INDIANAPOLIS — In recognition of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026, the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) celebrates the opening of Freedom’s Framework, a new exhibit opening April 11, 2026, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center.
Opening just ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, the exhibit explores how the ideals set forth at the country’s founding influenced its expansion and development, particularly in the Old Northwest Territory. Through the lens of this region, visitors will gain insight into the opportunities, challenges, and contradictions that shaped the early United States.
At the heart of the exhibit is the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, a defining piece of legislation that established a blueprint for governing new territories and admitting states to the Union. Its impact, ranging from the promotion of education to the establishment of civil liberties, continues to resonate today.
“Freedom’s Framework is an opportunity to connect people to the ideas that built this country and to better understand how those ideas were tested, challenged, and carried forward,” said Jody Blankenship, President and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibit invites visitors to reflect not just on where we’ve been, but on how those foundational principles continue to shape our future.”
Freedom’s Framework will feature a range of historical materials, including rare documents, artifacts, and images from the Indiana Historical Society’s and other institutions’ collections, offering visitors a deeper understanding of how foundational ideas were put into practice.
The exhibit will remain on view through August 7, 2027.
Freedom’s Framework is presented by the Efroymson Family Fund, a CICF Fund, with additional support from the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and the Ayres Foundation.
For more information, visit indianahistory.org.
