I attended the Mid Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance’s Media Marketplace in Roanoke, VA, last week. I was thrilled to hear journalists asking about activities for the 250th anniversary. If you haven’t already starting planning for the upcoming commemoration, now is the time!
This month’s Inspirational Spark is The Power of Place, one of the five themes AASLH has identified in its Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial. The concept of “place” can work for any organization, whether your site has a distinct tie to the Revolutionary War era or not.
Engage your community with a variety of activities that highlight how your local history connects to national events. One way to do this is by launching a photo project, inspired by The Concord Bridge’s "250 Days to the 250th," where residents capture images of significant local sites tied to the Revolutionary Era and beyond.
Inspire younger generations to connect with their local heritage by hosting a student competition, similar to Laurens County’s Revolutionary War 250th poster contest. Invite students to research and creatively represent how local landmarks and environments shaped the past. This will not only foster a deeper understanding of history but also encourage students to see the places they live in as part of a larger narrative.
Pair these activities with walking tours along historic routes, like Washington and Rochambeau’s Revolutionary route at "Trenton Crossing." This approach will allow audiences to experience how your area’s geography played a strategic role in American history.
Even if your area doesn't have direct ties to the fight for Independence, you can still create engaging walking tours by focusing on the broader historical landscape of the time. Highlight local rivers, roads, and natural surroundings that existed in the 18th century, and explore how these features would have influenced the lives of the Native Americans, pioneers, or settlers who lived there.
Explore how other key events of the era, like westward expansion, early agricultural development, and cultural exchanges, may have shaped your community’s development. Engaging your audience with these lesser-known aspects of local history offers a fresh perspective and connects them to the broader context of the Revolutionary Era, even without specific war-related events.
Also, do not overlook the importance of preserving historic places. During the Bicentennial in 1976, preservation efforts led to the protection of key sites that are still with us today. It's crucial that we use this anniversary to preserve places tied to the lesser-told stories of Americans—those of Indigenous peoples, African Americans, women, and other marginalized groups who played significant roles in shaping the nation’s 250 years of history.
By safeguarding these places, we not only honor a more complete narrative of our shared history but also ensure that, 50 or 100 years from now, future generations can visit and learn from these places. This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the stories that remain underrepresented and to take action so that their contributions are preserved and remembered.
For more ideas on 250th anniversary planning, search the 250th Inspiration Project and watch for next month’s column -- sign up here to get it emailed right your your inbox!