America 250

America at 250

The largest and most inclusive anniversary observance in the nation’s history will have a major impact on tourism • By Randy

Mink

Group travel organizers, state and local tourism bureaus, and merchandisers of all stripes are hoping to reap big rewards in 2026, when

the United States will be celebrating the 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, of the Declaration of Independence.

The red-letter day will be July 4, the day our nation’s groundbreaking document was signed, but commemorative events will be taking place in the months before and after. America250, the official non-partisan entity charged by Congress with

planning the anniversary, is spearheaded by the congressionally appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.

Many are already comparing America250 celebrations to the country’s bicentennial bash in 1976, a star-spangled year that, for those old enough to remember, evokes memories bathed in red, white and blue. There were sculptures and monuments created for the occasion, special museum exhibitions, historical reenactments, USA-branded keepsakes, parades, and other festivities in towns big and small. Existing festivals took on patriotic and Revolutionary themes.

Former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios, who heads America250 as chair of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, fondly recalls observing bicentennial fetes as an

11-year-old in Northern California, where she grew up with eight siblings raised by a single mother, an immigrant from Mexico. She watched sailing ships gather in Boston and New York harbors on her family’s black-and-white television, visited the national Freedom Train exhibit when it stopped in Oakland and witnessed the Fourth of July fireworks.

“I remember feeling a strong love of country during the bicentennial in 1976,” Rios said. “I want my kids— and all Americans—to experience that same feeling for the upcoming semiquincentennial.”

So far, 43 U.S. states and territories have established a 250 commission to coordinate festivities in their respective jurisdictions. Much of the focus in 2026

will be on the Eastern Seaboard, where colonial America had its beginnings.

Sharing Ideas

In March 2024, more than 450 attendees from 34 states and more than 50 Virginia localities met to share ideas at Colonial Williamsburg for the second annual “A Common Cause to All” conference. Hosted by the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, it offered inspiration and networking opportunities for the educators, historical institutions, and political and civic leaders who gathered. A theme running throughout the forum was how the 250 commemoration can bring together and unite Americans, much as the Bicentennial did in 1976. Observance of the milestone can also increase interest in American history for all ages, but particularly for children, as many speakers emphasized. Sessions focused on teacher resources, digital content, multi-state collaboration, Gen Z engagement, democracy in polarizing times, and engaging diverse and underserved communities.

“Once again, we come together in common cause to continue building collaborative programming and events to commemorate our nation’s semiquincentennial,” said Carly Fiorina, board chair of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. “We are committed to educating our fellow Americans about the entirety of the complex but nevertheless inspiring story of our nation’s founding, engaging with every community and ultimately inspiring our fellow citizens to continue the work to form a more perfect union.”

Ken Burns’ Documentary

Attendees in Williamsburg got a sneak peak at Ken Burns’ new documentary “The American Revolution,” which will air on PBS stations in 2025. Already

THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

Halifax, NC

Once upon a time, in the heart of North Carolina, there was a place where history whispered through the streets and where the spirit of independence was born. That place was Halifax County, and its gem, Historic Halifax, is a portal to a different era. The “Birthplace of American Independence” has embarked on an extraordinary journey through time, a two-year-long celebration of America’s 250th year! The State of North Carolina and the County of Halifax are hosting a revolutionary celebration!

Make plans now to walk the footpaths and visit centuries-old buildings that stand as a living testament to the courage of those who once gathered here. It was in this very place, on April 12, 1776, that the Halifax Resolves were adopted—an audacious call for complete independence from Great Britain. This document paved the way for America’s declaration of independence and left an indelible mark on the nation’s history. Special tours, events, and reenactments will be staged throughout the two years leading to the Grand Celebration of our Nation’s Independence in July 2026.

On August 1, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read in North Carolina for the first time at the Courthouse Site in Historic Halifax. Make plans to attend Independence Comes to NC on August 1 at 7:00 pm for a reenactment of the historic moment!

While in Halifax, stroll down King Street and enjoy farm-to-table dining at The Hen & The Hog. This Halifax eatery supports local farmers, and flavors change with the season. Two Doors Down offers a lighter fare, and The Trophy Room is a local pub with a “wild” atmosphere. Plan to shop in a multi-merchant venue, The Bass House, for locally made products.

Halifax County

Let us Help You Plan Your Trip

America will look to the past while planning for the future in 2026.

six years in the making, the six-part, 12-hour series will look at the fight for America’s independence and the birth of the United States.

America Waves

Rios is helming the America Waves campaign, which will encourage everyone to pause their personal celebrations on Independence Day in 2026 at 2:50 p.m. and collectively wave their American flags. Also on that day, a time capsule containing memorabilia from all 50 states will be buried at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Leading America250 efforts in

New England, Masschusetts held a weekend-long event honoring the semiquincentennial anniversary of the Boston Tea Party in December 2023. During that monumental event leading up to the Revolution, colonists protested taxes imposed by the British by destroying 92,000 pounds of London’s East India Company tea on December 16, 1773. Re-enactments in Boston were staged at Faneuil Hall, Old South Meeting House, Boston’s Downtown Crossing and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

In Yorktown, Virginia from November 7-10, 2024, a similar re-enactment will commemorate the Yorktown Tea Party, a

less famous cousin of the Boston protest. On November 7, 1774, rebellious colonists stormed the waterfront, climbed aboard the ship Virginia and emptied two half chests of tea into the York River. Similar protests against British taxation and lack of colonial representation in Parliament occurred in other colonies as well.

“It’s crucial to remember that the Boston Tea Party was not an isolated incident,” said Michael Steen, director of education of the Watermen’s Museum and chair of the Yorktown Tea Party 250th Anniversary Planning Committee.

As one of the three points in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, Yorktown—

along with Williamsburg and Jamestown—promises to be a focus of VA250 celebrations for the next two years. Perennially popular with group tours, it is home to the highly regarded American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown Settlement, two other premier living history museums, also will appear in many Virginia itineraries, as will Historic Jamestowne museum and archaeological excavation site and Yorktown Battlefield, a National Park Service unit.

Multiple Virginia towns and historical attractions this fall will observe the Lafayette Grand Tour 200th Anniversary, which commemorates the 1824-1825 U.S. tour made by France’s Major General Marquis de Lafayette on his return to the country for which he helped gain independence. He was feted in 24 states with parades, balls and other festivities. Lafayette bicentennial events will take place in Fredericksburg, Yorktown, Loudoun County, Charlottesville (Monticello), Fairfax County (Mount Vernon) and other locations. The Fredericksburg Area Museum just unveiled the exhibition Lafayette’s World: Revolutionary Ideals and the Limits of Freedom.

A Fleet of Tall Ships

In June of 2026, Sail250 Virginia will feature an international fleet of tall ships and military vessels in Norfolk and other ports in the Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay region. Offering free visits to the public, the fleet also will sail into Boston, New York, Baltimore and New Orleans.

A signature VA250 exhibition will run from March 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026 at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond. Titled Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation, it intends to inspire appreciation for the actions of

iconic and ordinary individuals who brought about a model of democratic government. The opening coincides with the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech. The spellbinder, to

be reenacted at St. John’s Church on March 23, 2025, galvanized the revolutionary spirit.

Other upcoming exhibitions at the museum include Free Black People in Virginia (June 14, 2025 to July 5, 2026), a

look at how free black Virginians achieved their freedom, fought for civil rights and persevered within a legal system that recognized them as free but not equal. We the People (March 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027) will spotlight those who have made Virginia the place it is and the impact of the immigrant experience throughout the Commonwealth’s history.

The small town of Halifax, which claims the title “Birthplace of American Independence,” is the focal point for North Carolina’s America250 observances. Its two-year celebration kicked off in April at Halifax State Historic Site, which commemorates

the Halifax Resolves, a document generally considered the first official act of any colony to sever ties from Great Britain. Created by North Carolina’s Fourth Provincial Congress in Halifax, it empowered North Carolina representatives to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to vote for independence and urged the other 12 colonies to follow suit.

In anticipation of America250 celebrations, Princess Cruises is offering a “Historic America” cruisetour in 2025 that combines a seven-night land tour with overnight stays in Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Staunton, Gettysburg and

Philadelphia prior to boarding a sevenday Canada/New England cruise on the Enchanted Princess roundtrip from New York City. Departure dates are August 16, 23, 30; September 6, 13, 20, 27; and October 4, 11 and 18, 2025. Rates start at $4,529 per person.

Land highlights on the cruisetour include Washington, D.C. monuments and museums, Arlington National Cemetery, George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, Jamestown Settlement and a full day in Colonial Williamsburg. Ports of call on the cruise are Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Portland, Maine; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Multiple towns and historical attractions across the country will observe the semiquincentennial.

America’s 250th: A Historic Opportunity for Travel & Exploration

This anniversary is a chance to reflect on the past and look toward the future

• By Rosie Rios

In two short years, our nation will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence – a remarkable milestone built on the ideals of freedom, justice, democracy, and equality.

While two years may feel like an eternity, the planning for the 250th commemoration is already well underway. This anniversary, 250 years in the making, is about so much more than just a date in the history books – it’s a historic opportunity for all Americans to pause, reflect on our past, and envision our shared future.

It’s a chance to explore.

To rediscover what being an American means to each of us.

To encourage our children to experience history outside of the classroom.

And to learn something new, whether it’s in our own backyards or halfway across the country.

Already, education and exploration are at the heart of the national effort to celebrate the 250th through initiatives like America’s Field Trip, a nationwide scholastic contest inviting students to reflect on what America means to them, with awardees receiving behindthe-scenes experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites. Beginning this July, the first cohort of students will begin embarking on trips across the country, experiencing unforgettable sites like the Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone National Park, and Fort Point for the very first time. The contest will start again in the Fall, and continue to expand for more students and with new experiences in the leadup to 2026.

But America’s Field Trip is just the start. Museums and historic institutions across the country have already

begun planning their programming and sharing resources. Businesses large and small are eagerly getting involved, and plans from the federal to the state and local level are well underway to ensure that this is the largest and most inclusive commemoration in American history. This effort goes well beyond well-known landmarks and the 13 original colonies, including countless lesser-known historical sites in every corner of the country. From Fairbanks to Philadelphia, every city, every state, every territory, and every American has a story to share – and there’s never been a better opportunity to share it.

And while there’s no question that we live in divisive times, it’s precisely because of these challenges that an effort like this is so needed and welcome. This is an anniversary for all Americans – a chance for us to take a step back and to learn from each other and our history – the tragedy, the triumph, and the untold stories in between.

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege to crisscross the country – from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, New York City to Montevallo and so many cities in between – speaking with business and civic leaders, nonprofits, historians, and community organizations about the upcoming 250th. And the message I’ve heard is loud and clear – we’re ready to meet this moment, together.

I will never forget the awe and wonder of experiencing the Bicentennial as a child in 1976. I still have my Bicentennial quarter and will always remember the sights and sounds of the Freedom Train, and the feeling that I could accomplish anything. As we inch closer to July 4th, 2026, my goal is to capture that same feeling for millions of Americans, and for us all to feel that this is the land of opportunity all over again.

Rosie Rios is Chair of America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Make History

Take the opportunity to commemerate history in the place that started it all. Immerse yourself in America’s rich heritage with one-of-a-kind living history museums, enjoy farm-to-table freshness, explore year-round adventures and many special events to commemorate the occasion. Visit Williamsburg is the ultimate resource for all of your group planning needs.

For inquires and updates on the upcoming events, please contact: 757-920-6294 | sales@visitwilliamsburg.com | visitwilliamsburg.com/events