Ohio Commission Prepares for America’s 250th Anniversary

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The America 250-Ohio Commission recently launched an official website and social media program to amplify the stories of Ohio’s contributions to America.

Independence Day 2026 will mark the semiquincentennial – or 250th anniversary – of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The America 250-Ohio Commission is leading the state’s celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial.

“As we move toward the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, the America 250-Ohio Commission has been hard at work engaging with educators, historic sites and museums, tourism and arts organizations, local governments and many other state and local leaders to help showcase the many ways Ohio is at the heart of our nation’s story,” said Todd Kleismit, executive director of the America 250-Ohio Commission. 

In addition to the new website, the America 250-Ohio Commission also launched a 250 Ohio Favorites social media promotion, which was recently unveiled at the Ohio Travel Association’s Ohio Conference on Travel. The program is designed to gather input about Ohio favorites in various categories, with new prompts issued every few weeks. 

To participate, Ohioans can follow America 250-Ohio’s Facebook or Instagram pages and submit ideas on the social media platforms. The commission is currently asking Ohioans to weigh in on the state’s favorite small towns and neighborhoods.

“We’re proud to be taking this step forward in our celebration planning and to be among a handful of states with significant preparations underway for this momentous occasion,” Kleismit said. “We’ve laid substantial groundwork in our mission to engage all 88 Ohio counties and as many Ohioans as possible to make this celebration the biggest and most inclusive in our nation’s history.”

A significant part of the commission’s work will focus on highlighting the stories of the American Indian tribes that inhabited the Ohio region for centuries. Recently, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks received Ohio’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage designation.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.