Date: April 17, 2026
2026 is such an exciting year! In celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary, the semiquincentennial, we’re reminded of our nation’s founding ideals and to reflect upon how they remain essential and relevant today. Throughout this milestone year, Historic Annapolis is offering engaging programs to connect us with our past, inspire civic participation, and bring our culture to life.
We hope this past weekend’s conversation featuring David Rubenstein and Andrea Mitchell did just that. In partnership with Maryland Hall and as part of the broader Annapolis 250 initiative, we were proud to host a dynamic and wide-ranging discussion between two longtime friends. The program opened with reflections on the significance of 1776, before turning to Andrea Mitchell’s distinguished career as a global foreign affairs correspondent. It concluded with a thoughtful conversation about the importance of historic preservation.
When asked why he collects and preserves early American documents, Mr. Rubenstein noted that while we can view objects on a screen or read about them in books, standing before the original or walking through a historic space is a far more powerful and meaningful experience. It deepens understanding and invites a stronger personal connection. His belief that we cannot fully understand history without preserving and sharing it closely aligns with the mission of Historic Annapolis.
Five years ago, Historic Annapolis partnered with Mr. Rubenstein and the Maryland State House Trust to present Founding Freedoms, an exhibition featuring rare early printings of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. For two months we acted as stewards of these rare documents that helped found our nation and our democratic way of life. Caring for them each day, we were struck with both their fragility and their profound significance.
In lending these documents, Mr. Rubenstein shared that his goal is to ensure that all Americans can experience them firsthand so that we may both celebrate and thoughtfully examine what makes our country great and how we can continue striving to improve it. We were honored to welcome more than 20,000 visitors, including many students from across Maryland, to the exhibition in fall 2021.
It was especially meaningful to display these documents in the Maryland State House (the oldest state house still in continuous legislative use) alongside the site of George Washington’s 1783 resignation of his commission, bringing them together for the first time in history.
Just as we carefully stewarded these documents, we believe our responsibility at Historic Annapolis extends to the stories we tell, the places we preserve, and the objects that connect us to our shared past. These tangible connections matter. Last month, we planted a descendant of Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree on the Paca Garden terrace: a living link to the Sons of Liberty, including Declaration signers William Paca and Samuel Chase, who once gathered beneath the original tree. Though that tree no longer stands, the ideals it represented – freedom, courage, and hope – endure, carried forward in this new planting.
I invite you to experience these connections by visiting our museums and engaging with our shared history. This week, Historic Annapolis trustees gathered at the Hogshead Trades Museum, where we have an exciting lineup of programs planned. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm, and over the next two Saturdays we will host special living history programs, from Native American history to colonial games. You won’t want to miss it!
Warm regards,
