By Teagan Dooley, contributor
America will mark 250 years from its independence in 2026, and Virginia is taking center stage in the national celebration with events, exhibits and programs in communities across the commonwealth.
The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission — or VA250 for short — aims to tell the story of America’s history through a Virginian voice. Kevin Hampton, the assistant director of programs and education at VA250, said it makes sense for the commonwealth to take center stage because “more of what made America happen, happened right here in Virginia, which is why our message is America: Made in Virginia.”
The Virginia General Assembly in 2022 tasked the VA250 Commission with coordinating events to celebrate the anniversary and also with “educating Virginians about state history and the foundations it was built up on,” according to the commission’s mission. It’s tailored to not just historians or history buffs, but every Virginian, such as through engagement of local schools and exhibitions including this week’s Fourth at the Fort event at Fort Monroe in the City of Hampton on Friday, July 4th, according to the commission’s website.
Fort Monroe will host events all day from keynote speakers to fireworks to celebrate the holiday. The fort, which became a national park in 2011, was a Kecoughtan Tribe settlement and was a refuge for Black Americans escaping slavery during the Civil War.
Hampton said Virginia communities have planned nearly 50 other events this year. But that’s nothing compared to what’s on tap for July 2026.
“In many ways this year’s Fourth of July will serve to kick off a busy year ahead for VA250 as we highlight Virginia’s unique role and many key moments in our nation’s founding story,” Hampton said. “Next year we’re expecting many more Fourth of July events across the state for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.”
Those events will continue through the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown, where General George Washington successfully led the Continental Army’s siege of the city between September 28-Oct. 19, 1781, resulting British Gen. Charles Lord Conwallis’ surrender.
In Harrisonburg, Jennifer Bell, the city’s tourism manager, said plans for the peak year of celebration, 2026 are still being finalized. But she said there are exciting ideas being considered for how Harrisonburg will contribute, such as creating a time capsule or historical exhibit at Massanutten Regional Library.
Bell and the Tourism Center hope to properly honor the intentions behind the celebration by weaving in historical lessons into the area public schools’ classrooms.
The Massanutten Regional Library also is working with VA250.
“We’re hoping to be selected to host their traveling exhibit and plan to have themed programming,” said Kristin Noell Evans, head of adult services at Massanutten Regional Library.
Erin Bagnell, of VA250, said the ongoing Give Me Liberty exhibit, which opened March 22 at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, will remain available to visitors until Jan. 4, 2026, before moving to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. To extend the availability of the exhibit past the end date, the VA250 Commission has also developed a traveling version of the Give Me Liberty exhibit to be utilized by educators in classrooms across the state.
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