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As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, many Minnesotans are comparing it to another milestone: the 1976 Bicentennial.

“Even though there still was dissension in this country, I think there was a sense that we, together, could make things work,” said Kathleen O’Halloran Blake, 77. “I’m not so sure that’s true today.”

As MPR reporters spoke to Minnesotans across the state, they found a mixture of pride, unease, disappointment, hope and fear about the nation. 

Many pointed to political violence, inflation, gas prices and the war in Iran, the integrity of elections and even the rise of artificial intelligence. Others said they were grateful to be able to openly practice their faith and the U.S. was still a land of opportunity. 

Today, in that conflicted atmosphere, Minnesotans will celebrate and observe the semiquincentennial at events big and small, patriotic and otherwise. 

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Blake was attending the “Unfinished Freedom: 250 Years On” community concert in Grand Rapids hosted by the progressive organization Indivisible. As was Tom Legg, 72, of Palisade, Minn.

“I've never been a flag-waving patriot, but I certainly was not down and out about it,” Legg said. “I'm scared for the future and, for the Bicentennial, no, I was not afraid.”

For Frank Bibeau, 68, who also attended the Grand Rapids concert, conflicted feelings about the country are nothing new.

“It's always a dichotomy of yin and yang,” said Bibeau, a tribal attorney based on the Leech Lake Reservation. “In Indian Country, you think about all the things we lost and all the things that were saved for us by our old tribal leaders”

Bibeau said it’s an ongoing struggle. He’s wary of the politics of the country as he looks to the future, so he’s focusing on working on issues locally. 

Many others looked ahead to the future of the country with optimism. At the “Patriot Picnic” in Lino Lakes, an event hosted June 25 by the Minnesota Senate District 36 Republican organization, Becky Smith was thankful.

“I definitely feel like we are a free country,” said Smith, who lives in White Bear Lake.”That is so wonderful, and for me specifically, just to be able to celebrate my faith, and to not be ashamed of that.”

Stephen Laliberte, who ran for White Bear Lake mayor in 2025, was also at the picnic. He is happy with the direction of the U.S. 

“America just lifts so many people out of poverty if they're willing to work,” Laliberte said. “What's the American dream? You can become anything you want to be.”

At a semiquincentennial celebration July 2 at the Moorhead Public Library, Nicole Anderson, 35, with her toddler in tow, said she tries to focus on her community.

“I try to now kind of find our local good stories,” Anderson said. “With a toddler, it can be a little bit easier to focus on the little things and a little bit harder to focus on bigger picture things. State-of-the-country wise, we're more focused on the state of Minnesota and Moorhead.” 

Anderson said her own family emigrated from Norway many generations ago. 

Reflecting on the 250th anniversary, she said she’s not happy with the U.S., but still loved the country. 

“I still think of it as a land of opportunity, basically, and I love seeing how immigrants, from those first sort of waves 200 years ago to now, can join and make the community something special for themselves,” she said.

Back on June 17, people gathered at the Anoka Riverfront Memorial park to begin celebrating the 250th with Mayor Erik Skoguist during a rendition of the National Anthem led by the Sons of the American Revolution. People dressed in historical clothing, fired muskets, made arts and crafts and visited booths hosted by the Anoka Masons, the American Legion and more.

Barbara Thurston, 72, the chaplain of the Anoka chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, taught kids about the Declaration of Independence. She even had a copy they could sign. 

As for the current state of the nation, Thurston was a little worried, but still trusted the American experiment.  “We still have our freedom, we can exercise that by voting and contacting congressmen and legislative people,” Thurston said. “It all works out in the end anyway."

Kerry Johnson, a drummer for the Sons of the American Revolution, said he loves America,  but is unhappy with its present state. 

“I don't think we're really living up to what the founding fathers and mothers had envisioned for us,” Johnson said.

Johnson recognized that many Minnesotans may not be in the mood to celebrate, while pointing to the country’s overall resilience. 

“Our country has been through so many challenges in the past. We've had a civil war, we've had our capital burned, we've almost come to extinction many times,” Johnson said. “Dire or not, we need to celebrate, and we need to affirm our nation, and still have hope.”

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On the U.S. semiquincentennial, Minnesotans across the state feel a mixture of pride, unease, disappointment, hope and fear about the nation. 

On the U.S. semiquincentennial, Minnesotans across the state feel a mixture of pride, unease and hope about the nation.

Minnesotans on the American Experiment, 250 years on

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