2026 marks America’s Semiquincentennial, dating back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. With the whole country commemorating the occasion, BCLS is no exception. Celebrate 250 years of history here at the library in a variety of ways.
Check out the past – literally
The library has a robust selection of books and movies that showcase the country’s past. Our nonfiction and biography section is chock-full of notable Americans and popular histories. And you can also learn more about what happened here in your own backyard with our New Jersey collections, whether it’s the story of a Civil War regiment or a forgotten industry and community.
Take a trip … back in time!
The library’s Museum Pass Program is your ticket to a great time exploring historical sites and museums in the Tri-State area. The Museum of the American Revolution, the National Constitution Center and the Old Barracks Museum are just a few of the dozens of institutions you can explore for free with tickets from your library.
Put on your research hat and dig into the historical record
There’s no better occasion to explore your own history, and we have the tools to help. Start your family history journey with AncestryLibrary (in-library use only) and HeritageQuest (available from home with your library card!). You also can read for yourself what was happening 100+ years ago with our collection of newspaper microfilm and user generated Indexes to Historical Burlington County Newspapers.
Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming speakers, craft events and virtual presentations put on at the library by searching our Events calendar with the America250 tag. And join us when we participate in the county-wide 250th Anniversary in Mount Holly on Sunday, June 14.
