In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the MMFA presents the final exhibition in this series drawn from the permanent collection, focusing on the history of the United States. Since the establishment of the Thirteen Colonies, labor has shaped the nation’s development. While rooted in rural agriculture, the idea of labor soon expanded beyond physically demanding work to include mental, creative, and intellectual effort. Artists, poets, musicians, and writers all contributed to the creative labor that continues to define American cultural identity.

As the country shifted from an agrarian economy to an increasingly urban society shaped by the industrial revolution, new forms of work emerged that were supported by expanding access to education and training. For many Americans, flourishing industries offered unprecedented opportunities for better standard of living; however, labor was not an equitable path for all. Enslaved peoples, indentured laborers, and child workers faced dangerous, dehumanizing conditions that persisted until the introduction of federal labor protections.

America250: The American Worker traces the evolution of labor in the United States and reflects on the many ways work has defined, sustained, and challenged American life. Spanning across different forms of labor, the exhibition invites visitors to consider how work has shaped the nation and continues to influence it today.