If you think America’s 250th birthday celebrations ended with the Fourth of July, you’d be off by several months. Plenty of destinations have not yet begun to celebrate.
Locations across the country are continuing the 250th celebration with exhibitions, commemorations, tall ship festivals, historic experiences and exclusive events that give travel advisors new ways to add memorable moments to their clients’ vacations.
Here’s where the celebration continues—and how advisors can take advantage.
Philadelphia
Birthplace of the USA, Philadelphia is celebrating throughout 2026. Following is just some of what’s planned:
- 52 Weeks of Firsts, a citywide series of events highlighting the ideas, inventions and milestones that began here.
- The Declaration’s Journey exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution runs through Jan. 3, 2027, featuring more than 120 historic objects, documents and works of art.
- A Nation of Artists is a cultural milestone spotlighting the nation’s creative and artistic legacy; at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts through Sept. 5, 2027.
- The newly reopened First Bank of the United States—once the cornerstone of Alexander Hamilton’s visionary plan to create a central banking system for the new nation—has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation to restore the building’s architectural glory.
Boston
Boston 250 is a year-long commemoration of the city’s role in the American Revolution and the legacy of activisim and innovation woven through its history. Highlights include:
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- Tour 250, an interactive map experience featuring 25 new historic markers across Boston’s neighborhood.
- Zine Making: What Does the Declaration Mean 250 Years Later? is a free art-making opportunity at the Boston Public Library on July 21.
- Visitors are invited to the Central Library in Copley Square on Aug. 4 to handwrite the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a quiet and reflective activity. Reproductions of John Adams’ personal copy of the Constitution held by Special Collections will also be available to transcribe.
Colonial Williamsburg, VA
Virginia’s VA250 initiative runs throughout the year, making Williamsburg an easy add-on for vacations in the Mid-Atlantic. Check out some of the activities:
- African Landing Day at Fort Monroe on Aug. 22 recalls the day in 1619 when the first enslaved Africans from present-day Angola were brought to English North America at what is now Hampton, VA, marking the beginning of centuries of enslavement.
- Running Sept. 17-Oct. 31 at Barter’s Smith Theatre, Kings Mountain was the battle that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. Barter actors lead the audience through the events surrounding that fateful day.
- Visit the Colonial Capitol on Oct. 7 during the 250th anniversary of the first Virginia General Assembly Meeting.
The Story Continues Here
While best known for the Civil War, which came four score and seven years after the country’s founding, Gettysburg, PA, is participating in America250 with yearlong commemorative programming.
For travelers seeking a patriotic theme west of the original colonies, New Orleans offers a very different interpretation, with options including riverfront celebrations, Historic French Quarter venues, culinary hotspots and music-focused offerings.
Or head even further west, where Colorado is celebrating dual anniversaries: America250–Colorado 150, a joint statewide celebration that includes drone shows, exhibitions, lecture series and festivals. In addition, everyone is encouraged to lean into the spirit of the “14ers,” the state’s towering peaks, by joining a climbing team, hiking one of Colorado’s trails, visiting a state park, exploring a scenic byway or just getting out in the state’s magnificent great outdoors.
