U.S.A. - 250th ANNIVERSARY
Upcoming Events…
#America250 Watch Party
Watch Houston kick off America’s 250 with the Today show on Friday, January 2, on NBC (Channel 2) at approximately 7:30 AM.
We had a great time filming with Sons of the American Revolution, Freedom Chapter, Los Granaderos y Damas de Galvez Houston, The Houston Saengerbund, Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Bernardo de Galvez Chapter SAR, the Shimmer Flute Choir, Girl Scouts, Scouting America and League City Historical Society. Learn about how we are hosting the American Revolution Experience Exhibit (DAR) from June 15 - July 15, 2026.
Lynn Forney Young was also interviewed. Young has been engaged in preserving and promoting our nation’s history for decades. She has been an active member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for more than 40 years, recently serving as President General of the National Society from 2013-2016. Highlights of her administration included celebrating the 125th anniversary of the founding of NSDAR, the first DAR Day of Service and achieving the Guinness World RecordTM for patriotism during the 125th Continental Congress. Further, the generous support of members established a permanent endowment fund for the preservation, restoration, and conservation of the historic DAR headquarters near the White House. Lynn is honored to be one of sixteen private citizens appointed by Congressional leaders to serve on the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. The America 250 Commission is charged with planning our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. She serves as Secretary of the Commission and the America 250 Foundation as well as Chair of the Governance Committee. A native Houstonian, Lynn is a graduate of the University of Houston. She and her husband enjoy country life on their cattle ranch near Austin.
Lunch and Learn: “The Declaration of Independence”
Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Noon - 1 PM
By: Sons of the American Revolution – Freedom Chapter featuring Ed Sellards, First Vice President
📅 Thursday, January 15, 2026 🕛 Noon
Join us for a special America 250 Lunch & Learn as we explore one of the most influential documents in world history—the Declaration of Independence. This session will be led by Ed Sellards, First Vice President of the Sons of the American Revolution, Freedom Chapter, who will guide us through the origins, meaning, and enduring legacy of the Declaration as we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding.
This engaging program will highlight:
The historical context that shaped the Declaration
Key ideas and principles that continue to define American identity
Stories of the patriots who risked everything for independence
Why the Declaration still matters as we commemorate America 250
Bring your lunch (or order online), your curiosity, and your patriotic spirit for an inspiring midday learning experience.
Members attend Lunch and Learns for free! Lunches from Tres Market Foods are additional. Membership information here- https://www.heritagesociety.org/membership-join
Biography: Edwin “Ed” Sellards
First Vice President, Sons of the American Revolution – Freedom Chapter
Edwin “Ed” Sellards is a dedicated member and leader within the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Freedom Chapter, where he currently serves as First Vice President. A committed advocate for historic preservation and patriotic education, Ed is known for his engaging presentations and his deep passion for safeguarding America’s Revolutionary heritage.
Ed has represented the Freedom Chapter in numerous community events and educational programs. He has served as a featured speaker for the chapter, including delivering a presentation titled “Saving American Sacred Soil,” which highlighted the mission of the American Battlefield Trust and its three pillars: Preserve, Educate, and Inspire. His work emphasizes the importance of protecting historic battlefields and ensuring that future generations understand the sacrifices made during the nation’s founding.
In addition to his leadership role, Ed is an active participant in the Freedom Chapter Color Guard and has contributed to public commemorations, including the South Montgomery County Fourth of July Parade, where he helped represent the chapter during its 49th annual celebration.
Through his service, scholarship, and public engagement, Ed Sellards continues to advance the SAR mission of honoring patriot ancestors, promoting American ideals, and inspiring civic responsibility.
Past Events
Countdown to July 4, 2026…
The Heritage Society presents a series of activities as a prelude to the 250th Anniversary
Evening Speaker Series & Wine Reception: "Spain, United States Independence, and the Strategy that Made it Possible" by Speaker and Author Thomas E. Chávez
Author Thomas E. Chávez on Wednesday, November 12, at 6:00 PM, as he shares his research about how Spain supported our country’s independence. Chávez was the former director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, and the former curator and director of the Palace of the Governors, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe. He has authored many publications and books on related topics and is a Research Associate Professor for the University of New Mexico's Latin American and Iberian Institute.
Honoring Army, Navy and Marines 250th Anniversaries: New Texas America250 Exhibit from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC)
TSLAC Chair, Dr. Martha Wong will speak and be on hand for the launch alongside State Archivist Jelain Chubb and Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center Manager Alana Inman for the launch of the new exhibit on Saturday, August 23, at 3:00 p.m., during Happy Birthday Houston taking place in our museum gallery.
Dr. Martha Wong, TSLAC Chair and member of the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, housed on Texas Woman’s University's campus. Wong has served on TSLAC since 2015 and was appointed chair by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2020. A longtime educational leader in Texas and the greater Houston area, Wong is a former educator and administrator as well as a former state representative and Houston city council member.
Join us on Wednesday July 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM for speaker John Espinosa, Governor General - Member of the Houston Chapter, Los Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez. The speaking engagement will be preceded with a wine reception and Spanish tapas. This speaker event was generously sponsored in part by the Summerlee Foundation.
“I grew up as a Hispanic boy in East Houston. In school, I learned all about the Boston Tea Party, about Paul Revere, and all that happened up north in the thirteen colonies. But they never told me about Gálvez or the pivotal role of Spain and the Gulf Coast in the American Revolution.” Espinosa will illuminate the accomplishments of General Bernardo De Gálvez of Spain, a great hero of our country’s war for independence. He will also perpetuate the memory of the Spanish soldiers who fought during the American Revolution and share facts about how Gálvez ordered cattle in advance of mounting his campaign against the British.
Did you know Spain chose to join the war against England primarily out of global political strategy? Three places played into their thinking: Menorca, an island off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean; Gibraltar, a point in southern Spain guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean; and the large region of the Mississippi Valley known as Louisiana. In 1776, as the result of centuries of conflict, the British controlled Menorca and Gibraltar – key to Spain’s defense of its coast – and the French held Louisiana – a potentially lucrative source of raw materials. When France agreed to return Louisiana as part of an alliance, Spain entered the War on the Franco-American side.
About the Organization- Los Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez was founded during the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976 to research and understand the pivotal, yet unpublicized role of Spain -- and the contributions of her King and her people -- to the colonists’ victory in the American Revolution. In this endeavor, our organization labors to teach about this important, but forgotten, aspect of American history.
Tickets include free parking at 212 Dallas Street, wine and tapas reception, and three museum gallery exhibits.
June 15, 2026 - TXDAR American Revolution Experience Exhibit sponsored in part by the Daughters of the American Revolution, this state-traveling exhibit will run for approximately one month.
