Dole Institute plans America 250 events during World Cup summer

A free June 29 conversation with historian Beverly Gage and former U.S. archivist Colleen Shogan will anchor the Dole Institute of Politics’ America 250 push as Lawrence prepares for a summer expected to bring thousands of World Cup visitors and more activity around KU.

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics said all of its summer America at 250 events are free and open to the public, and Audrey Coleman said the combination of America250 programming and World Cup attention gives Lawrence a rare chance to connect local history with a global audience. That mix matters in Douglas County because the Dole Institute sits on the University of Kansas campus, where the events can draw students, faculty, neighbors and visitors already headed to town for the tournament.

The June 29 program, set for 7 p.m. at the institute, is being presented with the Lawrence Public Library and the Watkins Museum of History. It is one of the clearest signs that the series is designed to be more than ceremonial. Gage and Shogan bring name recognition and subject depth that should appeal to people looking for a substantive history event during a crowded summer calendar.

The schedule continues with historian Adam Hodge’s June 9 presentation, “Kansas 1776: A Dynamic Landscape,” at 3 p.m., and Tim Bascom’s July 14 talk, “The Boundless Game: Soccer Stories from Across the Street to Around the World,” at 3 p.m. KPR’s “105 Live” will add family-friendly music with Kansas artists every Thursday in June, starting at 1 p.m., with food trucks and family activities beginning at 11:30 a.m. Those events give the series a broader reach, from school-age children and parents to history buffs and soccer fans.

The Dole Institute’s America 250 programming also fits into a larger Lawrence effort. Four local cultural organizations, the Dole Institute, Watkins Museum of History, Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area and Lawrence Arts Center, formed a year-long America at 250 series. The institute’s exhibit, “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy,” opened Feb. 16 and runs through Sept. 7, using primary sources and selections from the Dole Archives about the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial.

Lawrence and Douglas County also launched Lawrence2026.com in December as a World Cup hub for local events, transportation, business resources, safety, dining and entertainment. Officials say the city expects thousands of visitors during the summer 2026 World Cup period and has even been considered as a possible base camp or training site. For downtown businesses, campus traffic and museums alike, the Dole Institute’s summer lineup is part of the same push to turn a global sports year into local spending, visibility and civic engagement.