The Fourth of July is one of America’s most sacred holidays. It marks the day that the 13 colonies separated from Great Britain. It’s a day that’s celebrated through rambunctious all-you-can-eat hot dog contests, boisterous parades, and, of course, the dazzling nightcap of vibrant fireworks. However, this upcoming Fourth of July is a little more special as it marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed and the United States becoming its own country.
Despite being a quaint town of just over 16,000 people, the Whitewater community goes above and beyond to celebrate the Fourth of July. Whether that’s the fireworks launched over Cravath Lake, your typical Fourth of July parade or the festival that brings the members of the community together.
“The Fourth of July is such a big deal here,” said Penelope Alwin, citizen member of the Whitewater Landmarks Commission, during their Jan. 7 meeting.
On top of the celebrations that usually occur every year, the Whitewater Arts Alliance, Whitewater Historical Society and Whitewater Landmarks Commission are in the early stages of preparing a monthlong, collaborative event to commemorate the anniversary.
The idea for this event originated from the Historical Society, during one of their programming meetings, when someone suggested doing something to acknowledge America’s 250th anniversary.
“When I heard that, I jumped on it and said ‘How do we make this happen’?” Whitewater Arts Alliance gallery director Kim Adams said. “So we started putting feelers out and Carol Cartwright, who is the Director of the Whitewater Historical Society, was excited about the possibility of collaborating.”
For these two organizations, it is believed to be the first collaboration that they have ever done. But for a celebration like this, it makes perfect sense. It goes without saying that Independence Day is a major historical event in the United States.
As for the artistic side of things, it has naturally been a key component of communicating the history of America. The Arts Alliance is planning on running an exhibit from July 2 through July 30, Thursdays through Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. While the art pieces are still being reviewed and selection and curation is yet to come, Adams has an idea of what may be on display come July.
“There’s a whole history behind some of the pottery that was made many years ago in the Whitewater area,” Adams said. “There may be some Native American pieces that would be incorporated. There could also be some musical instruments, clothing and quilts. We have to learn what the Historical Society has on hand and is willing to transport. But we want to show and tell these stories.”
As for the Historical Society, they want to highlight the history of the Revolutionary War and how it connects to Whitewater. The Historical Society will be having a temporary gallery at their Depot Museum, which is open between May and November, that will host a special exhibit displaying some of the ideas around the Revolutionary War. The Historical Society will also be doing an exhibit with the Arts Alliance that will revolve around the significant documents that led to the separation from Great Britain.
“The people here at the time were the Native Americans and we want to talk about how the white settlers brought those ideas of self government and public schools with them when they came to Whitewater,” Cartwright said. “The exhibit with the Arts Alliance will be called Heritage 250: Living Democracy, and we’re taking certain ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and how they relate to Whitewater.”
The third major player in putting together this celebration is Whitewater’s Landmarks Commission, which wants to focus on highlighting the history of Whitewater through the landmarks and architecture around the city.
“I was thinking we could offer a photo collage of the buildings in Whitewater as well as some of our landmarks,” said Pat Blackmer, citizen member of the Landmarks Commission, during their Jan. 7 meeting.
Besides celebrating the 250th anniversary of America, this event is heavily focused on bringing the community together and further improving their understanding of the meaning behind this celebration. For example, the Historical Society is offering a spot in their exhibit where citizens can write down their own impressions of what the meaning behind America 250 is.
“Yes, it’s been 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, but what does that mean?” Cartwright said. “What did it mean in the past? What does it mean for us today?”
As for the Arts Alliance, they want the community to feel connected with the holiday and significance of this milestone. They’re inviting members of the surrounding area to contribute to the exhibits, as well as extending an offer for UW-Whitewater students to volunteer and help preparations for their exhibit.
“I’m hoping that the public has a better understanding and appreciation for the history of our community and the surrounding area,” Adams said. “I want them to be better connected to the artwork, artifacts and stories that we choose to exhibit.”
It’s important to note that the America 250 celebration is still a work in progress. The events, exhibits, art displays and more are still being finalized. Those leading the charge hope to have everything finalized by the end of April so they can start promoting the celebrations in May.
Members of the planning committee are set to meet on Feb. 10 to finalize the grant application so that they can start taking the next steps in bringing America 250 to life.
