By America’s National Parks™
In 2026, America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of declaring independence from the British. This milestone invites families, history buffs, and travelers to walk in the footsteps of Revolutionaries and reflect on the ideals and sacrifices that created the foundation of our nation. One of the best ways to honor the “Spirit of ‘76” is by visiting one or many of the 40+ Revolutionary War sites within our national parks system.
The semiquincentennial can inspire one to create a personalized roadmap through history by visiting preserved sites at national parks, such as meeting houses, paths that retrace the steps of Patriots, battlefields, and historic locations where world-changing moments occurred.
Make national park visits a part of the 250th anniversary celebration
Our nation’s national parks stand as guardians over America’s storied past, faithful stewards of the locations that tell the nation’s story. From the fields of Valley Forge, where the Patriot army suffered through a long and torturous winter, to Boston Harbor, where those opposed to British taxation threw tea into the Harbor in protest, there are preserved locations that bring the Revolution’s story to life. Each park invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of soldiers in pivotal battles, witness dramatic reenactments of significant moments, and participate in interactive programs suitable for all ages.
Visitors can craft their journeys according to their interests. Popular national park sites that commemorate the Revolution include Minute Man National Historical Park, where visitors can stand in the spot where the “shot heard ‘round the world” was fired. People can also see where the war was won at Yorktown National Battlefield, and imagine what it felt like when General Cornwallis flew the white flag, admitting defeat of the British Army.
Through immersive and educational experiences, people can delve deeper into the founding of our country and our fight for independence, learning far more about America’s earliest days as a nation than most of us did in school. Costumed interpreters and reenactors, demonstrations, and large-scale battle reenactments planned for the 250th anniversary help keep history alive, making for a unique way to honor such a significant American milestone.
Planning a personalized American journey
For the 250th anniversary, anyone interested in visiting Revolutionary War sites in America’s National Park System can create a personalized journey with the Passport to Your National Parks® Program. Through this program, travelers to national park sites can collect special ink cancellation stamps that are dated to mark when they visited a site, similar to how one gets a Passport stamped when they travel internationally. These stamps allow people to write and track their own celebration story for the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
For America’s 250th anniversary, America’s National Parks™ is releasing the Passport to the American Revolution, a passport specific to Revolutionary War sites, featuring a newly designed cancellation stamp with the America250™ logo, and a foreword written by documentarian Ken Burns, in anticipation of his new series, “The American Revolution,” coming this November. As visitors seek out American Revolution-specific national park sites such as Morristown National Historical Park or the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, they can learn more about lesser-known Revolutionaries, the battles that signaled turning points in the war, and the significant moments that laid the groundwork for independence from British rule.
Forging your own path through history
In the 250 years since America’s independence, our national parks have preserved and protected the sites that tell the story of the Revolution. By visiting Revolutionary War sites, travelers, families, and history buffs can honor the courage of the Patriots, the dreams of the Founding Fathers, and the diverse voices that shaped a new nation. With each passport stamp, photograph, or memory, visitors are shaping their own personal path through history, becoming part of a 250-year-old story.
2026 is more than just an important anniversary for America; the entire year can be an opportunity to expand one’s knowledge about the founding of our country and participate in immersive experiences that bring the story to life.
