The Dakotaland Museum announced today that it will be hosting Moments That Made US, a special exhibition during the America 250 commemoration 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 Centennial Stone Church Center, 48 Fourth Street Southeast, from June 10 throughout the summer. There will be a grand opening celebration on June 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. The open house will include hors d’oeuvres and feature Dakota Liberty Beer from Platte Creek Brewery, the official beer of the 250 commemoration. The exhibition is free to visit.
The exhibition looks back across centuries and highlights both challenging and celebratory times from the colonial era to more recent generations. The exhibition explores five themes drawn directly from the Declaration of Independence: Created Equal; Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; Free and Independent States; Consent of the Governed; and We Mutually Pledge. Each theme will have three panels highlighting national events, and two bringing in local history.
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 was created to allow host venues to customize it for their audiences and connect local history to the nation’s story. “The Museum Board of Directors are very excited to display this exhibit in Huron,” Museum Board President Holly Hohm stated. “Executive Director Louise Van Poll has worked hard to research, design, and print 10 stories from Huron’s history to complement the themes.”
These panels have been designed to showcase local history, such as the first train to arrive in Huron and one of its passengers, the boxcar on the State Fairgrounds, prominent people from Huron, and the Interstate Highway System which was originally proposed to follow Hwy 14!
“As we mark 250 years of American independence, Moments That Made US will remind visitors that every generation in all parts of the nation faced consequential moments,” said Jason Hanson, History Colorado’s Chief Creative Officer, who helped develop the exhibition. “I hope it will inspire us to see that, like those who came before us, we are empowered to chart our own course toward a more perfect union, guided by empathy for our fellow Americans as we work together to realize the ideals articulated in the Declaration of Independence: equality, security, freedom, and happiness.”
The Dakotaland Museum, Inc., is composed of three local historic landmarks: The Dakotaland Museum on the Fairgrounds, the Pyle House Museum, and the Centennial Stone Church Center. All are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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.
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