These aren’t your mother’s—or you Founding Fathers’—250th commemorations. Along with the serious explorations of the nation’s history at events and museums across the country, there some quirky options sprinkled in.
If your group is in town of some of these ongoing and later celebrations, make a detour into both the present and the past. For more about ongoing events, visit america250.org.
The Occupied City
Celebrate America’s 250th with The Occupied City, a 7,000-sf immersive exhibition exploring Revolutionary-era New York at the Museum of the City of New York. Discover the city’s pivotal role from 1763–1790 through artifacts, multimedia, and interactive displays highlighting Patriots, Loyalists, Black New Yorkers, women, and Native peoples. Admission varies; NYC residents pay what they can.
America250 National Pickleball Challenge
Celebrate America250 on the court during free intermediate open play sessions at locations throughout the country. Players rated 3.0–3.5 can sharpen skills, test strategies, meet fellow pickleball enthusiasts, and join the National Women’s Pickleball Foundation Challenge. Sessions run select days through September.
A Dino-Mite Good Time
The 5th Annual Dinosaur Stone Age Stampede celebrates the Nation’s 250th as well as Colorado’s 150th. Participants will explore Dinosaur Colorado’s OHV trails, historical locations and the Dinosaur Monument’s Canyon area on the Colorado side of the Monument. Enjoy live music, OHV trails, activities in Cady Park and take in the breathtaking views and rich geological history in western Colorado.
Dominguez-Escalante Expedition Interactive Map
Using the translated 1776 diaries of Father Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, Utah’s State Historic Preservation Office has created an interactive online map tracing the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition along various sites in Utah. Visitors can explore diary excerpts, historic sites, and routes while discovering trails, roads, and landmarks connected to this remarkable journey through Utah.
Thoroughbred Racing in Early America Exhibition
Running through Dec. 27, 2026 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, this exhibition explores thoroughbred horse racing from the colonial era through the early republic. Featuring historic artifacts and rare loans, visitors will discover influential horses, races, and figures that shaped the sport.
Historic Tours at Mount Gulian
Explore centuries of American history during guided tours of Mount Gulian’s historic home, Dutch barn, and heritage garden. Learn about Revolutionary War headquarters, the founding of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Verplanck family, James F. Brown, and Civil War history through fascinating stories and authentic artifacts. Tours run through Oct. 25 at the Mount Gulian Historic Site, Beacon, NY.
Guided Tours of Manhattan’s Last Farmhouse
Discover Northern Manhattan’s rich history during guided tours of NYC’s Dyckman Farmhouse Museum. Learn about the Lenape, Revolutionary War soldiers, the Dyckman family, free and enslaved African people and today’s Uptown community. Tours are offered Fridays and Saturdays, with free admission on select Path Through History Weekend dates. https://dyckmanfarmhouse.org/
1776-1976: From Democracy to Disco
This exhibition at the Orangetown Historical Museum looks back at Orangetown’s 1976 Bicentennial celebration while connecting it to America’s 250th anniversary. Explore local Revolutionary War history alongside the social and cultural changes of the 1970s. Free admission is offered Tuesday, Friday and Sunday through November 2026. Depew House, Orangeburg, NY.
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