The Liberty & Lace Ball honors the first bold steps toward independence—personal, cultural and national—while recognizing that freedom in 1776 was not yet a reality for all. In the grand tradition of Revolutionary-era gatherings, guests are invited to celebrate progress, express their unique heritage and dance in the enduring pursuit of liberty for everyone.

The sound of a loved one's voice = irreplaceable family memories. Learn how to digitize and preserve your audio recordings stored on cassette tapes, microcassette tapes and LPs. Hear from one of Dallas Public Library's librarians on how to edit your audio and share your precious family memories using the Heritage Lab located on the 8th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.

Dr. Sam W. Haynes, professor at University of Texas at Arlington, brings the story of the American Revolution forward into the 19th century, revealing how its ideals echoed far beyond 1776. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this program explores how the language, memory and myth of the “Spirit of ’76” shaped the rebellion in Texas and the movement that ultimately led to independence from Mexico.

During Vivid-Pix Memory Station Open Hours, you can scan and restore photographs, record the stories behind them, and create a personalized video that combines your images with audio recordings. Share family memories in your own voice, preserve the stories behind treasured photographs, and create a digital keepsake to pass down to future generations.

Join genealogist Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal of The Family Heart for an exploration of the free genealogy resources available through lineage societies that have spent more than 125 years preserving family histories, records, and research. From the online databases and digitized applications of the Daughters of the American Revolution to pioneer rolls, military ancestor lists, and other valuable records, this presentation will highlight the surprising tools available to every researcher — no membership required. Learn where to find these resources, how to use them effectively and how they can help you uncover new clues about your own family history.

A Declaration Celebration is an America250 exhibit opening reception featuring a public reading of the Declaration of Independence by members of the Sarah Cockrell Chapter, NSDAR, and a keynote address by Dr. Pearl Ponce, Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Guests will be among the first to experience the return of the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence to its permanent home at the Dallas Public Library following its historic display at the Hall of State during the FIFA Fan Festival. 

During Vivid-Pix Memory Station Open Hours, you can scan and restore photographs, record the stories behind them, and create a personalized video that combines your images with audio recordings. Share family memories in your own voice, preserve the stories behind treasured photographs, and create a digital keepsake to pass down to future generations.

Tina Beaird presents "Play Ball!! Researching Your Political Ancestors."

In July’s selection, we turn to a vivid work of narrative history that brings the turbulent summer of 1776 into sharp focus. Moving between Philadelphia, New York City, and London, the book traces the precarious path toward independence through the perspectives of political leaders, soldiers, and ordinary citizens. By weaving together battlefield realities with the high-stakes debates of the Continental Congress, this selection highlights the uncertainty, risk, and contingency at the nation’s founding—inviting readers to reconsider the Revolution not as an inevitable triumph, but as a fragile and deeply human moment in history.

During Vivid-Pix Memory Station Open Hours, you can scan and restore photographs, record the stories behind them, and create a personalized video that combines your images with audio recordings. Share family memories in your own voice, preserve the stories behind treasured photographs, and create a digital keepsake to pass down to future generations.