The Countdown To 250: America 250 Oregon Commission Shares Update And Request For Public Involvement (Photo) - 02/04/26

Portland, OR — With just five months until July 4, 2026 — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of our democracy — America 250 Oregon Commission is pleased to share an update on its work to date.

Created in March 2024 through SB 1531, the America 250 Oregon Commission is charged with “coordinating, providing guidance, and ensuring that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial.” The Oregon State Legislature has also provided a total of $500,000 for the Commission “to expend and allocate” in the fulfillment of that mission.

“The America 250 Oregon Commission invites all Oregonians to help make America’s 250th anniversary a commemoration that reflects on our past and inspires us to continue the work of forming a more perfect union,” said America 250 Oregon Commission Chair Kerry Tymchuk.

To date, the Commission has met on six occasions, holding its first meeting on August 6, 2024, and meeting mostly recently last week on January 29, 2026. Since its creation, the Commission has accomplished several projects and established multiple avenues for public involvement across the state.

ADOPTED GUIDEPOSTS

Adopted seven “guideposts” as the priorities for America 250 Oregon programs:

• To inspire Oregonians to participate in the work of forming a more perfect union.
• To highlight the importance of civics and history education in building a better future.
• To highlight the work of Oregon’s many history and heritage organizations.
• To encourage a robust, thorough, and honest examination of our collective history.
• To celebrate the unique traditions, arts, and cultures of communities throughout Oregon.
• To honor the service and sacrifice made by Oregon’s veterans.
• To celebrate the power of place through Oregon’s remarkable landscapes and scenic beauty.

OREGON 250 WEBSITE

Oregon’s official U.S. Semiquincentennial website, oregon250.org, launched February 2025. In this digital space, the public can browse a community events calendar, explore online exhibitions, and access resources for getting involved in this nationwide commemoration. The site also includes website links to all nine of Oregon’s federally recognized tribes as well as information on understanding tribal treaties, visiting tribal museums, and resources to learn about Indigenous histories and traditions.

OREGON 250 TRAVELING EXHIBITS

The America 250 Oregon Commission partnered with acclaimed photographer Peter Marbach to create two digital and traveling photographic exhibits that showcase the essence of Oregon and its vibrant communities. The Power of Place highlights Oregon’s awe-inspiring landscapes, many of which have remained unchanged for centuries. The Pursuit of Happiness focuses on the people and communities of Oregon and the ways we gather to celebrate the diverse cultures that define our state. Both exhibits will continue to travel throughout 2026 to museums, libraries, and civic centers around the state free of charge, and will be available to travel after the semiquincentennial.

OREGON 250 COMMUNITY GRANTS

With the assistance of the Oregon Heritage Commission, the America 250 Oregon Commission created the Oregon 250 Grant Program to assist in funding America 250 observances and programs across the state.  

To qualify, programs have to align with at least one of the Commission’s seven guideposts. To date, two rounds of funding have provided a total of $125,000 divided between 38 recipients, with half of the recipients serving rural Oregon communities. Applications for a third round of funding, totaling $50,000, will open on March 4, 2026. A list of grant recipients can be found on the Commission’s news and press page.

AMERICA 250 OREGON E-NEWSLETTER

The America 250 Oregon Commission publishes a monthly e-newsletter to share updates on all 250–related activities. Subscribe to the email list to receive the newsletter.

PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA 250 PROGRAMS

The America 250 Oregon Commission is encouraging Oregonians to participate in a variety of programs sponsored by other states, organizations, or by the national America 250 Commission, which was established by the United States Congress. These programs include: 

• Moments that Made US: This traveling exhibition was developed through a multi-state collaboration that explores the ideas of the Declaration of Independence through defining moments in American history. Designed as a free, customizable, print-on-demand exhibition, it can be easily shared at schools, libraries, civic centers, and museums nationwide. In the Pacific Northwest, the America 250 Oregon Commission partnered with Washington 250 and Idaho 250 to create regional panels that highlight local stories alongside the national narrative. The main exhibition panels will be available on February 13, 2026, with the regional component available in early March.
   
• America’s Potluck: Led by Utah 250, this nationwide effort encourages Americans to gather with friends and neighbors for potlucks on July 5, 2026.
   
• Sharing the Spirit of America: Oregon will participate in a nationwide simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence at 3pm PT on July 8, 2026.
   
• America Gives: This national initiative invites businesses, nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and community organizations to increase volunteer service in 2026. 
   
• Oregon’s Revolutionary War Memorial: Located at Beaverton Veterans Memorial Park, this new memorial honors America’s first veterans. The dedication also recognizes figures such as William Cannon, a Revolutionary War veteran who later settled in Oregon and is buried in St. Paul, Oregon. The public opening and celebration is scheduled for April 19, 2026.
   
• Light to Unite: This initiative, led by the National Flag Foundation, calls on Americans and communities to light buildings and landmarks in red, white, and blue and fly the U.S. flag on the evening of July 4, 2026.
   
• America 250 Time Capsule: On July 4, 2026, America 250 will bury a time capsule within Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, which will be opened on July 4, 2275. Each state has been asked to submit items that represent the people of its state that can fit within a 6" x 5" x 2" archival storage box and/or a single page of archival lay-flat paper, not larger than 8.5" X 11". The America 250 Oregon Commission will be issuing a media release soon to ask Oregonians to submit suggestions by March 1, 2026. 

About the America 250 Oregon Commission
 

The America 250 Oregon Commission was created through Senate Bill 1531, which was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on March 27, 2024. Chaired by the Oregon Historical Society’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, the mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250.org.