The United States is celebrating its 250th birthday with a tapestry of events and personal reflections that mirror the nation’s diversity. From coast to coast, Americans are finding their own ways to honor this historic milestone, blending tradition with modern expressions of patriotism.
Reporters from NPR’s member stations captured snapshots of these celebrations, revealing the rich variety of how this anniversary is being observed.
Cuba City’s Presidential Parade and Mac-and-Cheese Festival
In Cuba City, Wisconsin known as one of the ‘Cities of Presidents,’ Main Street is adorned with red, white, and blue shields honoring each U.S. president. This tradition, which began in 1976 for the bicentennial, is overseen by Donna Rogers president of the project.
Rogers, who initially was too busy raising her three sons and working at John Deere to pay much attention to the display, now enthusiastically leads the initiative. She highlights key moments in U.S. history, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the nation’s 250th birthday. ‘Of course, now, our nation’s 250th birthday. I think those three would be the three most important things in history to me,’ she said, quickly adding, ‘[the] right for women to vote, don’t forget that, right?’
For the 250th celebration, Cuba City is planning a parade and a mac-and-cheese festival, inspired by the alleged favorite foods of the founding fathers. ‘That was some of our founding fathers favorite foods, along with turkey and cranberries and other items,’ Rogers said with a laugh, admitting she googled the information. True or not, Rogers is determined to make the 250th celebration in her ‘City of Presidents’ memorable.
Georgia’s Civics Bee: Inspiring the Next Generation
In Atlanta, Georgia the Georgia state finals of the National Civics Bee brought together middle school students to test their knowledge of the U.S. government. Among the participants was Ella Hummel a 9th grader who impressed with her understanding of civic principles.
‘I’ve always kind of had the idea of serving in politics,’ Hummel shared after the competition. ‘And I really think that civics has opened my mind.’ Her grandmother, Peggy Farmer who remembers the excitement of the bicentennial in 1976, sees a different energy around this year’s anniversary. ‘It’s a togetherness type of thing that’s really not around all the time now,’ she mused. ‘I think it’s just the world’s changed a lot.’
Farmer is particularly proud of her granddaughter’s achievement and hopes that Ella and her peers can make a positive impact on the country’s future. ‘Maybe she and the kids that was sitting up there, they can change [the country] a little bit. I mean, they seem to be having a ball with each other up there today, so that’s a good thing,’ she said.
Houston’s Patriotic Picnics and Reflections
In Houston, TexasRodney Ellis a 72-year-old county commissioner with 43 years of public service, is celebrating with picnics featuring barbecue pork ribs and ice tea. Ellis, the son of a maid and a landscaper, has a nuanced view of patriotism. ‘We should be celebrating that America is a process,’ he said. ‘Patriotism is telling the truth, and doin’ the work to repair the harms that have come about over these 250 years.’
Reflecting on the progress made since the bicentennial, Ellis noted the increase in Black representatives in Congress, from 18 in 1976 to 67 today. However, he also expressed concern about the rollback of fundamental rights and gains that have been taken for granted. ‘Progress is made but along the way sometimes you take two steps forward and 10 steps back, but you don’t give up,’ he said with a broad grin.
Milwaukee’s Multicultural Celebrations
In MilwaukeeGissell Vera a 25-year-old U.S. citizen from a mixed-status family, is celebrating her dual heritage with a Fourth of July carne asada cookout. Vera, whose parents emigrated from Veracruz, Mexico, embodies the blend of cultures that defines many American communities. ‘The music, the colors, the language, all of it is part of me and I am a proud American,’ she said.
Vera’s family has always been grateful for the opportunities provided by the United States, despite the uncertainties surrounding immigration reform. ‘Although there is always the fear and uncertainty of what immigration reform could, how it could impact us, we choose to live every day without fear,’ she explained. Vera sees herself as both ‘de aquí’ (from here) and ‘de allá’ (from there), proud of her roots in both countries.
Her celebration will include a carne asada cookout, a nod to her Mexican heritage, rather than the traditional hot dogs. This blend of cultures and traditions is a testament to the diverse ways Americans are marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
Reevaluating the Frontier Myth in the Mountain West
Historian Megan Kate Nelson used America’s 250th birthday as an opportunity to revisit the foundational myths of the country’s history. In her new book, ‘The Westerners,’ Nelson profiles pioneers who challenge the traditional narrative of white Easterners moving westward in covered wagons.
Figures like Polly Bemis trafficked from China to the Idaho frontier, and María Gertrudis Barceló a Santa Fe saloon owner and professional gambler, offer a more nuanced view of westward expansion. Even the well-known figure Sacagawea is reexamined, with Nelson highlighting her active role in the Lewis and Clark expedition. ‘I read through the Lewis and Clark journals. They mention her more than 150 times, and she is always doing something or saying something,’ Nelson said.
Nelson emphasizes the importance of elevating a fuller picture of westward expansion and challenging the frontier myth that ‘there’s only one white pioneer; there’s only one kind of story of American greatness.’
Bristol’s Time-Honored Fourth of July Parade
The town of Bristol, Rhode Island claims to host the nation’s oldest Independence Day celebration. This year, they will celebrate America’s 250th with their 241st birthday bash for the country, involving over 100 volunteers. The festivities include a parade with at least 34 floats, a golf tournament, a ‘Miss Fourth of July’ beauty pageant, and a gala ball.
Heidi Vermilyea who has been in charge of the parade souvenirs for the past decade, sees patriotism as a way to love and improve her community. ‘Politics you can be left, right, moderate, whatever,’ she explains. ‘Patriotism is just loving your community. Helping out to make your community, your country a better place.’
Vermilyea’s dedication to the parade is evident in her year-round display of patriotism, from her stars-and-stripes outfits to her patriotic pedicure. She sees her role as flying the flag for Bristol, her family, and friends.
Portland’s Complicated Relationship with the Fourth of July
For Mitchell S. Jackson a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, the Fourth of July holds both joyous and complicated memories. Growing up, Jackson’s mother would dress him in red, white, and blue outfits, making the day a joyous occasion. However, as he learned more about America’s history of slavery and racism, his relationship with the holiday became more nuanced.
Jackson’s own experiences, including being convicted on drug and weapons charges as a 21-year-old and losing his right to vote, have shaped his perspective. ‘I lost my right to vote before I ever voted, before it ever dawned on me that my suffrage was important,’ he remembers. ‘And I would say that that is an American project, that a young Black boy loses his right to vote.’
Jackson questions the significance of the 250th anniversary, suggesting that true freedom in America only goes back 160 years, to when the 14th amendment granted everyone equal protection under the law. Or even just 62 years to the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation. ‘If you love something, you’re also critical of it,’ he pointed out. ‘You don’t just love it blindly, or I hope you don’t just love it blindly. So if you truly love America, then you gotta tell the truth about America.’
Jackson believes there are ways for Black Americans to make the Fourth of July, and America itself, their own. However, he sees it as a group project to understand who we are, who we’ve been, and who we can become.
