What We Do

In 2026, the National Park Service will join the nation in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The aspirational vision in the Declaration of Independence defines the ideals that have set this nation on a course of continued work toward a more perfect union. Throughout the commemoration, the National Park Service will proudly serve the American people by embracing our mission to provide opportunities for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship program will contribute new and dynamic programming, an array of public engagement opportunities, and interpretive products to the commemoration, inspiring audiences to consider anew the meanings of freedom and self-government in a diverse and noisy union.

Humanities are the disciplines that help us gather, analyze, and interpret stories about being human and living in the world with other humans. The Mellon Fellows are experts in humanities fields such as American Studies, anthropology, archaeology, ethnic studies, history, language and literature, museology, philosophy, and women’s and gender studies. Using the tools and approaches available through these disciplines to collect, sift, and arrange stories of our historic places, the Fellows’ work will enrich our understanding of the significance of these places, to our past and to our collective future. Previous Fellows have served on exhibit development teams, led audience-centered dialogues, produced podcast series, created extensive online content, led in-person and virtual training sessions, and organized virtual public events.