As Mississippi continues its early celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed, residents in Cleveland, Columbus, and Jackson will soon have the chance to tell their stories of what being an American is like.
“Our American Story” is part of national semiquincentennial festivities and is a year-long, cross-country journey collecting thousands of recorded interviews. Mississippi is one of the first five states being featured on the tour with stops at the Grammy Museum Mississippi, Tennessee Williams Home & Visitor Center, and the Two Mississippi Museums set for this month.
Kiosks and interviewers will be set up at each stop with everyone welcome to get in front of the camera. Conversations will be recorded and archived, with a portion preserved at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and broadcast throughout the America250 celebration.
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“Mississippians are invited to…interact with America250 kiosks and record their own engaging American story,” a press release noted. “Select stories – especially those featuring veterans, educators, and intergenerational families – will be shared with the public through collaborations with documentary filmmakers, broadcast outlets, and digital platforms.”
“Our American Story” kiosks will be set up at the following:
- Grammy Museum Mississippi in Cleveland on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tennessee Williams Home & Visitor Center in Columbus on Friday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 2:30 to 6 p.m.
America250 will also be rolling into the Mississippi State Fair with its branded Airstream travel trailer and a storytelling kiosk on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s state fair, which Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson has branded the “Great American Mississippi State Fair,” is decorated with extra red, white, and blue, giant inflatable eagles, and will hold Americana events throughout.
