A MUSEUM+ Program

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING

From Peoria to D.C.! I Hear America Singing will be performed in the nation’s capitol to celebrate America 250.

See the performance on the National Mall on the Valor Stage, July 1, 2026 at 7 p.m.

As part of the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s commemoration of America 250, we are proud to say that a performance created by museum commission, I Hear America Singing, is going national.

I Hear America Singing is an original performance created in partnership with Shot in the Dark Productions. This special performance brings America’s story to life through the power of song—honoring 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is the inaugural performance of a show that will go on to travel as a gift to the nation to celebrate 250 years of America, and share our music with the next generation. 

This pioneering performance adds the voices of Americans from various walks of life to a reading of the Declaration of Independence, then combined with the performance itself. 

Inspired by Walt Whitman’s famous poem, I Hear America Singing weaves together a dynamic collection of music that reflects the nation’s evolving pursuit of liberty and the promises set forth in 1776. From traditional spirituals and work songs like “Deep River” and “Bound for the Promised Land,” to the works of celebrated composers and songwriters such as Paul Simon, Charles Ives, Jason Robert Brown, and Stephen Schwartz, this performance traces the American journey toward freedom, unity, and hope.

Echoing the voices of Whitman, Lincoln, Langston Hughes, Dr. King, and generations of Americans striving toward a more perfect union, this musical evening invites audiences to reflect, remember, and reimagine the nation’s ongoing quest to fulfill the ideals of its founding.

This performance is made possible through the generous support of Linda Beth and Ed Sutkowski, whose sponsorship powers the museum’s MUSEUM+ initiative—a bold commitment to expanding performance, arts, and cultural experiences for the people of central Illinois.

Join us for two unforgettable performances where history, music, and hope converge—and hear America singing anew.

Sponsored by Linda Beth and Ed Sutkowski, America 250 donors, Visionary Society, Friends of Performance.