In 2026, America marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and is celebrating on stages across America. Read on to find out what the Turner Center has planned.
Celebrating Our
Nation's 250th Anniversary
The Strange Case of Lady Liberty
The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, in partnership with Valdosta State University, presents The Strange Case of Lady Liberty, an America250 program exploring the hidden history of the Statue of Liberty.
Designed for general audiences—including adults, youth ages 10 and up, educators, and history enthusiasts—The Strange Case of Lady Liberty offers an engaging and thought-provoking experience. Created and performed by acclaimed storytellers Barry Stewart Mann and Deborah Strahorn, this detective-style storytelling performance examines the little-known roots of the Statue of Liberty and its connection with abolition through historical enactment, folklore, personal narrative, humor, and imagined reenactments. Audiences are invited to become more familiar with the national symbol while uncovering other truths about its origin.
