This year, as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Detroiters have the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of American democracy, belonging, and civic participation. The Stories of Us is a national public art and civic storytelling nonprofit designed to share lived experiences from communities across the country and ensure those stories become part of the nation’s evolving civic narrative.
Now open across three major civic, community spaces in Detroit - the Detroit Public Library's Main Library, Ralph C Wilson Jr Centennial Park, and Warren Gateway on the Joe Louis Greenway - The Stories of Us Talking Drum exhibition features 25 large-scale sculptures created by artists from Detroit and across the country. The exhibition includes the return of 10 sculptures originally commissioned from Detroit-based artists in 2024, alongside 15 additional works by artists from Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, and New York City that are being presented in Detroit for the first time.
The Stories of Us sparks our shared civic imagination — expanding whose stories are told, and who gets to tell them — in the pursuit of a more just America for all. Together, this is more than storytelling – it’s a civic act. It’s how we show up for one another, how we carry forward the promise of our nation, and how we help shape the next chapter of this country, so that the next 250 years are guided by the voices, experiences, and aspirations of the people who call it home today.
View the Library Exhibition
Explore ten sculptures outside of the Main Library on the corner of Woodward and Kirby. Each sculpture responds to themes exploring the past, present, and future of the United States, creating a collective reflection on identity, memory, resilience, and the unfinished work of democracy.
Share Your Story
You are invited to share your story, in your own voice: the moments that made you who you are, the people who carried you and the future you imagine. Stories are transcribed through the Remento platform and can be recorded in either English or Spanish. After your review, you can choose to share your story publicly as part of a collective narrative.
Share Your Story: www.thestoriesofus.org/detroitpl