandise and a custom pocket edition of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Visitors who say ‘Happy Birthday, USA!’ when checking in at the museum will receive a free pocket edition of the Declaration and Constitution, courtesy of the Friends of the Johnson County Museum, while supplies last.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
