The 250th is still a year away, and although excitement is swirling, I imagine most of you are focused on meeting your visitation and revenue goals for 2025. If only there was a way for you to prep for 2026 while still meeting your FY25 goals…
Lucky for you, there is!
Research shows that exploration and learning are top motivators for heritage travelers, who actively seek authentic and meaningful experiences year-round. To keep visitors coming back throughout the year, consider refreshing how you tell your story every few months—or more frequently, if possible. Regular updates not only encourage repeat visits from your local community but also ensure your site feels vibrant, dynamic, and engaging for all.
This does not need to be expensive. Social media and website posts, small events, and community partnerships can bring you a ton of visibility with minimal time and effort.
To assist, I’ve created a countdown of monthly 250th anniversary themes designed to inspire travelers, engage your local community, and amplify your visibility. Creating content and/or events around these themes will freshen your site in 2025 as well as prepare you for the anniversary year. And the best part? These ideas work for any site—even if Revolutionary War history isn’t part of your story.
This guide combines history with creativity, offering actionable strategies to help you market each month’s theme. Whether you're a museum, byway, or historical site, these ideas will ensure you’re ready to captivate heritage travelers and make the most of the 250th anniversary lead-up.
Let’s dive in!
Monthly Themes & Marketing Strategies
January: "The Road to Revolution"
Historical Focus: Early grievances, the Stamp Act, Boston Tea Party, the evolution of American democracy.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Kick off the countdown with a virtual “history challenge” on social media, encouraging users to share their favorite Revolutionary War moments tied to your region.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Host a lecture or webinar on the origins of the Revolution. Partner with nearby byways to promote scenic drives that showcase colonial sites.
No Rev War history? Focus on the evolution of your local area and how your town or region developed. Create a timeline exhibit or walking tour that shows how your community contributed to America's growth.
Collaborate with: Local historical societies, libraries, and schools to engage the community with your educational and interactive programming.
February: "Revolutionary Love Stories"
Historical Focus: Love and partnerships during the Revolution.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Spotlight romantic stories from the era with blog posts, social media, or museum exhibits. Encourage couples to take a themed “Couples Heritage Road Trip” along nearby byways.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Collaborate with local restaurants along the byway to offer “History Dinner” events paired with museum tours.
No Rev War history? Share love stories from your site's past. Whether it’s tales of early settlers, local legends, or historic couples connected to your site, this theme can humanize history and resonate with visitors. Host a Valentine’s Day storytelling event or share these stories on social media.
Collaborate with: Florists, cafés, and wineries who can host a romantic evening of fellowship, dancing, and/or themed treats that celebrate love stories from your local history.
March: "Women of the Revolution"
Historical Focus: Contributions of women, from spies to activists.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Launch a social media campaign to share facts and photos of Revolutionary Women. Create maps that link byways to sites celebrating women’s history.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Host a pop-up exhibit featuring Revolutionary-era women or a walking tour highlighting local women’s contributions.
No Rev War history? Highlight influential women from your area or time period, even if they aren’t connected to the Revolution. For example, celebrate female pioneers, educators, or entrepreneurs who shaped your community’s history. Create a temporary exhibit or lecture series spotlighting their impact.
Collaborate with: Women’s organizations, artisan collectives, and bookstores to showcase the achievements of historic women through pop-up markets, exhibits, and lectures, celebrating their impact on your community.
April: "Voices of Freedom"
Historical Focus: Diverse perspectives, including enslaved people, Native Americans, and immigrants. (Here is a guide to telling untold stories.)
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Partner with local schools to create multimedia content (videos, art, or essays) around the theme. Share on your website and social platforms.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Organize panel discussions or community storytelling nights that highlight untold stories of the Revolution.
No Rev War history? Focus on freedom and civil rights movements tied to your local history. Share stories of people who fought for freedom, whether it’s related to slavery, immigration, suffrage, or other struggles. Host a community panel or multimedia exhibit featuring these voices.
Collaborate with: Civil rights organizations, community centers, and local artists to share powerful stories of freedom and equality through exhibits, panel discussions, and collaborative art installations.
May: "Revolutionary Roads"
Historical Focus: Key routes used during the Revolutionary War.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Develop self-guided tours using apps like StoryMaps or interactive maps. Tie these to specific byways and museum exhibits.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Create a family-friendly “Revolutionary Road Rally” along a byway with stops at museums for trivia or reenactments.
No Rev War history? Highlight key roads, trails, or transportation routes in your area that have historical significance. For example, focus on a historic trade route, wagon trail, or railroad that shaped your region. Create a driving or walking tour map for visitors.
Collaborate with: Tourism boards, outdoor outfitters, and local chambers of commerce to design and promote driving or walking tours that highlight the historic routes and landmarks of your region.
June: "Celebrating Liberty"
Historical Focus: Early celebrations of independence.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Launch a social media campaign to promote events and encourage heritage travelers to share photos from their visits.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Host an outdoor celebration featuring Revolutionary War music, food, and reenactors. Coordinate with byways for a "drive-in history festival."
No Rev War history? Celebrate the idea of liberty as it applies to your community’s unique story. Host a cultural festival that highlights the freedoms enjoyed in your region, including food, music, and traditions from diverse cultures that shaped your area.
Collaborate with: Cultural associations, local restaurants, and music organizations to host a vibrant festival featuring diverse traditions, cuisine, and performances that celebrate liberty and community pride.
July: "Revolutionary Fireworks"
Historical Focus: The signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Fourth of July.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Encourage visitors to share their favorite Revolutionary War sites or Fourth of July celebrations.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Plan an Independence Day event at your museum or byway stop, complete with storytelling and historical reenactments.
No Rev War history? Create a summer event that celebrates your site’s history with flair, even if it’s not Revolutionary War-focused. Host a family-friendly day with reenactments, crafts, and storytelling tied to your local history, culminating in fireworks or a symbolic “lighting of history.”
Collaborate with: Parks departments, firework retailers, and local bakeries to create a family-friendly summer event with celebratory treats, live entertainment, and a fireworks display or symbolic lighting ceremony.
August: "Unsung Heroes of the Revolution"
Historical Focus: Ordinary people who played extraordinary roles.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Highlight one “unsung hero” each week on social media. Create short videos or podcasts telling their stories.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Invite local historians to present on unsung heroes and their local connections.
No Rev War history? Broaden the definition of “heroes” to focus on everyday people who shaped your area. Highlight farmers, builders, teachers, or community leaders from your town’s history with a photo or artifact exhibit. Share their stories as part of a “Local Legends” campaign.
Collaborate with: Veterans’ organizations, genealogy groups, and worker advocacy nonprofits to uncover and celebrate the unsung heroes of your community through exhibits, lectures, and storytelling events.
September: "Revolutionary Harvest"
Historical Focus: Agriculture and food during the Revolution.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Share recipes or host a cooking demonstration of Revolutionary-era dishes. Tie into the farm-to-table trend along byways.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Collaborate with local farms for a “Heritage Harvest Festival” celebrating both history and local produce.
No Rev War history? Connect the harvest theme to your local agricultural or culinary history. Partner with local farms or restaurants to showcase historic recipes, foodways, or agricultural traditions. Host a food or harvest festival celebrating your area’s bounty.
Collaborate with: Farmers’ markets, local farms, and restaurants to host a harvest festival or farm-to-table event that highlights the agricultural and culinary heritage of your region.
October: "Battles That Shaped America"
Historical Focus: Key Revolutionary War battles.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Create an interactive “Battle Map” highlighting locations accessible via your byways, trails, and museums.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Host battlefield tours or live reenactments with multimedia presentations.
No Rev War history? Shift the focus to "battles" fought in your community, whether literal or metaphorical. Highlight stories of perseverance, such as labor struggles, civil rights milestones, or community efforts to overcome challenges. Pair these stories with interactive exhibits or a lecture series.
Collaborate with: Veterans’ groups, museums, and civic clubs to explore the metaphorical and literal battles that shaped your community, presenting their stories through exhibits, panel discussions, or reenactments.
November: "Legacies of the Revolution"
Historical Focus: How the Revolution shaped modern America.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Develop a “Then and Now” photo series comparing historical sites during the Revolution with their present-day appearance.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Partner with schools to create student-led exhibits on how the Revolution impacts their lives today.
No Rev War history? Reflect on the broader legacy of the Revolution—ideas like democracy, resilience, or innovation—and connect it to your local history. For example, showcase how these ideals influenced your town’s founding, government, or cultural traditions.
Collaborate with: Civic organizations, education nonprofits, and local banks to explore how revolutionary ideals like democracy and economic independence influenced your community, with engaging exhibits and events.
December: "Revolutionary Reflections"
Historical Focus: Reflecting on 250 years of American history.
Inexpensive Marketing Idea: Launch a year-end video or blog series called “Revolutionary Reflections,” featuring interviews with historians or local experts.
Inexpensive Event Idea: Host a reflective candlelight tour or holiday-themed historical event.
No Rev War history? End the year by reflecting on your site’s role in history and its future impact. Create a “Then and Now” photo exhibit comparing historic images of your site or community to the present day. Engage visitors with questions about what legacy they’d like to leave for future generations.
Collaborate with: Photography clubs, senior centers, and local artisans to create reflective “Then and Now” exhibits and commemorative art that celebrates your community’s history and legacy.
Marketing Wrap-Up: Maximizing Reach
Leverage Social Media: Use a dedicated hashtag like #CountdownTo250 to build awareness and track participation.
Engage Influencers: Partner with travel bloggers or history influencers who can amplify your monthly events.
Collaborate Regionally: Work with other byways and museums to cross-promote and create unified marketing materials.
Encourage User-Generated Content: Run photo contests, video submissions, or storytelling competitions tied to the monthly themes.
Partner with Tourism Officers: Reach out to your local Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and Tourism Offices for help promoting your activities to a wider audience.
A year-long countdown creates ample opportunities to celebrate the 250th while drawing attention to the unique assets of museums and byways. By aligning events and marketing with monthly themes, you can keep heritage travelers engaged and excited all the way to 2026.