America Heritage
Celebrating Very Special
A BY CARLY MAYBERRY
new multi-digi- tal initiative aims to honor the 56 signers of the
Declaration of Independence through music, animation, and interactive experiences as America approaches its 250th anniversary next year. Dubbed The 56 Project in
honor of the men who gath- ered in Pennsylvania to sign the historic document, it rec- ognizes the nation’s unparal- leled legacy via a showcase of songs, storytelling, technol- ogy, and education. “The 56 Project is the quintessential buffet of info, something for everyone and for all ages, whether you’re a history buff or not,” said Lee Elman, a TV producer, tech innovator, and execu-
250th Birthday The 56 Project honors America’s Founders through artificial intelligence.
tive producer of the project. The 56 Project site,
which Elman self-funded and launched last year, is still evolving with new con- tent. It includes sections like “Voices of Freedom,” which comprises 56 songs performed by young people about the signers. There’s a “Signers Sing”
section with AI versions of figures like Benjamin Frank- lin and John Adams belting out upbeat musical numbers. It’s meant to bring to life
their stories and those of oth- ers who played crucial roles in shaping American history. Elman wanted to make sure some songs featured lesser- known signers too. “The crazy thing about
the 56 Project is that there are seven or eight names that
everybody knows — Jeffer- son, Adams, etc. — and then you get these lesser-known people, and there’s so many of them,” Elman said. “I wanted to get other peo-
ple like Founding Fathers Benjamin Rush and George Clymer in there.” He also noted how some
of the website’s songs inten- tionally relate to issues of modern day. There’s I Grow Hemp,
which signifies what’s become a current day crop compared to tobacco, which several Founding Fathers grew and consumed. Elman also features the important women of the time.
The tune XX-YY featur-
ing Mary Draper, who was known for the help she gave the Continental Army, pays homage to the current battle related to boys playing in girls’ sports. One of Elman’s favorite
songs is Fists in the Air, per- formed by John Hancock, based on President Donald Trump’s reaction to last July’s assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Other sections include
a video of signers Franklin, Adams, and Thomas Jeffer-
“The 56 Project is dedicated to educating people of all ages to the importance of the Declaration of Independence.” — AI version of John Adams
son standing amid their fel- low Founders, emphasizing the significance and gravity of the document. “The 56 Project is dedi-
cated to educating people of all ages to the importance of the Declaration of Indepen- dence,” says an AI version of Adams. Other aspects include a
social media community called 56 Social, a podcast, and traveling interactive kiosks with the stories of the signers and a virtual signing experience. “I think it’s a great way
to learn that history is not so stale,” Elman said about all the technological features meant to draw people to learn about the nation’s past. Elman said traveling
kiosks would likely start after Christmas, and go on the road to shopping malls and family events in cities of the original 13 colonies. The nation’s semiquin- centennial — marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Indepen- dence and featuring events and activities geared toward the commemoration of the country’s founding and its role in history — will take place July 4, 2026. While Philadelphia will
serve as a central location for celebrations, the White House in Washington, D.C., and other American cities will also host events.
36 NEWSMAX | AUGUST 2025
THE56PROJECT.COM
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