In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence which will occur on Aug. 2, 2026, Dakota County Historical Society has announced a 14-part presentation series on American history, the country’s founding documents, and key changes to that structure over the past 250 years.
Historian and retired Twin Cities educator Frank Sachs will be presenting the series starting on July 17 with the topic “The Road to Independence: The Declaration of Independence.” The presentation will focus on the creation of the Declaration of Independence and how “13 disparate colonies came together to make declarations and fight for independence,” according to Executive Director of the Dakota County Historical Society Matt Carter.
The presentations will occur monthly at the Lawshe Memorial Museum through August 2026 covering topics ranging from the articles of government, the Federalist Papers, eras of the Supreme Court, and the Electoral College.
“People are hungry to learn how their government is supposed to work,” said Sachs.
Sachs, who taught for 46 years, has been fascinated by the topic of American history for the past 60.
Many of the revolutionary ideas central of the founding the United States, like the rule of law and granting power to positions rather than individuals doesn’t seem all that revolutionary to modern audiences, said Sachs.
But despite that, “there was no other country in the world that had that at that time,” said Sachs.
Part of the idea of explaining founding documents—not simply because of their continued relevance—is to better allow “appreciation for what made the United States unique in the world,” at that time and to this day.
For Sachs, history is putting stories in context with one another. The origins of the Declaration of Independence lie all the way back with the Magna Carta and to explain the Roberts Court, you need to revisit the Federalist Papers.
Especially for the history of the United States, that context allows better appreciation for “what we have and [to] understand how we got it,” said Sachs.
While Sachs couldn’t be pressed to pick his favorite topic of the bunch, the broad story of the United States continues to fascinate: “it’s a heck of a good story.”
The Road to Independence: The Declaration of Independence will take place Thursday, July 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the Lawshe Memorial Museum. The cost is $10 for non-members and $5 for members.