Common Ground: May Events

Celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial at the Laramie County Library System

Our Common Ground series continues this May with a lineup of programs and events that invite you to explore new 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.

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.

The Virginian 1902-2002

• April 23 – June 6, 2026
• First Floor, Cheyenne
• Designed for all ages

The Virginian by Owen Wister, is widely considered to be the prototypical American Western novel. This exhibit, on loan from the American Heritage Center, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the publication of this classic literary work. Created from materials in the Owen Wister Papers at the American Heritage Center, it provides insight into the creation of the novel.

The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Stories with Andrew Krivak

• Saturday, May 2, 2026
• 2:00 – 4:00 pm
• Sunflower Room, Cheyenne
• Designed for young adults and teens

Join Andrew Krivak, author of the One Book, One Laramie County selection The Bear, for a writing workshop designed to help you find your voice and boost your creative confidence. Whether you are dreaming up your first short story or polishing something bigger, this workshop for teen and young adult writers is an opportunity to learn from a celebrated author whose work captivates readers with its clarity, imagination, and emotional depth. Come curious and ready to discover new ways to strengthen your storytelling. 

An Evening with Andrew Krivak

• Saturday, May 2, 2026
• 6:00 – 9:00 pm
• Cottonwood Room, Cheyenne
• Designed for adults and teens

You’ve read The Bear, now meet the author! Join us as we conclude One Book, One Laramie County with a very special event featuring Andrew Krivak. This community event will include a reading from the book, a discussion with audience Q&A, and a book signing. Let’s come together and connect through shared reading, thoughtful dialogue, and the power of story. 

Celebrating 250: America in the Movies

• Wednesday, May 6, 2026
• 1:30 – 3:30 pm
• Pine Bluffs Branch
• Designed for adults

This month’s movie is Hidden Figures, rated PG. Popcorn and drinks are provided but feel free to bring your own snack. Movies run from February through June.

Common Ground: Community Scavenger Hunt

• May 9 – May 23, 2026
• Pine Bluffs
• Designed for all ages

Get to know a little more about Pine Bluffs town history. Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the library and start searching! Each clue features a local community member standing near a historic or not-so-historic place in Pine Bluffs. Mark off and write the name of each spot you find. When finished, bring your sheet back to the Pine Bluffs Branch Library by May 23rd for a small prize.

Becoming the United States: Colonial America to Reconstruction

• May 19 – June 6, 2026
• Burns 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.

Immigration: An American Story

• May 19 – June 6, 2026
• Pine Bluffs
• 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

Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy

• May 21– July 4, 2026
• Cheyenne
• 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.

Wyoming Dinosaurs

• Wednesday, May 27, 2026
• 3:30 – 4:30 pm
• Pine Bluffs
• Designed for adults

Join us for an experience of DINOSAUR proportions in anticipation of our Summer Reading Challenge beginning June 1. Have fun with a miniature dinosaur dig as we learn more about Wyoming dinosaurs and our state dinosaur, the Triceratops!

PBS Screening: Wisdom Keepers: Repairing America’s Broken Social Bonds

• Wednesday, May 27, 2026
• 6:00 – 7:00 pm
• Cottonwood Room, Cheyenne
• Designed for adults

Join us for a screening of “Repairing America’s Broken Social Bonds,” an episode from PBS’s Wisdom Keepers, featuring renowned author and New York Times columnist David Brooks. In this thought-provoking conversation, Brooks explores the deep fractures in American society and offers insights on how to rebuild trust, strengthen community ties, and foster a culture of connection. Drawing from his extensive work on social fabric and moral renewal, Brooks shares practical ideas for healing divisions and creating a more unified future. The screening will be followed by a discussion.

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.