Sestercentenary. Bisesquicentenary. Semiquincentenary. The big two-five-oh.
No matter what you call it, the excitement surrounding America’s 250th birthday in 2026 is growing.
Joining in the nationwide celebration, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites will host a series of events throughout the year, designed to help our visitors create personal connections to this important milestone in our country’s history. From the founding of Indiana’s oldest city to the drafting of the state’s first constitution and beyond, these events will explore Indiana’s influence on America’s story, honor a quarter millennium of contributions from Hoosiers that helped shape our nation and imagine the possibilities for the future of our state.
With more than 70 engaging, family-friendly events across our museum system, visitors will get a glimpse of 18th-century life in the Indiana Territory, discover our state’s connections to the anti-slavery movement and learn how the creativity and innovation of past Indiana residents are still impacting us today.
Our celebration will kick off in January during our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program. In addition to offering free admission across the museum system, special activities at the museum will focus on the stories and objects of Hoosiers — President Abraham Lincoln, Levi and Catharine Coffin, Preacher Moses Broyles, Madam C.J. Walker and others — who pursued freedom and inspired change.
In June, the museum will also partner with White River State Park for America’s 250th Summer Celebration on the Front Lawn, featuring science experiments to explore the chemistry of fireworks, a hands-on community mural and a spectacular drone show to end the evening.
In addition to the festivities at the museum, eight of our historic sites will also take part in the America 250th celebration. Vincennes and Corydon Capitol, in particular, will be in the spotlight for their connections to Indiana’s beginnings as a territory and a state, respectively.
Among the many unique events, Corydon will host a Martha Washington Tea in February, which will include a proper tea service, etiquette lesson, plus a short program highlighting the first First Lady and the role of tea during the Revolutionary War. To mark the 210th anniversary of the drafting of Indiana’s Constitution, Two Constitutions in One Nation in June will put visitors in the role of the state’s delegates meeting under the Constitution Elm to draft that first foundational document.
At Vincennes, visitors can enjoy special tours with a new theme each month as well as a speaker series, all to highlight different aspects of the site’s story from its foundational figures to its pivotal position in the American Revolution. For Memorial Day weekend, the town will host the Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous, the area’s largest event of the year. As part of the celebration, our visitors can enjoy free candlelight tours of the site.
These are a handful of the over 70 events the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites will offer throughout 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Visit our America’s 250th section for a full listing of events.
