The Beat

14-film screening series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary; the films explore American lives from the perspective of the marginalized and includes Hollywood studio classics, independent films, and documentaries

Astoria, N.Y. (May 11, 2026) — As our country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States, Museum of the Moving Image will present the screening series By the People, For the People: Real American Tales, May 29 through July 5, featuring films that take on the perspective of the nation’s historically marginalized and less frequently represented on screen.

America 250 REAL TIME REVOLUTION® brings the Continental Army of 1776 back to life — at the fort that held the line for a new nation

Ticonderoga, NY - This Memorial Day, Fort Ticonderoga invites visitors to do more than remember — to truly understand what was sacrificed. As part of the America 250 commemoration and Fort Ticonderoga’s groundbreaking REAL TIME REVOLUTION®, visitors will step inside the Continental Army of May 1776 — experiencing their weapons, rations, music, and daily struggle — and witness firsthand what those soldiers believed they were fighting and dying for. Living history programs and immersive demonstrations run throughout Saturday and Sunday, May 23–24, 2026, 9:30am–5pm.

Staatsburg, N.Y. – On Saturday, May 23, from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m., Staatsburgh State Historic Site will host “Historic Toys and Games”, a free, family program outdoors on the portico. Children of all ages and their families are invited to drop by to learn games and play with toys from yesteryear.

Providing a delightful experience of bygone times, Dawn Elliott’s historic toys and games have been a highlight of events at many historic sites and museums. Everyone is invited to experience a variety of lawn games, board games, or simply play with toys.

Featuring Historic WWII Aircraft and Flight Experiences Over Long Island

Farmingdale, NY (May 11, 2026) – This Memorial Day Weekend kicks off American Airpower Museum’s summer with the Legends of Airpower World War II Warbirds.  The museum’s iconic WWII fighting aircraft will take to the skies over Republic Airport on Saturday, May 23^rd and Sunday, May 24^th, thrilling young and old alike!  Join AAM for a great family outdoor extravaganza, featuring an exciting program of Warbird flights honoring veterans and U.S. aviation history.

Initiative Celebrates New York State’s Newly Designated Harlem Renaissance Cultural District

New York, N.Y. (May 11, 2026) — Harlem One Stop proudly announces the 2026 Harlem Culture Crawl, a two-day, self-guided cultural experience taking place May 16–17, 2026. The event invites the public to explore Harlem’s rich artistic, historical, and cultural landscape across 20 participating venues.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 2PM

In-person: Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home

Hyde Park, N.Y. -- The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will present the next program in the Library’s year-long film series “Hollywood Goes to War” with a screening of FOUR JILLS IN A JEEP (1944) on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. This is a free public event, but registration is required.

Free Resources Support Classrooms, Libraries, and Cultural Institutions Across New York State

The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education is launching a dynamic suite of new educational resources to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. Contributions from the New York State Museum, Library, and Archives draw from themes developed by the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission to provide teachers, schools, and cultural institutions with resources to support meaningful engagement with the anniversary through 2033 and beyond.

Schenectady, N.Y. - The Schenectady County Historical Society is thrilled to announce that author Russell Shorto will be the keynote speaker for the Crossroads of the Revolution Symposium on November 7.

Crossroads is a one-day symposium that will bring together leading historians, scholars, and public history professionals to explore different aspects of the American Revolution in upstate New York, with a particular focus on Schenectady as a crossroads of conflict and supply.

Utica, NY — Discover a forgotten chapter of local history during "Mulberry Mania," a special presentation by Alecia Pendasulo on Saturday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. at Oneida County History Center.

A speculative bubble known as "Mulberry Mania" swept across the United States in the 1830’s. Driven by the dream of establishing a multi-million-dollar domestic silk industry, farmers and investors bet heavily on the cultivation of mulberry trees. In Oneida County, specifically in Sauquoit, Whitestown, and New Hartford, this movement was fueled by more than just profit. Local farmers embraced silk production as a moral alternative to cotton, seeking a viable industry that did not rely on the labor of enslaved people.

Champlain Center, Smithfield Boulevard, Plattsburgh

11 am to 3 pm – May 16, 2026

Plattsburgh, N.Y. – The Adirondack Cultural Coast Alliance and the Clinton County Historical Association in partnership with the Champlain Centre on Smithfield Boulevard, Plattsburgh, are pleased to announce a new event at the Champlain Centre: HISTORY DAY at the MALL on May 16th from 11 am to 3 pm.