BOCA RATON, FL (February 13, 2026) – The words are only 1,337 long. But they changed

the world.  On Wednesday, February 18, acclaimed historian, author, and Lynn University professor Dr. Robert Watson brings America’s founding document vividly to life in Declaration: The Story of American Independence, a special America 250 Town Hall Talk presented by The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum.

Due to strong community interest, the program has been relocated to The Studio at Mizner Park (located on the second floor above Eddie V’s and Yard House) to accommodate additional guests. Tickets are still available.

Rather than simply revisiting familiar lines, Dr. Watson will unpack the explosive political tension, philosophical debates, and personal risks that shaped the Declaration of Independence — and examine how its bold ideas still resonate nearly 250 years later.

For tickets, visit https://townhalltalkrobertwatson.eventbrite.com.

Complimentary parking is available in any Mizner Park garage. Upon entering the Studio space, guests may access the second floor via stairs or elevator.

Declaration: The Story of American Independence launches this season’s Town Hall Talks/America 250 edition, commemorating the nation’s semi-quincentennial.

Upcoming America 250 Town Hall Talks include:

March 17, 2026

Hypocrite’s Row

Eliot Kleinberg (Author and Retired Palm Beach Post Reporter)

Prohibition in Palm Beach County

April 8, 2026

The Puzzle of the Revolutionary War
Dr. Jason Sharples (Florida Atlantic University)
A strategic deep dive into battlefield realities versus popular myth.

April 24 & 25, 2026 – A Four-Part Series with Dr. Roger Smith

• The 14th Colony: The Revolution’s Best Kept Secret
• Women of the American Revolution: Lost Voices of America’s First Generation
• Spies! The Shadier Side of the American Revolution
• It Was the 4th of July… Or Was It?

June 17, 2026

South Florida in the 18th Century
Archaeologist Robert Carr explores the region long before statehood.

July 22, 2026

Spain: The Forgotten Alliance
Smithsonian scholar Martha Gutierrez-Steinkamp.

The series culminates in the debut of the major summer exhibition:

America250: The 14th Colony Exhibit
May 13 – August 27, 2026

The Town Hall Talks series is sponsored by the GOLS Foundation.

ABOUT THE SCHMIDT BOCA RATON HISTORY MUSEUM:

Located in Boca’s original 1927 Town Hall, The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the city’s rich history while connecting local stories to national milestones. Learn more and reserve tickets at: www.BocaHistory.org