America's 250th Commemoration in PWCS

Our Shared Story: 250 Years of Building America

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is proud to take part in this historic milestone through the theme: “Our Shared Story: 250 Years of Building America Together.”

This theme reflects the belief that America’s story is not finished – it is being written by each new generation. It highlights the importance of unity and recognizes that our country has always been shaped by many voices, cultures, and experiences working together. “Building” reminds us that democracy and community require ongoing care, responsibility, and participation. It also emphasizes that our students are not just learners of history, but active contributors to America’s future.

Through cross-curricular learning, schoolwide events, and partnerships with local organizations, PWCS will connect past, present, and future, empowering students to see themselves as essential contributors in our shared American story.

This webpage will be PWCS’ place to discover all the wonderful commemoration events that are happening in our schools, divisionwide, community, state, and nation. The events list will be updated throughout the year.

Events

April Events

Event information for upcoming celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
Date	Time	Event	Location	Details
4/16-4/17/26	Noon	A Monumental Salute to America	Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC	Nationwide ensembles perform patriotic concert at iconic Washington DC monuments.
4/18/26	1-2 p.m.	Tips and Tricks to Deciphering Colonial Handwriting	Prince William County Central Library Relic Room	Learn colonial handwriting analysis uncovering family mysteries through document transcription.
4/24-4/25/26	8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.	America's Semiquincentennial Celebration: Inspiring a Season of Civics Renewal	Colonial Williamsburg	VA250 launches 2026 commemorations centering Tribal Nations' lived histories experiences.

May Events

Event information for upcoming celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
Date	Time	Event	Location	Details
5/1/26	11 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Finding Your Revolutionary War Ancestor	Prince William County Central Library Relic Room	Finding Revolutionary War ancestors using DAR GRS for lineage membership.
5/2/26	1-2 p.m.	Revolutionary War Home Front: Researching Virginia Civilian Ancestor Life	Prince William County Central Library Relic Room	Research noncombatant War ancestors using records revealing daily life impacts.
5/2/26	2-3:30 p.m.	Celebrate 250 years of Jefferson’s Declaration at Pen to Paper, an afternoon of conversation, music, poetry, and theater, honoring our most shared piece of history.	Monticello	Pen to Paper celebrates Jefferson’s Declaration with music, poetry, theater.
5/5/26	7-8 p.m.	USMC Lecture Series	National Museum of the Marine Corps	Public lecture series explores Marine Corps cultural history for 250th.
5/14/26	1:30-8 p.m.	Our Common Ground: 250 Years of America's Engaging with Nature	Library of Congress, Washington, DC	Rare Book symposium features talks, displays, performances celebrating landscapes and wildlife.
5/15-5/16/26	8:30-9:30 p.m.	The Flame of Revolution: 250th Anniversary of the 5th Virginia Convention	Colonial Williamsburg	Live theatrical performance reenacts Williamsburg’s Fifth Virginia Convention independence debate.
5/16/26	1-3 p.m.	1776 Generations Event at Rippon Lodge Historic Site \| American Battlefield Trust	Rippon Lodge Historic Site	Join the American Battlefield Trust in partnership with Rippon Lodge Historic Site for an inspiring afternoon of family-friendly activities.
5/23/26	9 a.m.	The Honor Project	Arlington National Cemetery	TMF volunteers honor fallen heroes with commemorative tokens Memorial Day weekend.
5/25/26	10 a.m. - 12 p.m.	The National Memorial Day Parade	Constitution Ave, Washington, DC	National Memorial Day Parade returns to DC, honoring 250 years.

June Events

Event information for upcoming celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
Date	Time	Event	Location	Details
6/6-6/7/26	10 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Virginia Resolved: A Commemoration of Independence: 250th Anniversary of the Lee Resolution of Independence	Stafford Hall	Weekend festival marks Lee’s Independence Resolution with living history celebrations.
6/11/26	12-1 p.m.	Making the Declaration	Online Program	Webinar explores sources and processes behind the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
6/11/26	10 a.m. - 5 p.m.	In the Eyes of the World: Celebration 250 Years of American Independence	Mount Vernon	Ambassador forum examines Washington, global influences, and enduring democratic challenges.
6/12-6/14/26	10 a.m. - 6 p.m.	Freedom Flows on the Potomac: Celebrating 250 Years of the Virginia Declaration of Rights	Gunston Hall	Event honoring the Virginia Declaration of Rights from the home of its primary author George Mason.
6/29/26	5:30 p.m.	"Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War" Film Screening	Richmond, VA	Join VPM and New American History for the free public screening of VPM's film, "Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War."

July Events

Event information for upcoming celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
Date	Time	Event	Location	Details
7/4/26	TBD	Livestream of Williamsburg, VA Fireworks Display	Virtual	TBD
7/5/26	Any	Run America 250 Virtual Race	Virtual	Nationwide virtual race logs 250 miles to celebrate America’s 250th.

September Events

Event information for upcoming celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
Date	Time	Event	Location	Details
9/24/26	7-8 p.m.	USMC Lecture Series	National Museum of the Marine Corps	Public lecture series examines Marine Corps cultural history for the 250th.

Ongoing Events

Event information for upcoming celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
Date	Time	Event	Location	Details
TBD	TBD	VA250 Mobile Museum	To all PWCS Middle Schools	VA250 Mobile Museum brings Virginia history statewide through an immersive exhibit.
On Going	Times vary according to location, but most will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.	VA250 Passport	Various Historic sites across Virginia	VA250 Passport encourages visits to Virginia historic sites with rewards.
Ongoing	11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.	"America's Presidents"	Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC	Portrait Gallery exhibition showcases complete presidential portraits shaping American story.
Ongoing	9 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Various activities happening at George Washington's Mount Vernon daily throughout the summer	Mount Vernon	Various events throughout the commemoration of the 250th occurring daily at Mount Vernon.
Ongoing	10 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Revolutionary War History Trail	Various historic sites in Prince William County	Prince William Revolutionary War Trail links historic sites with storytelling.
Ongoing	10 a.m. - 5 p.m.	National Museum of the Marine Corps 250th Exhibits	National Museum of the Marine Corps	Exhibits celebrate the Marine Corps' 250-year stories and combat art.

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