Our Common Ground: Reflections on a Day of Creativity, Adventure, and Play

On May 14, 2026, the Rare Book and Special Collections Division welcomed visitors to the Library of Congress for Our Common Ground: 250 Years of Americans Engaging with Nature, a symposium exploring the many ways Americans have experienced and interpreted the natural world. Organized around the themes We Create, We Adventure, and We Play, the program brought together artists, performers, writers, and game designers alongside rare books, ephemera, and illustrated works from the Library’s collections. Highlights included Jessica C. White’s reflections on printmaking and Appalachian storytelling, a live "crankie" performance with Jessica C. White and musicians and scholars Kevin Kehrberg and Jeffrey A. Keith, Mike Rogge’s thoughts on adventure and the enduring spirit of print culture, and Elizabeth Hargrave’s discussion of transforming ecological systems into joyful board games. This recap revisits memorable moments from the day and shares recordings of each session and performance.