Our History
History
Visual timeline with key milestones – pledge launch, 20k signers, porcfest start, liberty forum start, etc.
Brakey Notes:
– Add first New Hampshire Liberty Forum (2008) – Ron Paul featured speaker?
– Edward Snowden at Liberty Forum
– First 100 movers arrived?
2001
Foundation
Jason Sorens, then a Yale doctoral student, publishes “Announcement: The Free State Project”, launching the idea of a political migration to concentrate 20,000 libertarians in a low-population state.
2003
New Hampshire Selected
A vote amongst participants using the Condorcet method chooses New Hampshire as the target destination for the project.
Governor Craig Benson publicly welcomes the Free State Project, expressing genuine enthusiasm at the state Libertarian Party convention and urging participants: “Come on up. We’d love to have you.”
2004
First Porcupine Freedom Festival (PorcFest)
Launch of the Porcupine Freedom Festival (PorcFest) in New Hampshire, a now-iconic annual gathering of freedom-minded people.
2005
Mission Refinement
The Free State Project adopts a formal mission statement focused on life, liberty, and property.
2016
Move Triggered!
On February 3, 2016 the Free State Project announces reaching 20,000 signed Statements of Intent, officially “triggering the move” to New Hampshire.
2023
New Leadership
On December 1, 2023, Maine Senator Eric Brakey was named the Executive Director of the Free State Project, bringing renewed focus and leadership to the organization.
