Nation’s 250th Anniversary to Be Celebrated in Ohio All Year

Todd Kleismit fondly recalls getting swept up in America’s bicentennial during the summer of 1976. As the nation celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, patriotic displays like commemorative coins and fire hydrants painted red, white and blue captured the imagination of the then-6-year-old Dayton native. 

“It was a unifying event — an opportunity to bring people together,” says Kleismit, executive director of the Ohio Commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial, also known as America 250-Ohio.

The primarily state-funded commission was created by legislation in 2022 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence and Ohioans’ contributions to the history of the United States through events and more. 

“It can be a time to reflect about the United States of America writ-large and our place in it in this time,” Kleismit says. “I’m confident the country and Ohio are well prepared to embrace that opportunity.”

The celebration kicks off in earnest beginning in January 2026 and will stretch beyond July 4, 2026, through the end of the year. Each month will have a theme and key experiences, such as tourism trails and festivals, and all our state’s 88 counties will take part.

“Ohio is taking this opportunity to celebrate very seriously, and we really want to showcase what Ohio and Ohioans have contributed to the United States of America,” Kleismit says.

Opportunities to take part in the celebration include events such as Ohio Goes to the Movies, a 250-day movie festival that honors Ohio’s impact on filmmaking, as well as commission-provided homecoming kits to encourage Ohioans to organize picnics, block parties and more next summer. 

According to Kleismit, more than 300 Ohio communities have passed their own resolutions and formed local committees to participate in America 250-Ohio events or create their own activities. While America 250-Ohio will be leading many events and participating in nationwide efforts, a lot of things will be happening on the local level. 

“That’s the biggest opportunity for people to get plugged in,” Kleismit says. “Bringing people together is such a large part of what we’re trying to do.”

The America 250-Ohio publication was created in partnership with the America 250-Ohio Commission. For more information on America 250-Ohio, visit america250-ohio.org.