Freedom 250 brings US history to NDSF
JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Gordie Schmidt of Harvey examines the display in the American 250 mobile unit visiting the North Dakota State Fair this week.
JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Connie Schmidt of Harvey looks at Hall of Fame photos, reflecting key individuals over America’s history in areas such as innovation, artistic and literary, celebrities and service and sacrifice. The photos are part of the America 250 exhibit on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds this week.
JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Gordie Schmidt of Harvey examines the display in the American 250 mobile unit visiting the North Dakota State Fair this week.
JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Connie Schmidt of Harvey looks at Hall of Fame photos, reflecting key individuals over America’s history in areas such as innovation, artistic and literary, celebrities and service and sacrifice. The photos are part of the America 250 exhibit on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds this week.
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Visitors to the North Dakota State Fair can refresh their knowledge of America's founding while digitally signing a Declaration of Independence and quizzing themselves to see whether they might have leaned Patriot or Loyalist in 1776.
An America 250 Freedom Truck, parked on the fairgrounds near the State Fair Center, provides an interactive reminder of the nation's history through an experience both educational and entertaining.
Julia Friedland, spokesperson for Freedom 250, said the truck at the State Fair is one of a fleet of six mobile units traveling around the country. The purpose of the traveling displays is to ensure people who couldn't come to Washington, D.C., for the country's 250th anniversary celebration or attend other national celebrations, such as one at New York Harbor, still have a chance to be part of that collective experience.
"We're basically bringing American history to people so that they don't have to travel," she said.
The mobile displays reflect the collaborative effort of PragerU and Hillsdale College, made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
"It's a pretty big undertaking. A lot is involved in crafting these trucks, as well as people actually manning the trucks and getting them across the country," Friedland said.
Freedom 250 has some staff members traveling with the mobile units, but many of the individuals are volunteers. Friedland gave the example of her colleague's father in Wisconsin who was looking for a useful activity in his new life as a retiree. Manning a Freedom 250 truck became a way he could help.
"He's just doing it for fun, honestly, and meeting a bunch of new people," she said.
Friedland said the mobile displays have been well received, particularly the George Washington image that artificial intelligence brings to life to speak to visitors.
"Definitely not something that they expected," she said.
Visitors also can take a quiz to test their knowledge of America's early history.
"I've also heard people say that it was really cool that we did this because we study American history in college and when we're little, but then when we get older, we tend to forget these things,” Friedland said. "You might end up forgetting a lot of our super-interesting history, and this has been good for a lot of people, just to remind them."
In some cases, she added, people have commented they weren't aware of certain events that happened.
The mobile units will continue traveling and educating through 2026, stopping at locations that have requested visits.