Students in grades 3-12 can earn a chance to go behind-the-scenes at some of America’s most well-known historical landmarks! America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest designed to engage elementary, middle, and high school students around America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. Students are invited to submit an essay, artwork, or poem answering the question “What does America mean to you?” First-place awardees will get to experience one of several unforgettable field trips to places like Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the National

Archives in Washington, D.C. and more. Second-place awardees and teachers can also earn cash awards.

Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of America’s 250th anniversary! Submit your entry by March 30: https://america250.org/fieldtrip

'Garden State Roots' is the podcast that wants to put an end to New Jersey being the butt of the joke for evermore. After 250 years of revolutionary history, it's time to give props to NJ's contribution to the modern culture of America, if not the world. From music to film, sports to tech, food to politics, host Justin Williams and guests explore the unique historical moments and inspirational people that has made the 'Garden State' so fertile to change down the years.

Available at your favorite podcast platform.

https://www.revnj.org/garden-state-roots

Get outdoors, get moving, and celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026 with the New Jersey State Parks Celebrate 250 Challenge. This yearlong challenge encourages visitors of all ages and abilities to explore New Jersey’s 41 state parks, 11 state forests, five recreation areas, and 50+ historic sites and districts while building healthy habits and honoring this milestone year. 

All participants who successfully complete one of the five challenge options will earn a Certificate of Achievement and the opportunity to be recognized on New Jersey State Parks’ social media. Are you ready to take the challenge?

Learn more here

Monmouth County officials and the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee have announced a digital art competition for professional and non-professional artists who are at least 14 years old, to showcase the talent and creativity of Monmouth County residents.

On July 4, 2026, the nation will celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and this competition provides Monmouth County artists with a platform to create their digital art masterpiece while leaving a lasting legacy.

Each first-place winner in the professional and non-professional categories will receive $1,776. Additional prizes will be presented for second and third place. Registration is required to participate. For full details - including important dates, contest theme and prompt, eligibility, judging criteria and a complete prize breakdown - click here to access the registration form and information.

Digital-Art-Contest_v2_final.pdf

America250 is donating $1,000,000 in 2026!

Log your volunteer hours for a chance to be one of 250 winners who will choose where the donations go.

Help us make 2026 a record setting year of volunteer service. Join people and organizations across the country in giving back — from service projects to donations — to honor America’s 250th.

Learn more at the America250 site here.

Hosted on Wednesday nights at 6 at the Morris County Library's Public Meeting Room.

Advance registration required at: https://morriscountyhistory.org/programs-events/

Bergen250, the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs, and the County of Bergen present the 2026 American Revolutionary War Roundtable Series, monthly, on Wednesdays at 7PM.

The following dates and topics are scheduled:

Feb 11: Defense of Hudson: Preserving the Hudson River Battleground by Kevin Tremble

March 11: A Revolutionary Revelation: The Complex Story of Peggy Shippen Arnold by Char Weigel

April 8: Thomas Paine and the American Revolution by Jack Kelly

May 13: The Mud Rounds: The British Invasion and the Great Retreat Across the Jerseys by Todd Braisted

The Monmouth County Historical Association presents this series featuring Monmouth County’s most respected historians, on the following dates at 7PM:

February 5: New Jersey's Revolutionary Rivalry: The Untold Story of Colonel Tye and Joshua Huddy

March 26: Bernadette Rogoff presents Children of the Revolution

April 23: Joe Zemla presents Storm of Revolution: Highlights from the new MCHA exhibit

May 28: IN PERSON LECTURE TBD

July 2026: Michael Adelberg presents 250 for the 250th: The Revolution in Monmouth

November 2026: John Barrows presents The Top Ten Myths of Monmouth

To register for events, or to watch previously recorded lectures, visit:

https://www.monmouthhistory.org/historically-speaking

The North Jersey American Revolution Roundtable presents talks at Washington’s Headquarters Museum in Morristown, and online, usually on the second Thursday of the month at 7PM. $50 membership required, email aart.nj@gmail.com, follow the group on Facebook for the latest updates.

For 2026, the following topics are scheduled for the following dates:

February 12: “The Day the Native Americans Destroyed the US Army” by Colin Calloway of Dartmouth, ZOOM ONLY

March 12: “A Soldiers View: Johann Ewald and the attack on Fort Mercer, October 22, 1777” by Jim McIntyre of Moraine Valley Community College, ZOOM ONLY

April 9: “Incomprehensible Friends and Rebellious Enemies: German Soldiers in the Revolution” by Friederike Bauer of Penn State, IN PERSON AND ZOOM

May 14: “The Tragedy of Tom Paine” by Richard Bell of Maryland, IN PERSON AND ZOOM

June 11: “Underwater Archaeology on Lake Champlain” by Chris Sabick of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, ZOOM ONLY

Calling all young artists! The Old Barracks Museum is hosting an art contest to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. 

Theme:
America 250th Anniversary & New Jersey 250th Anniversary

Age Groups (judged separately):
• Elementary School – Grades 4–6
• Middle School – Grades 7–8
• High School—Grades 9–12
Prizes will be awarded in each age group.

Artwork Requirements:
• All art mediums welcome
• Maximum size: 12 x 14 inches

Submission Deadline:
May 29, 2026

Exhibition Dates:
All submissions will be displayed at the Old Barracks Museum from Trenton Barracks Founders Day, June 13, through July 4, 2026.
Artwork must be picked up on or before July 4, 2026.

Winners:
• Winners will be announced publicly on Trenton Barracks Founders Day (June 13)
• Winning artists’ parents/guardians will be notified by June 5

Submission Paperwork:
Parents or guardians must complete the required submission paperwork using the provided link.

(Parent/Guardian approval required)

Lecture series at Ridgewood Library celebrating 250 years of the United States.

Check the flyer for dates, and topics.