Crystal Bridges Celebrates 250 Years of America with "America 250: Common Threads" Exhibition

The exhibition explores the diverse history and traditions that make up the United States through the metaphor of a quilt.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:11am

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To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas has opened a new exhibition called "America 250: Common Threads." The exhibition uses the metaphor of a quilt to represent the different traditions and experiences that have been "stitched together" to form the country's history. The exhibition features various American symbols and artifacts, and includes interactive elements like a live play and a project where visitors share what freedom means to them.

Why it matters

The exhibition aims to capture the diversity of the American experience over the past 250 years, highlighting how there is no single way to be American. By using the quilt metaphor, the exhibition encourages visitors to appreciate the many threads that have been woven together to create the United States as it is today.

The details

The "America 250: Common Threads" exhibition features a variety of American symbols and artifacts, including portraits of George Washington, a statue of a bald eagle, and a framed Declaration of Independence. The exhibition also includes interactive elements, such as a live play performed by actors about the art pieces, and a project by artist Sheryl Oring where visitors share their thoughts on what freedom means to them. The exhibition will be open to the public at Crystal Bridges through July 27, 2026.

  • The exhibition officially opened on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • The exhibition will be open through July 27, 2026.

The players

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

An art museum located in Bentonville, Arkansas that focuses on American art and culture.

Davida Fernandez-Barkan

A professor of art at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Daniel Bousquet

An assistant professor of law at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Sheryl Oring

An artist who created the "Spirit of Independence" project as part of the exhibition, where she asked visitors to share what freedom means to them.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of different traditions that you can stitch together. There's no one way to have an American experience.”

— Davida Fernandez-Barkan, Professor of Art

“America's many things, and I think this exhibit exemplifies that.”

— Daniel Bousquet, Assistant Professor of Law

What’s next

The exhibition at Crystal Bridges will continue to be open to the public through July 27, 2026, allowing visitors to experience the diverse history and traditions that make up the United States.

The takeaway

The "America 250: Common Threads" exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum showcases the rich tapestry of American history and culture, encouraging visitors to appreciate the many threads that have been woven together to form the United States over the past 250 years.