Lightning Round #2 - 250 Con

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is the national professional association for history institutions and the staff and volunteers who make them run. AASLH offers resources, training, advocacy, research, and a sense of connectedness to over 5,500 institutional and individual members, as well as leadership for practitioners at the nation’s more than 21,000 history organizations. AASLH’s work is driven by the belief that history matters. AASLH strives to promote the history field’s key role in helping the American public to develop critical thinking skills, illuminate connections between past and present, and use history to make progress in American society.

In Fall 2025, PBS will premiere “The American Revolution,” a six-part film from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. The film will present the story of the men and women who waged and witnessed a war that changed the world. Weaving together a wide variety of perspectives from soldiers, civilians, and leaders—famous and forgotten, young and old, native and newcomer, enslaved and free, rich and poor, loyalist and patriot—“The American Revolution” will tell how, against the odds, thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast united in rebellion, won their independence, and established an American republic that still endures. “The American Revolution” will feature the largest engagement plan in PBS history, reaching into classrooms and communities through powerful storytelling and the power of public media. In support of the film, PBS member stations will partner with local organizations to host screenings and discussions that will engage communities around the film, the history, and the anniversary.  PBS member stations will also work with teachers in their local school districts, amplifying educational resources and hosting learning summits for teachers around the country.

PBS, with more than 330 member stations in communities around the United States, offers millions of Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content, available through the PBS App, YouTube, and PBS stations. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for free educational resources that are classroom-ready, aligned to state and national standards, and designed by teachers and subject matter experts.

Participants will learn how they can add historical landmarks and walking tours to Clio, a website and mobile app that guides millions of people to nearby historic sites. Clio is non-profit and free for everyone, with nearly 40,000 landmarks and 1700 walking tours, interpretive hiking trails, driving tours, and immersive virtual museum tours. Dr. Trowbridge will discuss lessons learned in his 12 years of working with hundreds of museums, libraries, historical societies, and universities who have used Clio and offer some quick tips for how to make everything from a single entry to a complete walking tour or virtual stie tour. For a quick introduction to Clio, please enjoy this one minute video on their YouTube page or the instructional guides and videos on their website. 

Clio Foundation is the non-profit foundation (501c3) that supports Clio's free website and mobile application. More information can be found on their website www.theclio.com and their mobile applications for iOS and Android. 

Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, is a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life. Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight. Craft is universal and democratic; it unites us by bringing people of all backgrounds and beliefs together. A deeply important carrier of tradition and cultural practice, the handmade connects us through history and time.

Craft in America is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit arts organization founded in 2004 with the mission to promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media. Their goals are: to document the importance of handmade objects and the artists who make them; to provide a gateway to discover, explore and experience craft; and to celebrate our nation’s cultures through craft.