Thousands of messages from students and residents to be showcased at the Arizona State Capitol Museum, Arizona State Parks, and additional locations statewide
Contributed Article
PHOENIX – As Arizona prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the Arizona America250 Commission recently announced a statewide exhibition of postcards created through its Dear America, Love Arizona initiative, featuring thousands of messages collected from students, families, and community members across Arizona.
Beginning this summer, a curated selection of postcards will be displayed at the Arizona State Capitol Museum, Arizona State Parks and Trails locations statewide, and additional partner sites, offering the public an opportunity to experience the hopes, reflections, and stories shared by Arizonans as the nation approaches this historic milestone.
The Dear America, Love Arizona campaign invited participants to answer a simple question: What do you love about Arizona, and what hopes do you have for America’s future? The result is one of the largest collections of community reflections assembled during Arizona’s America250 commemoration, representing voices from communities across all 15 counties.
“America’s 250th anniversary is not just an opportunity to look back at our history—it’s a chance to listen to the people who will shape our future,” said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Chair of the Arizona America250 Commission. “These postcards capture the pride, optimism, and diverse perspectives of Arizonans from every corner of our state. By displaying them publicly, we are ensuring those voices become part of Arizona’s contribution to this national milestone.”
More than 26,000 postcards were distributed through classrooms in over 150 schools across all 15 Arizona counties, while thousands more were completed by visitors at all 31 stops of the Road to 250: Arizona Traveling Museum. Together, the effort generated tens of thousands of postcards, creating a unique snapshot of Arizona at this moment in history.
The exhibition is designed to encourage visitors to reflect on the values, aspirations, and experiences shared by fellow Arizonans while celebrating the state’s role in the broader American story.
A full list of exhibit locations can be found below. Postcards have also been selected to be included in the Arizona Memory Project to document this campaign.
Dear America, Love Arizona is part of the Arizona America250 Commission’s broader efforts to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary through civic engagement, education, storytelling, and community participation.
Arizona America250 programs are made possible with generous support from Banner Health, APS, SRP, BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona, Freeport-McMoRan, Sundt, Desert Financial Credit Union, Mayo Clinic, The Burton Family Foundation, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Avnet, Player 15 Group, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Walmart, City of Phoenix, Hensley Beverage Company, HonorHealth, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Vitalyst Health Foundation, Resolution Copper, Garrison Forty Eight, Flinn Foundation, and Aspire Counseling Services.
For more information, visit www.america250az.org.
Postcard Display Locations:
- Phippen Museum
- Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation
- NAU-Yuma Academic Library
- San Tan Valley Historical Society
- Queen Creek Botanical Gardens
- Sunnyslope Historical Society
- Camp Naco
- Explore Pinal County
- Capitol Museum
- Arizona State Capitol
Participating Arizona State Parks
- Alamo Lake State Park
- Buckskin Mountain State Park
- Catalina State Park
- Cattail Cove State Park
- Colorado River State Historic Park
- Dankworth Pond State Park
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park
- Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
- Fort Verde State Historic Park
- Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park
- Homolovi State Park
- Jerome State Historic Park
- Kartchner Caverns State Park
- Lake Havasu State Park
- Lost Dutchman State Park
- Lyman Lake State Park
- McFarland State Historic Park
- Oracle State Park
- Patagonia Lake State Park
- Picacho Peak State Park
- Red Rock State Park
- Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
- River Island State Park
- Rockin’ River Ranch State Park
- Roper Lake State Park
- San Rafael State Natural Area
- Slide Rock State Park
- Sonoita Creek State Natural Area
- Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
- Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
- Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
- Verde River Greenway State Natural Area
- Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
About the Arizona America250 Commission The Arizona America250 Commission is a nonpartisan effort to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary by honoring Arizona’s role in American history, celebrating stories from across the state, and inspiring civic pride in all communities. To learn more about the Arizona America250 Commission, visit www.america250az.org
