Things to See is your guide to exhibitions, initiatives, and special experiences celebrating America’s 250th anniversary—both in Irving and across the nation. From local highlights to major national efforts and destination-worthy experiences, this page showcases meaningful ways to explore history through museums, public art, and commemorative programming. Updated regularly as new opportunities emerge, be sure to check back often—and let us know if there’s something we should include!
Wish Wall: Our Hopes for America (February 4 through Summer 2026)
A participatory public art installation inviting visitors to share their hopes for the nation’s future. In celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial, the Irving Archives and Museum unveiled its America 250 Wish Wall. This interactive mural, painted by Dallas-based artist Ruth Monjaras, invites guests to share their hopes for the next chapter of our nation’s story. Inspired by the nationwide Made By Us initiative Wish Walls for America's 250th, the Wish Wall encourages community members to add their wishes for America while visiting at Irving Archives and Museum.
Why We Serve: Native Americans in the US Armed Forces (March 21 – May 31)
Learn about the long tradition of Native American military service in this Smithsonian traveling exhibition. Learn more here.
Service Beyond Duty (March 21 – May 31)
Locally curated exhibition in partnership with For Gallantry & Service, this exhibit profiles four Texas Native American servicemembers. Learn more here.
Americana Quilts (April 8 – May 31)
In partnership with the Irving Quilt Guild, IAM will feature a selection of quilts that reflect on America and are part of the Quilts of Valor project, who's mission is "to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor."
Killing the Negative: A Conversation in Art and Voice (September 1 – January 7, 2027)
Join IAM as we launch the national tour of Killing the Negative: A Conversation in Art and Voice.
While looking through materials on Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects, visual artist Joel Daniel Phillips stumbled upon an image—a 1936 photograph by Walker Evans with a gaping black hole in the center. This chance discovery of a “killed negative” led Phillips and poet Quraysh Ali Lansana into a collaborative project, Killing the Negative: A Conversation in Art & Verse, that explores complex intersections of representation, truth, and power—crucial concepts that are at the center of our contemporary society. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.
About America250 in Irving
The Irving Archives & Museum is participating in America250 through exhibitions, lectures, community programs, and partnerships that highlight the complexity and richness of the American experience.
Our approach focuses on four guiding themes:
• Innovation and Progress
• Civic Participation
• Community-Centered Storytelling
• Future-Facing Reflection
Through these initiatives, IAM invites residents and visitors to explore how history continues to shape civic life and community identity.
