On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will celebrate its 250th birthday. To prepare for the big celebration, museums across the country are inviting the public to answer the question: “What’s your wish for America’s future?”
In a project designed by 26-year-old artist Katie Costa and developed by Made By Us, a nonprofit that promotes civic engagement among Gen-Z, thousands are responding.
The initiative has two components: One online, hosted by The New York Historical, where anyone across the nation can contribute to a virtual “wish wall,” sharing their hopes for the future of American democracy; and real-life “wish wall” installations in 30 cities.
Costa’s flagship mural is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History through Independence Day of this year. The project is part of Civic Season, an annual ritual that has been held between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July since 2021 to "spark a deeper connection with the United States," according to Made By Us.
The mural is a colorful, 28-foot piece with “portals” to the next 10, 50, and 100 years in the U.S., with prompts in both English and Spanish. Organizers say they anticipate at least 10,000 responses by the end of the installation.
“The portals invite visitors to step into the future and visualize themes and values they hold dear to them,” Costa said in an interview about the piece.
“Participants don’t need perfect answers, just a quick moment of curiosity and hope. Change begins with mindful intention. I hope this will be a memory that visitors can hold on to as a spark of hope that positive change is possible and is consistently in the works.”
The responses visible online are already indicative of that positive change, with ideas and dreams shaped by the founding of the country, along with the current political moment.
“My birthday wish for America is more empathy, more tolerance, more open-mindedness, more compromise, more sharing,” Karen from Virginia writes.
Brad from Utah chimes in, sharing his wish that “we rediscover what makes us all self-identified American citizens: A nation of immigrants seeking in common a commitment to the rule of law.”
“My wish is that we think deeply about who is and who has been included in the ‘we’ of ‘We The People,’” Anna from New York adds. “My wish is that we can honestly reckon with historical inequalities to build a more inclusive and true democracy moving forward.”
“No more mass shootings,” Alexandra from New Hampshire shares.
“My wish is for people to stand up and support the representative democracy we still have,” Barbara from Pennsylvania posits. “There is nothing so precious as the Constitution … vote wisely.”
“My wish is for clean air, clean water, vaccines, rule of law, safe lives, respect, equality, and peace,” Carol from New York writes. “For ALL, not a select few.”
“I wish for the U.S. to start thinking a lot more about the outcomes we want to see,” Connor of Washington adds. “Higher graduation rates, lower poverty rates, abundant housing options, good union jobs, etc. If we start with what we want to see, that’ll help us make it a reality.”
Connor’s point is aligned with the ultimate mission of the project: To help unite Americans in their pursuit of a better country.
“I hope people can take away the comfort of a shared vision,” Costa said about the wish walls. “You are not alone in imagining something better for our country and communities. I hope people feel a sense of connection to their imagination that can be fuel for change, no matter how big or small.”
Due to the interactive nature of the wish walls, Costa added that her design will never fully be “finished.” Instead, it will act as a living artwork built by the people who encounter it.
She said she envisioned it as a “live feed of dreams,” with each wish floating into a “big, collective cloud.”
“As you read through this shared collection of hope, you’ll notice more similarities than differences,” Costa added. “Our wishes aren’t isolated, they’re a part of a living network that can be uplifted and embraced to spark positive change.”
The wish walls won’t just disappear after the 250th birthday celebrations. The wishes at the Smithsonian will all be archived in a time capsule to be opened in 50 years, on America’s 300th birthday in 2075.
“The Wish Wall is an invitation for visitors to dream with unrestrained possibility, and to wish for something greater than each of us can accomplish alone,” Costa concluded.
“Your wishes are a testament to a future we are brave enough to imagine and a glimpse into our collective and hopeful perseverance. This piece is a reminder that our future is not fixed. It’s ours to reimagine together.”
Header image courtesy of Made By Us
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