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Speakers Wednesday focused on the plans already in motion to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial which includes the signing of the Halifax Resolves and the Declaration of Independence.

While the 250th anniversary of the nation is in 2026, Halifax next year will serve as the kickoff for what the state envisions as multi-year commemorations, said State Archivist Sarah Elizabeth Koonts in her keynote address during Historical Halifax Restoration Association Halifax Resolves Day program.

“As recently as yesterday we met with an architect who is helping to design the remodeling and renovation of the existing visitors center,” said association Chairman Larry Armstrong, adding that the day was also set aside to celebrate the additions to the grounds of Bradford Denton House.

Those additions, Armstrong said, represent a nearly $350,000 project funded almost exclusively with private money and assistance from the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as contributions from the Bradford and Denton families. “The task is far from finished,” he said. “There is much left to do and huge potential for this site that is not yet realized.”

The importance of Halifax, Armstrong said, can’t be stressed enough. “What happened on this hallowed ground on April 12 — 247 years ago — matters to all of us. We exist only because men of vision and courage came to this place on that date and resolved that North Carolina would join the other colonies to become independent and ultimately a new nation. 

“It is our continuing responsibility to do all we can to develop this place ensuring that the story of Halifax and its significance to the history of North Carolina and our nation is known throughout the land.”

Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman Vernon Bryant said, “Beginning in April 2024 Halifax County will join the state and nation to mark the 250th anniversary of this historic event and we look forward to sharing the story of the struggle for freedom and how that story relates to all people.”

North Carolina State Representative Michael Wray told the audience, “We’re embarking on a great thing that’s happening that people can see to fruition. This is a great thing to see the money that North Carolina has funded for this building here. We’re getting ready for the 250th year. That’s something we all need to participate in and be involved in.”

North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper briefly commented on her love of Revolutionary War history while Koonts detailed the plans for a multi-year celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.

“We hope it provides a strong foundation upon which we can construct a right and lasting legacy, one that will match a quote I like to use — ‘North Carolina indeed has a great history.’ It is our duty and will be our major objective to make that history known, understood and appreciated by all the citizens of our state and by the people of the American nation.”

Koonts said the celebration will not be a party focused on one day. “There certainly will be milestones to celebrate like the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary and I know we will enjoy some hot dogs, parades and flags but we want a robust commemoration that will provide ways for North Carolinians to engage and learn about the complexities of the Revolutionary War in our state and its impacts on our people.”

The lasting legacy, she said, will be to “provide North Carolinians with multiple and inviting opportunities to explore the ideals that formed our country and how they have impacted all 250 years of our history and how they resonate with us today.”

And these commemorations can’t come from one voice. “We need the beauty of all voices — historical to modern — to bring a broader understanding of our last 250 years. We want the 250th to reach across the state to all 100 counties. We want the commemoration to be multi-year.”

While 2026 will be a high watermark in Halifax and the nation, Koonts said, “I don’t want North Carolinians to have to choose among programs or visits to historic sites both statewide and local during one year.”

She said Halifax is a perfect example of why a multi-year commemoration is appropriate. “There are  multiple Revolutionary War periods and dates to commemorate here and they are not all in 2026. To that end we think it’s only appropriate to use Historic Halifax as the kickoff to our multi-year commemoration.”

Koonts explained that as the 83 delegates to the Fourth Provincial Congress gathered in Halifax, “the time for economic boycotts or public declarations of how to resolve our differences seemed gone. On April 12 they saw no path to reconciliation or hopes of redress to those grievances. These are indeed bold actions — a first for the colonies and actions that would prompt other colonies to urge their delegates to consider independence as an option.”

She described the Halifax Resolves as a direct through line to the Declaration of Independence which was developed a few short months later and read aloud publicly for the first time in North Carolina in Halifax on August 1, 1776. “It is a story that should be promoted to the state and the country as the commemoration is underway.”

Besides the Resolves, Koonts said there is more to learn from Halifax, including the underground railroad and the sacred importance of Magazine Springs to American Indians. “Halifax is a strong example of the complexities and the connectivity of our history and by exploring all aspects of that history we are creating that shared understanding of our American stories.”

Koonts closed her remarks with a quote from French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville, who said, “‘When the past no longer illuminates the future the spirit walks in darkness.’ Let us plan a semiquincentennial for North Carolina that explores our whole history so that past serves as a light illuminating our future.”

The planning efforts include:

Connecting with other states to link regional military history

The themes of Revolutionary North Carolina and the When are We Us initiative

The common ground theme 

The visions of freedom initiative

The gathering of voices initiative

Programs aimed at the K-12 audience and public 

Online resources

Non-artifact exhibitions

Reading lists provided to libraries, activity bags, children books 

Photography exhibits

New archaeological resources

Major archaeological events planned in Halifax

Wayfinding program

Promotion of economic growth

Planning toolkits

Purchasing reproduction cannon for Halifax

Educational stories from the famous to the unsung, including the more challenging parts of history

Expansion of education opportunities for families and children