America celebrates its 250th birthday this Fourth of July and the Times Herald-Record has everything you need to maximize the celebration.
Here you’ll find all things USA 250, from deep dives into the area’s notable figures and must-visit historic sites to guides on local celebrations.
Check back here often, we’ll be updating this page as we get closer to the holiday.
What makes this July 4 different
The United States celebrates a major historic milestone this year with its 250th anniversary.
New York’s mid-Hudson Valley has played a role in some of the pivotal events shaping our nation’s history, and we’ve highlighted many of those contributions. Here you’ll also find our coverage of the historic sites that help tell the region’s story and the celebrations planned to mark the nation’s 250th birthday.
For instance, the Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston, where New York State government first met, held a grand reopening in May following the completion of a $2.5 million restoration and the addition of two new exhibits to its museum.
Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site also marks important firsts and lasts in U.S. history, from the end of the Revolutionary War in the 1780s to the preservation of the Hasbrouck House in 1850 as the first publicly owned landmark.
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Where to celebrate in the Middletown area
In the Middletown area, there are many ways to celebrate July 4, and the 250th anniversary.
Visit Knox’s Headquarters, the historic home and headquarters of Revolutionary War generals Henry Knox, Nathanial Green and Horatio Gates, dubbed the Ellison House, for a guided tour on July 4.
The City of Middletown Stars and Stripes Celebration takes place July 1 in Fancher Davidge Park at 7 p.m. A fireworks display begins at dark.
Catch a Star Flight Drone Show at the Village of Monroe’s Independence Day Celebration July 3 around 9:15 p.m. or celebrate at Legoland with a unique fireworks display July 4 including 3D glasses that turn the fireworks into LEGO bricks.
Cornwall’s Fourth of July festivities return with an artisan craft fair, food vendors, inflatable fun zone, pet show, their “Main Street Mile” run, a parade, flag ceremony and of course, fireworks on the holiday.
America 250 history in the mid-Hudson Valley
From the failed 1777 attempt to defend the Hudson Highlands against the British using “chevaux de frise” built off the Bannerman Castle island to the untested Great Chain stretching from West Point to Constitution Island, the region has no shortage of historic landmarks to visit during America’s 250 celebration.
Find one of the Bannerman points on display at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh and see original Great Chain links at West Point.
There’s a rumor George Washington stayed at the 11-room Brinckerhoff Inn near Beacon, a 308-year-old mansion built in the Colonial Era with ties to Dutchess County’s part in the Revolutionary War — it’s a luxury inn now where you can book a stay. In Red Hook, the Elmendorph Inn, at times a tavern, stagecoach inn, post stop and meeting place during its years standing since the late 18th century, is the oldest surviving public building in the village.
There are many stories that shape our region’s contributions to the country’s past 250 years. Some we all know, but others, like where you can find a lock of George Washington’s hair, may be new to you.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary July 4, take some time to explore the stories, landmarks and events that have shaped our region’s history. We’re here to guide you.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Your complete guide to America’s 250th birthday in Middletown
Reporting by Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Middletown Times Herald- Record | USA TODAY Network
