250 stories. 250 years. One nation, still becoming.

Share your story Explore the stories

To mark America's 250th anniversary, Story of US is collecting 250 personal stories from individuals across the country. Each one reflects a family's journey, an identity, and what belonging in America has meant. Together they form a living portrait of the nation at its milestone moment.

No nation begins as a certainty.

It begins as a bet.

Two hundred fifty years ago, a small group of people bet that ordinary citizens could govern themselves better than any king. It was not a safe bet. It is still not finished. But the bet held, and word of it traveled: that where you start does not have to determine where you end. That belonging could be built, not just inherited.

Read the whole story of the bet

250 stories to collect

250 years of America

50 states to reach

61 of 250 collected so far, from 18 states. The portrait is just beginning.

Every dot is a person.

Stories land on the map where their tellers live, city by city, state by state. Follow a dot far enough and it becomes a family, a kitchen, a language, a life.

Laguna Niguel, California New York City, New York Denver, Colorado New York City, New York New York City, New York Flushing, New York Manhattan, New York Irvine, California Irvine, California Pasadena, California Yorba Linda, California Worcester, Massachusetts New York, New York New York, New York New York, New York New York, New York New York, New York Henderson, Nevada New York, New York New York, New York Long Island, New York New York, New York New York, New York New York, New York New York, New York Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Flushing, New York Long Island, New York Long Island, New York Long Island, New York Irvine, California New York City, New York New York City, New York New York City, New York New York City, New York New York City, New York Connecticut New York City, New York New York City, New York Massachusetts New Jersey Pennsylvania New York City, New York North Carolina Ohio Texas Florida New York City, New York Wisconsin Washington Santa Fe, New Mexico New York City, New York Richmond, Virginia Vermont New York City, New York Cleveland, Ohio New York City, New York Atlanta, Georgia Boston, Massachusetts New York, New York

Explore the full map

Not one story told 250 times.

250 different stories that happen to share an address. A few of them, first.

Story #33 of 250

“Loneliness was once my biggest fear; now it is my greatest strength.”

Sheu Fangyi

New York City, New York · Principal dancer

Story #44 of 250

“Sometimes adaptation is how identity travels.”

Huang Jingyi

New York City, New York · Food entrepreneur and television cook

Story #28 of 250

“Exposure to a crisis at this scale gives you the insight and resilience no classroom can teach.”

Dr. Wang Yunren

Flushing, New York · Trauma surgeon and clinic founder

Story #52 of 250

“And above all, I wanted to find my way back to my mother.”

Yang Zhengming

Santa Fe, New Mexico · University professor

Story #43 of 250

“You can carry grief and still allow yourself happiness.”

Li Lu

Pennsylvania

Your story belongs here.

The form takes 10 to 15 minutes. There are no wrong answers, and our team follows up before anything goes live.

Share your story