Celebrate America 250 in Orleans County

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of the American Revolution, which took place between 1774 and 1783 and led to the creation of the United States of America. What is now the State of New York played a crucial and enduring role not only during the Revolutionary Era but also throughout the subsequent 250 years of the nation’s history.

New York State 250th Commemorative Commission

New York State has awarded Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper $15,000 to help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026.

Orleans County has established an America 250 Committee to allocate these funds to local organizations, municipalities, and schools that are hosting America 250–themed events, as well as supporting other related projects.

While no Revolutionary War battles took place in Orleans County, several soldiers from the era later settled in the area. Some of these veterans, who are buried in local cemeteries, will be spotlighted as part of this year’s commemoration.

The New York State 250th Commemorative Commission aims to do more than simply celebrate the Revolutionary period and the formation of the United States. The Commission also seeks to recognize ongoing efforts to advance the ideals expressed by the nation’s founders. New York has played a significant role in these movements, including the Underground Railroad, the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, the labor movement, and the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Numerous historic sites and battlefields across New York help tell the story of the state’s role in the Revolution, all of which remain vital to understanding the nation’s history, according to the Commission’s guide to observing the 250th anniversary.

“The Founding Fathers wrote, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,’ as the guiding principles of a new nation,” the Commission states. “New Yorkers continue to lead efforts to expand these ideals to include everyone. This part of the Revolution continues.”

For more information on the New York State 250th Commemorative Commission, see the field guide on the commemoration here.