How I See America’s 250th | Inspired by the American Revolution and the signing of Declaration of Independence
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will launch its first Young Artists’ Competition on February 19, 2026. The competition titled, How I See America’s 250th, will be open to all elementary students, 3-5 grades; middle school students, 6-8 grades; and high school students, 9-12th grades in Connecticut. Submissions are due by May 19, 2026. The competition will award prizes to the top two artworks per grade in addition to the opportunity of showing the winning artworks at the Mansion.
Students will be tasked with depicting their own interpretation of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence as it relates to the ideals of the nation’s founders and the path forward as they see these ideals being realized today.
Students may choose any medium listed including:
- Watercolor
- Pen & Ink
- Magic Markers
- Mixed Media
- Digital Art (your own creation, no AI generated images)
Requirements will include:
- Artwork celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and/or the American Revolution in Connecticut
- work focusing on the role of Connecticut, its people, sites, and historical context as it relates to the 1770s and the heroes of the American Revolution.
Submissions will be accepted via our website beginning February 19 and open through May 19, 2026. Please check back then for application form and upload links.
Image: Plan of the Colony of Connecticut, Moses Park,1766 (Library of Congress collection) + Declaration of Independence: July 4th. United States, Currier, between 1835 and 1856 (Library of Congress collection)
