Great America 250 exhibit at Reagan libraryiew:
Features documents and artifacts from founding day throughout the years.
What a year of celebration in 2026.
America’s 250th birthday was celebrated on July 4th and other dates in grand style despite the bitter partisanship in the capitol and political division across the nation. Collectively, we have managed to hold onto the republic that founder Benjamin Franklin cited when talking about the constitution.
Locally, it’s a big year for church anniversaries.
GraceWay Church, which started in the white clapboard church at 100 Neal St., celebrates 150 years on Oct. 11 with a special service at 2 p.m.
Our sister Presbyterians, First Presbyterian of Livermore, turned 150 five years ago, and Community Presbyterian of Danville is the grandfather locally at 175 years. Pleasanton and Livermore share founder Rev. William Wallace Brier.
And our Catholic brothers are observing their 125th anniversary in Pleasanton.
It’s an amazing season of anniversaries.
My bride, Betty Gail, has been active in GraceWay with its various names over the years since her family moved here when she was nine. That’s taken her, as well as me, to the church site at 100 Neal St. where we were married, 4300 Mirador Ave. where our daughter was baptized and we held memorial services for our parents, 3410 Cornerstone Ct. and 1183 Quarry Lane. We both have served as elders and she was an active participant in the music program for literally decades.
We have seen the church refined through challenging times in the 1990s and 2000s and God has led us through events that have imploded other worshiping bodies. We’re now on target to move ahead to continue to serve for another 150 years.
You can check out the church through the years at the central exhibit area at the Museum on Main through the month — look for the banner over Main St. this month and all are welcome Oct. 11 for the special celebration service. It will include a look back at history and the vision for the future, plenty of pictures and historical documents on display and light refreshment for a time of mingling after the service. A display case in the city library also will have GraceWay material through October.
We had the opportunity to see the closing day of a special America 250 exhibit at the Reagan library in Simi Valley last Sunday. The organizers have done a great job bringing artifacts, letters and documents and displaying them well. As a former print newspaper guy, I was particularly struck by an original 1776 newspaper that had a page devoted to the entire text of the Declaration of Independence. Remarkable to see a document printed 250 years old on the newsprint of that day in such good condition.
There were letters from John Adams, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington in their original hand that became readable because the curators provided easily legible wall placards. If you have any interest in American history, look for an opportunity to see this or similar exhibits.
