Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with Wright Library events and activities.

United States Semiquincentennial

Wright Library is joining other libraries and communities across the nation to celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial – America250.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, recognizing the founding of the United States. Throughout the year, join us at Wright Library to explore America’s history of movement and transportation through a series of exhibits, programs, reading challenges, and library offerings. As we honor the contributions of Americans past, we are creating the next generation of innovators.

Let’s take this journey together!

Our partners:

• City of Oakwood America250
• Oakwood Historical Society America250
• Oakwood Inclusion Coalition
• Montgomery County, Ohio, America250

Exhibits & Interactives

Americans in Motion

This bi-monthly rotating exhibit, exclusive to Wright Library, teaches kids and families about America's history of travel and transportation - and the inventors and innovators behind the progress.
Location: Youth Services

• (1776-1825) Trails & Waterways (January/February) w/ waterways activity
• (1826-1875) The Transportation Revolution (March) w/ hands-on train display
• (1876-1925) Gem City Flies & Drives (mid-April/May)
• (1926-1975) All-American Road Trip (June/July)
• (1976-2025) How Far We've Come / Electric Vehicles (August/September)
• (2026+) The Future of Transportation (October/November)

Play & Learn

• To complement rotating exhibits, visitors can interact with STEM building toys and artifacts to imagine transportation progress throughout the past 250 years.
  Location: Youth Services
• Travel and America-themed board games will be available for check-out with your library card.

Reading

Throughout the year, Wright Library will offer Book lists, Book Club selections, and displays that celebrate America’s history. From the Declaration of Independence that started it all to modern authors, delve into America's history to follow its evolution and explore context for current events.

• America250 Reading Challenge (February 2026 - January 2027) - This reading challenge encourages adults and teens to delve into America's early history. Read founding documents, historic writings, and histories to learn more about America's past and present. Win an America250 commemoration prize upon completion.
  • Sign up for the America250 Reading Challenge in Beanstack or pick up a paper copy at the Main Reference Desk.
  • Find more information and suggested book titles on these main topics:
    • The Charters of Freedom (Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, Bill of Rights) + Amendments 11-27
    • The Revolutionary War
    • The Constitution Explained for the Modern Reader
    • The History of the Making of the Constitution
    • The Supreme Court
    • The Second Founding - Constitutional Changes after the Civil War
• WMPL Book Club
  • James by Percival Everett (February 10 & 11)
  • The Small & the Mighty by Sharon McMahon (March 10 & 11) - Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement

Family Engagement

Join us for programs with community partners that foster engagement among neighbors.

• TechFest Dayton (February 14 & 15, Sinclair Community College) - Codebreakers & the Enigma Machine
• That Day in May (May 16, Oakwood) - parade & booth
• Summer Reading Challenge (June 1 - July 31) - Adults, Teens, and Kids can win prizes while reading all summer long. Watch the library calendar for fun events such as the Summer Tie Dye program.

Programs & Entertainment

Find experiences that stimulate the senses thought through storytelling and entertainment >> Wright Library Calendar

• Henry Dorton: An Unsung Patriot of Color (February 24, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.)
  Frances McGee Cromartie from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) gives an intimate look at Dorton's service as a man of color in the Revolutionary War.
• Shot Heard Round the World 19 April 1775 (Far Hills Speaker Series) (April 19, 2026)
  This talk from Andrew Lloyd looks at veterans with links to Montgomery County, Oakwood, and Centerville, and their roles in the war that changed the Continent.
  • In partnership with the Oakwood Historical Society.
  • Please join us for a tree planting at the Oakwood Historical Society Long-Romspert Homestead following the presentation as part of our America250 celebration.
• America250 Jamboree: A Celebration of Route 66 (June 1, 2026)
  Get your kicks with The Victor Samalot Duo! Their music and stories of America's most iconic highway, Rt. 66, provides fun for all ages. We hope they will inspire reading lists, play lists, and perhaps spark your "bucket list" road trip at this program full of music, history, culture, and kitschy cool nostalgia of Rt. 66.

America250 Films with a Nod to Ohio

Wright Library will show select films from the Ohio Movie Database to showcase Ohio actors, directors, and locations. >> Wright Library Calendar

• Cinephile Film Club (last Thursday of each month at noon) - join us for this watch-and-discuss forum including these Ohio-related titles:
  • LAURA (1944, Noir/Mystery) starring Grant Mitchell (Columbus, OH) - February 26, 2026
  • PILLOW TALK (1959, Comedy/Romance) starring Doris Day (Cincinnati, OH) - March 19, 2026
  • THE HELP (2011 | PG-13 | drama/comedy) featuring Allison Janey (Oakwood OH) - June 25, 2026
  • LOST & FOUND IN CLEVELAND (2024 | PG-13 | drama/comedy) featuring Martin Sheen (Dayton OH) - July 30, 2026
  • DARK WATERS (2019 | PG-13 | thriller) shot in Cincinnati OH featuring Bruce Cromer (Wright State University), 
    Jeff Grover (Cleveland), Denise Dal Vera (Cincinnati), Abi Van Andel (Millersburg), Hannah Beachler (Wright State University) - August 27, 2026
  • I, TONYA (2017 | R | sports/comedy) featuring Allison Janney (Oakwood OH) - September 24, 2026
  • THE OUTSIDERS (1983 | PG | crime/thriller) feat. Rob Lowe & Emilio Estevez (Dayton OH) - October 29, 2026
  • IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934 | no rating | comedy/romance) featuring Clark Gable (Cadiz OH) - November 19, 2026
  • RAIN MAN (1988 | R | comedy/drama) Filmed in Cincinnati OH - December 10, 2026
• Cinematic Echoes - an inclusive screening with dynamic audio description and closed captioning for the hearing and sight impaired. Film TBA
• Juneteenth program and film, in partnership with the Oakwood Inclusion Coalition. Film TBA.
• Stay tuned for details on how to watch Ken Burns’ new historical documentary, The American Revolution.