Getting Ready to Mark America’s 250th Anniversary
2026 should be a boon for domestic travel as Americans celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary this summer.
It also promises to be a banner year for communicators to highlight the historic attractions and sites that played a critical role in shaping present-day America.
Topping many “must-see” destination lists will be iconic monuments and parks tied to the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, including Independence Hall in Philadelphia; Fraunces Tavern in New York City, where George Washington bade farewell to his troops; Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania; and the National Archives in Washington, D.C., which houses the original Declaration along with the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
However, attractions not directly associated with the nation’s founding, but still central to the American story, may also be worth a visit.
“I live in one of the original 13 Colonies, so it’s easy for a state like mine to highlight our ties to the founding of our country,” notes Gary David, program director and host of the South Carolina Morning Newscast, which airs weekdays in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina.
While acknowledging that it may be more challenging for states and communities without direct colonial ties, David says they can still focus on the unique contributions their regions have made to the nation’s collective story.
“Use this as an opportunity to strengthen our unity, emphasizing that all of us play a part in moving this country ahead for the next 250 years,” he says, adding that communities should continue to promote the local attractions that make them compelling destinations for both international and domestic travelers.
As examples, David points to the Abraham Lincoln sites in Springfield, Illinois; the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta; the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis; the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City; and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
“Each, in its own way, is part of our collective story and the beautiful, sprawling mosaic that is America,” he says.
Ellen Ferrera, contributing writer for the Moultrie County News-Progress in Illinois and founder and past president of the Illinois Association of Nonprofits, agrees.
“I would encourage every American to visit the one place they have always wanted to see and get to know America,” she says. “It might be Niagara Falls, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Grand Canyon, the tulip festival in Washington state’s Skagit Valley under the Cascade Mountains, Gettysburg, whale watching in Maine or the redwood forests.”
As an added incentive, Ferrera suggests officials from each of the 50 states and territories, along with Washington, D.C., sponsor a contest offering trips to their locations.
“The prize could include airfare for two to the state capital or largest city, hotel accommodations for a week, a rental car to travel within the state, gifts of local products and gift certificates for dinner at notable restaurants,” she says.
Ferrera adds that the contest could take the form of a quiz testing knowledge of interesting state facts or a scavenger hunt focused on historical landmarks and artifacts.
“The obvious plan would be to use all forms of public media to promote anniversary activities and enlist local celebrities to help amplify the message,” she notes.
In this special 250th anniversary year, both David and Ferrera urge Americans to “go see America, the beautiful, still the grandest country on Earth from sea to shining sea.”
