Common Ground: April Events
Celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial at the Laramie County Library System
Our Common Ground series continues this April with a lineup of programs and events that invite you to explore new ideas, share perspectives, and connect with your community. Explore what’s happening this month and find opportunities to engage with ideas and stories that shape our understanding of America.
Immigration: An American Story
- March 5 – April 12, 2026
- Third Floor, Cheyenne
- Designed for all ages
The United States has often been called “a nation of immigrants”—an oversimplification, to be sure. American Indians were present before the nation’s founding and hundreds of thousands of Africans were brought to these shores in chains. Many Americans are descended from immigrants who fled religious or ethnic persecution, war, or economic hardship. Over time, each wave of immigrants has left its own imprint on public attitudes and policies throughout the country’s history. This pop-up panel exhibition by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History presents documents, maps, and images to tell selected stories of those who came to America, some by force and others by choice in search of a better future for themselves and later generations
Becoming the United States: Colonial America to Reconstruction
- March 10 – April 11, 2026
- Pine Bluffs Branch
- Designed for all ages
Using items from the collection of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this pop-up panel exhibition explores individuals, groups, and documents that have contributed to who we are as a country and encourages students to think critically about the firsthand accounts of this era. Becoming the Unites States is designed to introduce upper elementary-aged students to the beginnings of American history and the skills involved in primary source analysis.
Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy
- March 10 – April 11, 2026
- Burns Branch
- Designed for all ages
When the Declaration of Independence was issued, the idea that “all men are created equal” was revolutionary. With this seminal document, the Founding Fathers unleashed an open-ended driving force that would shape modern history. Around the world, other countries have declared independence by taking the US Declaration of 1776 as a model. This pop-up panel exhibition uses primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to illustrate how Americans and people across the world have been inspired by the Declaration in their pursuit of equality and self-determination.
America 250: America in the Movies
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026
- 1:30 – 3:30 pm
- Pine Bluffs Branch
- Designed for adults
The movie for April is Lincoln (PG-13). This inspiring and revealing drama focuses on the 16th President’s tumultuous final four months in office as this visionary leader pursues a course of action to end the Civil War, unite the country and abolish slavery. Popcorn is provided but feel free to bring your favorite snack.
Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy
- April 14 – May 16, 2026
- Pine Bluffs Branch
- Designed for all ages
When the Declaration of Independence was issued, the idea that “all men are created equal” was revolutionary. With this seminal document, the Founding Fathers unleashed an open-ended driving force that would shape modern history. Around the world, other countries have declared independence by taking the US Declaration of 1776 as a model. This pop-up panel exhibition uses primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to illustrate how Americans and people across the world have been inspired by the Declaration in their pursuit of equality and self-determination.
Immigration: An American Story
- April 14 – May 16, 2026
- Burns Branch
- Designed for all ages
The United States has often been called “a nation of immigrants”—an oversimplification, to be sure. American Indians were present before the nation’s founding and hundreds of thousands of Africans were brought to these shores in chains. Many Americans are descended from immigrants who fled religious or ethnic persecution, war, or economic hardship. Over time, each wave of immigrants has left its own imprint on public attitudes and policies throughout the country’s history. This pop-up panel exhibition by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History presents documents, maps, and images to tell selected stories of those who came to America, some by force and others by choice in search of a better future for themselves and later generations
Becoming the United States: Colonial America to Reconstruction
- April 16 – May 17, 2026
- Second Floor, Cheyenne
- Designed for all ages
Using items from the collection of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this pop-up panel exhibition explores individuals, groups, and documents that have contributed to who we are as a country and encourages students to think critically about the firsthand accounts of this era. Becoming the Unites States is designed to introduce upper elementary-aged students to the beginnings of American history and the skills involved in primary source analysis.
Lunch Bunch Book Club: The Bear
- Saturday, April 18, 2026
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Pine Bluffs Branch
- Designed for adults
Join in for an exciting discussion of the 2026 One Book, One Laramie County selection, The Bear by Andrew Krivak. Please bring a potluck style snack to share.
Blind Date with a Book: Intellectual Freedom Edition
- April 19 – April 25, 2026
- Second Floor, Cheyenne
- Designed for Grades K – 6
This National Library Week, unwrap a surprise read and celebrate the freedom to explore ideas. Throughout history, access to books and information has not always been guaranteed, yet libraries continue to support open access for all. Take a chance on a hidden title and honor the enduring right to explore, question, and discover.
About Common Ground: 250 Years of Stories in the Making
Common Ground: 250 Years of Stories in the Making is rooted in the idea that every story matters and every voice belongs. Through lectures, screenings, discussions, exhibits, reading challenges, and more, this celebration encourages members of the community to participate in meaningful exploration of history and shared experience. From local history to national milestones, the programs in this series offer many ways to engage with the past and reflect on the future we are building together.