Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday: 4 July 2026

Celebrate America’s upcoming 250th birthday in the Capital Region. Travel Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC to uncover historical hallmarks, cultural centres and artefacts that bring the nation’s story to life.

Fireworks over the National Mall, Washington, DC

Fourth of July celebration in Washington, DC

Immersive history at Jamestown Settlement in Virginia, USA

Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Fourth of July celebration in Washington, DC

Immersive history at Jamestown Settlement in Virginia, USA

Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Virginia

From the establishment of Jamestown by the Virginia Company of London to its role in the American Revolution, Virginia has been at the forefront of key moments in US history. Explore Virginia’s Historic Triangle, starting at the first permanent English settlement in North America, Jamestown, to examine the struggles of early colonists and Native Americans. Yorktown Battlefield recounts the Revolutionary War’s final battle with preserved trenches and exhibitions. In Colonial Williamsburg, watch re-enactments of 18th-century life and tour restored buildings like the Governor’s Palace.

Presidential homes offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of the country’s first leaders. Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate, features his gardens, outbuildings and final resting place. Monticello reveals Thomas Jefferson’s architectural ingenuity and eclectic interests, as well as the stories of the 600-plus enslaved people who worked on the property, while Montpelier chronicles the life of “Father of the Constitution,” James Madison.

Bonus: Explore the 300-mile (483-km) Crooked Road, Virginia’s heritage music trail, to learn about the state’s bluegrass roots at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and other sites.

See how Virginia celebrates a big birthday

Maryland

Maryland played a pivotal role in shaping the nation, which you can explore at historic sites across the state. Fort McHenry in Baltimore was crucial in defending the city during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” America’s national anthem.

Follow the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail to retrace the voyages of the early English explorer who mapped the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Along the trail, visit sites like Patuxent River Park to learn about the culture and history of Maryland’s Indigenous peoples at a replica village and an annual festival. Then, wander amongst reconstructed colonial buildings and interact with interpreters in period dress at Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland’s first capital. Further north on the bay, visit museums and a lighthouse in Havre de Grace — which was one vote shy of being the nation’s capital.

Bonus: Unearth 200 years of stories at Riversdale House Museum, a former 19th-century plantation. Learn about the lives of the enslaved people who worked the property, like Adam Francis Plummer, and the enduring legacies of its resident families.

Learn more about America's 250th birthday in Maryland

Washington, DC

Since its founding in 1790 as America’s capital, Washington, DC has been a backdrop to pivotal moments throughout history. The easy-to-navigate streets, approved by the United States’ first president, George Washington, were strategically designed to all lead to the Capitol. Along those roads, you’ll see landmarks that speak to the legacy of Native American culture, the Civil Rights Movement, the nation’s founders and more.

Among these is the National Archives, home to foundational documents of the country’s democracy like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. The National Mall, often called “America's Front Yard,” is a sprawling lawn flanked by the Lincoln Memorial and towering Washington Monument.

Stop into one (or all!) of the 16 Smithsonian Museums, like The National Museum of the American Indian, which showcases the history, art and traditions of Indigenous peoples. Gaze at Abraham Lincoln’s famous top hat and iconic gowns of presidential first ladies at The National Museum of American History. And reflect on the Black and African American experience at The National Museum of African American History and Culture, showcasing artefacts, stories and achievements that depict resilience, creativity and triumph.

Bonus: Dive into the country’s literary and intellectual past at the Library of Congress, home to documents ranging from the manuscripts of Jazz Age songwriters George and Ira Gershwin to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Find happenings in Washington, DC