Avenue of American History
Brief Overview of the
Virtual Avenue of American History
- The goal of the Avenue of American History initiative is to begin a tradition wherein Americans leave behind generational legacies for the benefit of future generations.
- The tradition will begin in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary - the Sestercentennial - of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
- Each generation’s legacy will be housed in a “Hall of History” that serves as a time capsule of significant events that occurred in the preceding quarter century.
- Beginning with “Hall 2026” (January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2025) and continuing with future Halls of History, each Hall is required to include two special rooms. One room is dedicated to present what life is imagined to be 100 years in the future. The other room is reserved for future generations to comment on the content presented in prior Halls of History.
- The Avenue of American History (AAH) Development Group is exploring the feasibility of constructing several retrospective Halls of History (for periods prior to 2001) to better assure the continuation of the tradition of leaving behind generational legacies in the future. The feasibility of constructing a virtual Hall of History that goes back even as far as the quarter century just before the signing of the Declaration of Independence is also being explored. Halls of History that may be created before the 2001-2025 Hall are collectively regarded as the retrospective portion of the Avenue of American History.
- The content of the retrospective Halls of History will be determined by a team of experts, perhaps coordinated through participating universities. The proposition of creating an Avenue of American History requires that the exhibits in the all the Halls of History cannot be altered by future generations - they are time capsules to exist unchanged in perpetuity.
- The virtual Avenue of American History is lcoated in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on a parcel of land located midway between the Philadelphia Zoo and the Mann Music Center. This site is a portion of the parkland used for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Nation. Below is a plan of the 1876 Exhibition.