Events

America 250

Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary with special programs and reading lists designed to help you explore the people, events, and stories that shaped our country.

America 250 Reading Challenge

Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary by reading 25 books across 25 decades. Start in 1776 and travel through the 2020s, choosing titles from or about each decade. Need ideas? Check out our decade-themed reading lists for adults, teens, and kids.

To Participate: Pick up a reading log at any CADL branch or download and print at home. Reading logs will be available beginning January 19.

Challenge Dates: January 19-December 31, 2026

Reading Lists

Explore America by decades with reading lists currated by CADL librarians. New lists will be added throughout the year.

1850-1859 

1860-1869 

1870-1879 

1880-1889 

1890-1899 

1900-1909 

1910-1919 

1920-1929 

1930-1939 

1940-1949 

1950-1959 

1960-1969 

1970-1979 

1980-1989 

1990-1999 

2000-2009 

2010-2019 

2020-2026

Events

America 250 Events

Absolutely Pure: A History of American Brand Name Foods

Thursday Jan 22, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm All Branches

You’ve heard of the big ones - Campbell's, Jell-O, Kraft, Kellogg's, Hershey - bu...

Quiltmaker, Storyteller, Memory Keeper

Thursday Feb 5, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm South Lansing - In Library

Learn about the traditions of Black quiltmakers and memory keepers, and explore how quilt making, st...

Road Food: How the American Highway System Invented Fast Food

Thursday Feb 19, 2026 6:00pm - 7:30pm All Branches

McDonald’s, Burger King, White Castle, Taco Bell, KFC – fast food is quintessentially Am...

Black History 101 Mobile Museum  

Saturday Feb 28, 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm Downtown Lansing - In Library

Within this extraordinary collection, discover a wide array of rare artifacts encompassing vari...

The Founding Mothers

Tuesday Mar 3, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm All Branches

The “Mothers” of America aren’t often mentioned – the women whose ...

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