On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. This presentation will explore the heritage of Montana's Black and Eastern Asian communities largely through the contributions of these demographics to the region's rich histories of urban development and cultural heritage. For too long, the voices of the state's minority communities have been silenced. The time has come to construct a heritage that is representative of all Montanans.