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A look inside the political economy of early America
A 1700s etching of Boston

A 1700s etching of Boston, seen from the southeast, by engraver John Carwitham.

(Image: Library of Congress)

A look inside the political economy of early America

Penn economist Fernando Arteaga shares insights into the factors that led to the American Revolution and the later institutions that created the strong U.S. national economy.

3 min. read

A look at Revolutionary War nursing
Meg Roberts and Jessica Martucci looking at the Nursing the Revolution exhibition wall.

Curator Jessica Martucci, left, and guest curator Meg Roberts discuss the “Nursing the Revolution” exhibit at the Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing.

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A look at Revolutionary War nursing

A new exhibit at Penn’s Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing documents the long trajectory of nursing in America, going back to the Revolutionary War.

3 min. read

America’s first hospital to open museum at Pennsylvania Hospital’s historic Pine Street building
Pennsylvania Hospital exterior.

Since its founding in 1751, Pennsylvania Hospital has been a leader in patient care. Today, it is nationally recognized for programs in neurosurgery, obstetrics and high-risk maternal and fetal services, neonatology, behavioral health, and orthopaedics.

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America’s first hospital to open museum at Pennsylvania Hospital’s historic Pine Street building

Pennsylvania Hospital marks its 275th anniversary with exhibits that connect Penn Medicine’s medical history to modern breakthroughs.

2 min. read

Exploring the Declaration through ink and type
A hand preparing letterpress off a small paper with text.

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Exploring the Declaration through ink and type

A typesetting workshop at Penn’s Common Press invited participants to reinterpret lines from the Declaration of Independence as part of the Typography of Independence project and Penn’s America 250 programming.

3 min. read

Connecting with America’s 250th anniversary
The Declaration of Independence at the National Archives

The Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

(Image: Mark Schiefelbein via AP Images)

Connecting with America’s 250th anniversary

Ahead of the main event on July 4, 2026, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Penn students, faculty, and staff will have multiple early opportunities to engage with America’s 250th anniversary.

3 min. read

Bringing the US Navy’s 250-year history to life
J.J. Ahern stands in a storage area in the University Archives.

Penn archivist J.J. Ahern.

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Bringing the US Navy’s 250-year history to life

Penn archivist J.J. Ahern has been putting his professional experience and personal passion for the past to work as a volunteer for the Navy’s 250th anniversary curating an exhibition about the human side of the service’s history.

3 min. read

Penn prepares to mark America’s 250th birthday
A brick building with white windows is seen against a blue sky. An American flag flies to the left, and a clock sits in the cupola at the center.

Penn is planning two years of events around the Semiquincentennial theme, which marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.

(Image: iStock/Pgiam)

Penn prepares to mark America’s 250th birthday

Next year, the nation will celebrate the Semiquincentennial marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the lead up to celebrations, Penn faculty, staff, and students will have a role to play.