America celebrates its 250th birthday this Fourth of July and the Poughkeepsie Journal 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 a celebration of Americana, from the best places to grab food truck bites or brunch to the events that bring history to life.
Excited to celebrate America’s 250th birthday? Subscribe to our weekly USA 250 newsletter.
Where to celebrate in the Poughkeepsie area
In the Poughkeepsie area, there are many ways to celebrate July 4, and the 250th anniversary.
“While no battles were fought in Dutchess County (much to the relief of residents at the time), we nevertheless played a critical role in the struggle for independence,” Dutchess County Historian William P. Tatum III said in a statement.
Destination Dutchess spent years planning its packed lineup of events and initiatives to celebrate America 250, from limited edition Revolutionary War-era beers at local breweries and a Revolutionary Cider Celebration June 27 to a bigger-than-ever RevCon in Hyde Park.
The Hudson Valley Renegades will celebrate the holiday July 2-4 at Heritage Financial Park. Buy special tickets for an all-you-can-eat buffet menu including: burgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese, salad, chips, cookies, Pepsi products, and water. After the game, enjoy fireworks each night and a concert on July 4. There will also be a specialty jersey giveaway July 2.
Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary by watching “1776,” screened at Bannerman Island — the site of a failed Revolutionary blockade — July 3 and catch the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular at Walkway Over the Hudson July 4.
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 the document handwritten by George Washington that Franklin D. Roosevelt received as a 60th birthday present, 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 Poughkeepsie Journal: Your complete guide to America’s 250th birthday in Poughkeepsie
Reporting by Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
