SALT LAKE CITY, UT—The United States is commemorating its 250th anniversary, and FamilySearch is expanding opportunities for individuals, families, and communities to discover their family history and preserve the stories that connect them to America’s past and future. People at every stage of their family history journey can uncover meaningful ancestral connections and preserve treasured family memories for future generations using FamilySearch’s free historical records, shared family tree, and simple story-preservation tools.
New Opportunities to Participate
FamilySearch has launched a dedicated America250 page that brings together discovery opportunities, participation ideas, and resources designed to help people explore their family’s place in American history and contribute what they know.
Individuals are invited to take part in the 250 Challenge, which encourages participants to make meaningful contributions, such as adding names, stories, photos, or memories, to the FamilySearch Family Tree. These contributions help preserve family experiences for future generations and ensure that they remain part of the historical record.
FamilySearch also encourages individuals and families to nominate meaningful stories to the America250’s “Our American Story” initiative, offering the opportunity for selected stories to be preserved in the Library of Congress.
Discovering Family Connections to American History
FamilySearch offers free access to billions of historical records—including immigration, military, census, and local history collections—that help people discover where family stories connect with the broader story of America. These records can show how their ancestors lived, worked, served, and contributed to their communities, helping to shape the nation.
As part of its America250 efforts, FamilySearch provides personalized email discovery journeys to patrons who have meaningful connections in their family tree to the Revolutionary era of American history. These discoveries may include an earliest-known United States ancestor, a possible link to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, or insights into the occupations of ancestors—helping individuals see their family’s place in American history more personally.
For people hoping to learn more about their American ancestors, preserve family memories for generations to come, or participate in local America250-themed activities, some FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries will offer free resources and hands-on support, including:
• Guided help discovering ancestors connected to key periods in United States history.
• Hands-on assistance in adding stories, photos, and memories to the FamilySearch Family Tree.
• Activities for families, youth groups, schools, and community organizations.
• Personalized help from trained volunteers.
This online resource suggests more ways to celebrate America250:
These efforts are designed to help people move beyond names and dates to better understand the lived experiences of the people who came before them.
Preserving Stories for Future Generations
Family stories, especially firsthand memories from parents, grandparents, and relatives, are often lost within a generation if they are not recorded. FamilySearch encourages individuals to take time now to record and preserve these stories, so they remain accessible for future family members.
FamilySearch invites individuals, families, educators, and community groups to participate by discovering their family history and preserving the stories that matter most. More information is available at FamilySearch America250 and in the related content below.
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Related
America250 FAQ
America250—10 ways to participate
America250 at RootsTech
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