Every family has contributed to the American story in its own way. As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary with #America250, FamilySearch offers free tools and activities to help you explore and preserve your American heritage.

New Opportunities to Participate

FamilySearch has published a dedicated America250 page that highlights opportunities, participation ideas, and resources to help you explore your family’s place in American history and contribute what you know.

• Take part in the 250 Challenge by making meaningful contributions, such as adding names, stories, photos, or memories, to the FamilySearch Family Tree. These contributions help preserve family experiences for future generations and ensure that they remain part of the historical record.
• Nominate meaningful stories to the America250’s “Our American Story” initiative, which offers the opportunity for selected stories to be preserved in the Library of Congress.

FamilySearch is also providing personalized email discovery journeys to people who have meaningful connections in their Family Tree to the Revolutionary era of American history. These discoveries may include an earliest-known United States ancestor, a possible link to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, or insights into the occupations of ancestors.

If you want to learn more about your American ancestors, preserve family memories for generations to come, or participate in local America250-themed activities, some FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries will offer free resources and hands-on support, including:

• Guided help to discover ancestors connected to key periods in United States history.
• Hands-on assistance in adding stories, photos, and memories to the FamilySearch Family Tree.
• Activities for families, youth groups, schools, and community organizations.
• Personalized help from trained volunteers.

Learn more at FamilySearch America250.