As the U.S. celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, cities across the country are creating their own unique ways to mark the occasion.
“Local celebrations are essential to the semiquincentennial,” Rosie Rios, chair of America250, the nonpartisan organization Congress established in 2016 to oversee planning and coordination of the celebrations, told Smart Cities Dive in an email. “If the 250th anniversary is going to resonate across the country, it must be shaped by the people and communities who make up the American story. That is why the role of cities, towns and local communities is so important to the success of this historic milestone.”
The law establishing America250 designated Boston, Charleston, South Carolina, New York City and Philadelphia as “leading cities” for event planning because of their roles in the nation’s founding. But the nonprofit arm of the commission has provided guidance for any and all communities to host celebrations.
“Whether it is a citywide festival, a neighborhood gathering, a volunteer project, a student program or a community storytelling initiative, local celebrations help ensure that Americans can participate in ways that feel personal and meaningful,” Rios said.
From concerts and museum exhibits to reenactments and neighborhood block parties, cities are highlighting their place in the nation’s story.
Musical tributes
Many communities are using music to tell their story.
In Chicago, the Park District’s America 250: Chicago’s Parks, America’s Stage features performances such as “America: Songs of Protest and Freedom.” Additionally, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “America 250: A Musical Journey,” including a tribute to composer John Williams and filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s collaborations, is running throughout this month.
“When you think of Chicago, music plays a big role in who we are and the influence on American culture and music culture across the world,” said Jason Lesniewicz, senior director of cultural tourism and accessibility at Choose Chicago, the city’s official marketing organization. “Chicago has exported and has a variety of genres that we claim as original to Chicago, like electrified blues and modern jazz and modern gospel and house.”
Planning began last September. Attracting visitors is a key goal, and “we will definitely see spikes” in tourism over the July Fourth weekend, he added.
Elsewhere, Greenville, Texas, will present “The Music of America,” a documentary tracing U.S. music from the Revolutionary era to rock ’n’ roll. On July 3 and 4, Nashville will host “Let Freedom Sing!” It promises to be Music City’s largest-ever Independence Day celebration and features artists such as Clint Black and Sublime.
Teachable moments
Other communities are emphasizing education.
In Massachusetts, museums have opened so many exhibits tied to the anniversary that the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism created an MA250 sticker “to identify objects in their exhibits or entire exhibits to draw the attention to the significant items from the Revolution or with connections to the Revolution,” said Kate Fox, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Her office worked closely with Boston, Lexington and Concord, where the opening “shot heard round the world” launched the Revolutionary War in 1775.
Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts opened “Art of the Americas: 1700-1800” on June 19. Highlights include Gilbert Stuart’s unfinished portrait of George Washington and Paul Revere’s “Sons of Liberty Bowl.”
The Concord Museum’s “Revolutionary Legacies” exhibit examines how the Revolution has been remembered through commemorations in 1875, 1975 and 2025. The Lexington History Museum has several exhibitions related to the war, including two about women’s contributions.
Other locales are opening new presidential galleries. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will debut in Medora, North Dakota, on July 4, and the Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago on June 19.
Reliving history
Historical reenactments are bringing key moments back to life.
At Fort Ticonderoga in New York, Real Time Revolution recreates events from the war on the dates they occurred. From July 3 to 5, visitors can experience the Northern Continental Army’s retreat to the fort and its defense against advancing British forces.
At Fort Moultrie off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, uniformed and civilian reenactors will be onsite June 27 and 28 answering questions about the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, which took place June 28, 1776.
“The British pounded away at the fortification for the better part of a full day and were completely unsuccessful,” said Brett Bennett, president of SC250 Charleston. “The commemoration will consist of ceremonial cannon fire from a ship — the Spirit of South Carolina — that will be out on the water. There a tall ship that will represent a British warship, and then there will be a ceremonial return shot from land near Fort Moultrie. … The National Park Service predicts as many as 10,000 visitors to Fort Moultrie that weekend.”
Parties in the USA
For some cities, partying is a priority. Cheyenne, Wyoming, is planning a 12-hour Capital City Celebration on July Fourth, starting with a parade at 9 a.m. and continuing with a military flyover, live performances and fireworks.
Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, is taking a neighborhood approach through the Block Party Bonanza initiative. It’s providing “Life, Liberty and Happiness” kits to 250 neighborhood parties on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Our big focus is to make sure that every Philadelphian feels connected to the [250th] celebration and has the chance to be a part of it,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Visitor Center and head of Philadelphia250. “The city has been our biggest sponsor. … We’re working with at least seven different city agencies” on the block party effort.
The kits include voter registration packets, sports equipment and sponsored giveaways, such as YMCA memberships, plus decorations, including flags, glow sticks and plates.
“There’s a lot of fracture in the country, and there are some folks that really feel like celebrating, and there are some folks that are really struggling with the things that are happening in our country,” Ott Lovell said. “So, for us it was about meeting people where they are physically and emotionally and spiritually, and making sure that people understand that, first and foremost, this can be a time for celebration, however you want to celebrate.”
