US 250th Resources
Maryland’s US 250th Commemoration
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area is in a unique position to help stakeholders prepare for the US 250th Anniversary in 2026 and beyond. We have held a number of convenings, both in-person and online, to gather municipalities, nonprofits, and others to discuss challenges and opportunities related to the US 250th.
HCWHA has hosted three online gatherings to discuss 250th planning. The recorded January 2023 U.S. 250th online session focused on how municipalities can engage with the anniversary and participants were also invited to share their progress in preparing for the 250th. The recorded January 2024 U.S. 250th virtual convening gathered municipalities, museums, historic sites and more from Carroll, Frederick, and Washington counties to discuss planning for the U.S. 250th. The recorded July 2024 U.S. 250th virtual convening and January 2025 U.S. 250th virtual convening included updates from Frederick, Washington, and Carroll counties related to the 250th and more! Below are the resources that were shared during the meetings.
Helpful Guides
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is a national professional association dedicated to helping the history community thrive. For the better part of a century, AASLH has provided leadership and resources to its members who preserve and interpret history to make the past more meaningful to all people. This guide explores themes for the 250th commemoration and planning for the Semiquincentennial.
This handbook features more than 30 low-cost, sustainable program ideas to help organizations planning to commemorate the United States’ Semiquincentennial anniversary. Developed specifically for smaller institutions, this publication provides both inspiration and practical examples that any institution can use to connect to the 250th commemoration.
America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating the Semiquincentennial, or the 250th anniversary of our country. This resource guide is to inform the state, territory, national and tribal partners about federal grants.
Semiquincentennial Funding
The Semiquincentennial Grant Program was created by Congress in 2020 to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States by restoring and preserving sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation. Historic resources supported by this program may include those associated with the political ideas, well-known individuals, pivotal events, or sites of conflict typically thought of in conjunction with this period of American history.
The Heritage Fund is a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, which provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland’s historic preservation needs.
Visit Frederick (Tourism Council of Frederick County, Inc.) provides Frederick County, MD non-profit organizations or government agencies promoting tourism with the Frederick County Tourism Reinvestment in Promotion and Product (TRIPP) program. Through this program, a portion of the hotel tax revenue received by Visit Frederick will be allocated to cover certain marketing activities and to provide tourism product development grants for Frederick County non-profit organizations.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Patriots Marker program has been established to honor the memory of the men and women with whom we have a scared compact to ensure that these United States of America continue as a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Other Important Sites and Information
Visit the new website to sign up for communications or find information about the 250th celebration. Keep an eye out for updates and the opportunity to tell your story.
This website is the landing page for events, such as the Speaker Series, and other information related to celebrating the 250th in Carroll County.