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A M E R I C A A T 2 5 0 | H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L 11 AMERICA AT 250 • LETTERS FROM CONNECTICUT'S BUSINESS LEADERS On America's 250th anniversary, the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History reminds the public that history is not just about what happened, but what happens next. O ver 200 years ago, as the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approached, a group of Connecticut men sought to preserve our nation's history by collecting items to preserve and share the stories of the Revolutionary War. This effort led to the establishment of the Connecticut Historical Society in 1825, known today as the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History; the seventh historical society in the nation. Though the Museum's roots are deeply entwined with the American Revolution, it has continued to grow and evolve into a statewide resource that safeguards over 4.7 million items including images, documents, and objects that tell stories from across centuries and cultures. This Fourth of July offers an opportunity to reflect on our nation's founding and where our country stands 250 years later. Our newest exhibition, Rebellious, was developed to highlight the intrinsic connection between past and present. Rebellious presents how the Declaration of Independence—a rebellious act in itself—has motivated the people of Connecticut to pursue their own ideas of life, liberty, and happiness in Amer- ica, and encouraged them to express their independence in their own unique ways. Within the exhibition are stories like that of 18th century engraver Amos Doolittle of New Haven, who created an extraordinary series of etchings that visualized the accounts of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Moy family, who immigrat- ed to Connecticut in 1938 during the Chinese Exclusion Act and owned a laundry business in Bridgeport that became a staple of their community. Schoolteacher Prudence Crandall, who opened an academy for women in Canterbury in 1831, overcoming violent resistance from her neighbors and political obstacles from the state to educate young Black women when Sarah Harris asked to be ac- cepted into the school. A Puerto Rican matriarch named Olga Mele, who helped new arrivals from Puerto Rico to Hartford find work and community resources. The stories represented in Rebellious are a strong testimony of how America's past continues to motivate people and communities to come together, push back, and spark change. These are Connecticut stories: they share what is possible; they speak to the universal ideals of the Declaration, and they strive to be more inclusive of everyone. Just as the Museum's founders preserved stories from our nation's beginnings, the Connecticut Museum has continued its mission to preserve and share our state's rich culture and history with you every day. The Museum not only houses artifacts from the past, but it celebrates and shares cultural traditions—music, food, art, dress, and language—that unite us all. All these stories and moments are equally important in helping us understand where we've come from as a collective society and can help guide us toward the future. In this special issue of the Hartford Business Journal, please enjoy and reflect on the images of items from our vast collection that exem- plify the stories of Connecticut perseverance, growth, and evolution. We invite you to explore Connecticut's culture and history up close at the Museum located in Hartford's West End, and to reflect with us on this unique moment in our nation's history. Ilene Frank Executive Director and CEO, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History