America 250 PA kicks off yearlong celebration of semiquincentennial
Interactive mobile unit appeared at Canonsburg Fourth of July parade
Courtesy of Cassandra Coleman
With the Fourth of July in our rearview mirror, all eyes are now looking ahead and counting down the days to America’s 250th birthday next year.
And what better place to celebrate America’s independence than in Pennsylvania, where it all began when the nation’s founders convened in Philadelphia in July 1776 to declare our separation from England.
This area got a sneak peek of next year’s semiquincentennial celebration with an interactive mobile unit touting the patriotic anniversary that appeared at the Fourth of July parade in Canonsburg as it begins touring Pennsylvania over the coming year.
“We hit the ground running,” said Cassandra Coleman, who is executive director of America 250 PA that is organizing the yearlong celebration. “Pennsylvania was absolutely in the forefront (of the country’s 250th celebration plans) and we have taken a leading role with our initiative nationally.”
America 250 PA is a legislatively created bipartisan commission formed in 2018 with the hopes of getting all 67 counties in Pennsylvania and countless communities across the state ready for America’s big birthday bash in 2026. With committees in every county making plans the past few years, the party can now begin.
The mobile unit that appeared in Canonsburg on Friday will start criss-crossing the commonwealth through November when it goes into winter hibernation before hitting the road again in March and continuing its mission until the Fourth of July. The vehicle offers interactive displays on Pennsylvania’s role in the country’s founding, along with information on the people, places and things that makes the state so special.
“We’re so excited to be able to take the unit out and encourage visitors to learn about Pennsylvania’s role in the last 250 years, and the leadership role we’ve always had,” Coleman said.
But the celebration doesn’t end on July 5, 2026. There will be a year-long celebration next year with counties and communities showcasing themselves in unique ways.
Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge Brandon Neuman, who was appointed to the statewide America 250 PA commission a couple of years ago, said there are many facets to the program to get people excited about the country’s and state’s histories.
“I’m excited to be a part of it and a voice for our area,” Neuman said. “It’s been an ongoing process to build up to the initiative. They’re doing a lot of cool things.”
Education is one of the key components, Neuman said, with many programs working closely with students in schools to teach them about the importance of next year’s anniversary.
“We’re highlighting the history in Washington County and making sure Pennsylvanians understand how important our area is, and learning the importance of other areas,” Neuman said. “The (America 250 PA) initiative is the best in the country, one that highlights all sorts of things in the commonwealth. It’s a worthwhile initiative and a great way to educate people of our local history, but also other history we might not know about elsewhere in Pennsylvania.”
That is certainly the case in Fayette County, where the committee there has created content catered to kids.
Muriel Nuttall, who is executive director of Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and is coordinating the effort there, said they created a fictional character called “Fiona Fayette,” who is the centerpiece of coloring books and children’s stories that will be distributed later this year.
“We want to introduce children to the history of Fayette County,” Nuttall said.
There is also a 250 hours of service program in which people can volunteer to help at various organizations and nonprofits, Nuttall said. Those who volunteer for 250 hours of service will receive a certificate and be honored during Fayette County’s Fourth of July celebrations next year. There is also an “All-American Film Festival” that will be ongoing at the State Theatre in Uniontown beginning in August.
“We hope there will be even more,” Nuttall said of the events and programs happening.
The Fayette County committee is continuing to meet to discuss new ideas and open up more programs to help support communities and organizations celebrating across the county.
“It’s not just us. It’s the 250th trying to break out that celebration to more groups and communities,” Nuttall said. “There’s all sorts of facets to the 250.”
Greene County is also participating in the celebration, with the tourism agency leading the way. Details about what events or programs the county will be holding over the next year were not immediately available as Greene County’s committee is still in the planning stages.
“We’re going to do whatever we can to support it,” Greene County Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said about the county’s role in aiding tourism’s planning. “Obviously it’s a big deal to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, and we want to help with whatever we can.”
That bottom-up approach is what Coleman was hoping for when the American 250 PA commission was created years ago.
“When people learn about it, they want to be involved,” Coleman said. “Folks want to be involved, and there are so many projects and programs that we feel every Pennsylvanian can find a way to be interested or involved.”
More information on America 250 PA, the mobile unit’s itinerary and various programs across Pennsylvania can be found online at America250PA.org.