America’s birthday is coming up! In July 1776, the United States’s Founders signed the Declaration of Independence. July 4, 2026, marks the United States’s Semiquincentennial! (That is a very long word that means 250th.) In response, the Trump administration is organizing a celebration called America250: a bipartisan national effort to engage and unite Americans across the country to honor and celebrate the United States. Here, btw reviews some of the planned activities and events that will help celebrate this important birthday!
Planning the Semiquincentennial
Hosing such a big birthday party takes lots of planning. Efforts for this summer’s celebration began all the way back in 2016, with the creation of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission by the U.S. Congress. Congressional leaders from both political parties appointed the members of the Commission, which includes Senators and Representatives, members of other governmental agencies, and sixteen private citizens. The National Co-Chairs of the event are former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
The Trump administration has also appointed a group called Task Force 250. It is in charge of planning, organizing, and carrying out the celebration. President Trump serves as the Chair of Task Force 250, and Vice President J.D. Vance is the Vice Chair. The rest of the Task Force consists of Cabinet members.
One goal of Task Force 250 is to create a National Garden of American Heroes by July 4, 2026. The garden will contain 250 life-size statues of heroes. There is plenty of discussion and debate around this project, including the need to complete it quickly, where it should be built, which Americans should be commemorated, and the cost of the garden.
Some Planned Events
Though the bulk of the America250 celebration will be happening this summer, you can participate in many exciting events right now. Here are a few:
America’s Presidents Exhibit
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery holds the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House. When a president is drawing close to the end of their term, museum curators and the president decide which artist to ask for the official portrait commission. Once the artist completes the portrait, it is added to the “America’s Presidents” display at the National Portrait Gallery. Beyond the presidents, the museum collection currently contains 1,739 portraits of Americans throughout history.
The Great American Road Trip
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Great American Road Trip website contains interactive maps that highlight historic landmarks and other scenic destinations. In addition to maps, it also has travel tips and tools to help you plan your itinerary. The goal is to encourage U.S. families to leave their homes and re-discover the beauty of the United States by car.
America’s Field Trip
This is a nationwide contest open to all students in grades 3-12. Students are asked to submit a written, video, or artistic response to the following prompt: “What does America mean to you?” 125 first-place winners will be selected to win a cash prize or a special behind-the-scenes, all-expenses-paid field trip to an iconic American landmark. In addition, 100 second-place student winners will receive a $500 cash prize. NOTE that entries are due on March 30, 2026.
America Gives
This is a nationwide effort to make 2026 the largest year of volunteerism in history. It asks schools, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations to increase their volunteer efforts. The America Gives initiative is based on research showing that most Americans want a spirit of giving and service to a role in the America250 celebration. Everyday Americans can get involved by visiting the website to find volunteer opportunities near them, log their volunteer hours, and upload stories and photos to help inspire others to participate.