As the Class of 2026 graduates, Penn is celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Penn centers have organized events \u2014\u00a0including performances, exhibitions, and conferences \u2014 to honor the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence. The University has joined city-wide efforts to schedule programming throughout the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lynne Farrington, the director of programs and senior curator of special collections for Penn Libraries, told The Daily Pennsylvanian that programming<\/a> for the Semiquincentennial aims to help people \u201cunderstand more of the history of the country and where it comes from.\u201d<\/p>\n She explained that Penn Libraries began planning this year\u2019s programming in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n Farrington leads programming for events honoring the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution through the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Earlier this year, the Kislak Center opened <\/a>an exhibition detailing revolutions during the 1790s in France, Haiti, and Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Get the DP delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n Sign Up<\/a><\/p>\n Penn\u2019s Pan-Asian American Community House celebrated<\/a> the anniversary at its annual mural unveiling.<\/p>\n The artwork, created by PAACH Associate Director and Filipino language lecturer Vicky Faye Aquino, features individual drawings of 250 mandalas \u2014\u00a0created by the Penn community \u2014 that are arranged to form a tree. Mandalas symbolize \u201cwholeness, balance, and connection,\u201d according to Aquino.<\/p>\n Aquino explained that the number of mandalas included was a reference to the Semiquincentennial \u2014 as well as a way to \u201cacknowledge the importance of the Asian presence and the Asian immigrants who have also shaped and built America.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee is organizing<\/a> free weekly programming as part of its \u201c52 Weeks of Firsts\u201d initiative \u2014\u00a0which recognizes nationwide accomplishments that took place in the city. <\/strong>Six of these celebrations \u2014 for the first medical school, stadium, children\u2019s hospital, university, \u201cpeoples,\u201d and electronic computer \u2014 are being hosted<\/a> on Penn\u2019s campus.<\/p>\n Each \u201cfirst\u201d is accompanied by a sculpture that commemorates the location\u2019s historical significance. The sculptures, shaped to display the number one, were commissioned by the city and designed by local artists.<\/p>\n On April 4, the committee honored Franklin Field as the first stadium in the United States. At the event, speakers highlighted the stadium\u2019s historic significance as the location of the nation\u2019s first functioning scoreboard, double-decker seating arrangement, and televised college football game.<\/p>\n \u201cPhiladelphia has always been a pioneering city, and 52 Weeks of Firsts captures that spirit for our nation\u2019s 250th anniversary,\u201d Penn President Larry Jameson wrote<\/a> in a statement to the DP at the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1990 College graduate Cari Feiler Bender, a committee spokesperson, told the DP that the project\u2019s goal was to \u201celevate the Philadelphia story\u201d by highlighting the city\u2019s \u201cingenuity\u201d and \u201ccreativity.\u201d<\/p>\n The project is one of several programs led by the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee. The group\u2019s third-annual \u201cRed, White, & Blue To-Do\u201d celebration will take place on July 2. The day will feature<\/a> a flag-raising ceremony at the Betsy Ross House, followed by a parade, block party, music series, and picnic.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the road to America\u2019s 250th, Philadelphia is once again showing the world what it looks like when history, community, and celebration come together in the streets of our great city,\u201d Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker wrote in a press release.<\/p>\n Senior reporter Arti Jain covers state and local politics and can be reached at jain@thedp.com<\/a>. At Penn, she studies economics and political science. Follow her on X @arti_jain_<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the Class of 2026 graduates, Penn is celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial in Philadelphia. 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