Year-long series will feature 70-plus themed events happening across the state
INDIANAPOLIS – Joining in the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th birthday, 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 the 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 the contributions Hoosiers made that helped shape the nation and imagine the possibilities for the future of the state.
With more than 70 engaging, family-friendly events, visitors will get a glimpse of 18th-century life in the Indiana Territory, discover the state’s connections to the anti-slavery movement and learn how the creativity and innovation of past Indiana residents still have an impact today.
During the museum system’s year-long celebration, several signature events at the Indiana State Museum will feature an America 250 twist through special hands-on activities. During GEOfest on Feb. 20-22, visitors can discover Indiana’s geological history and learn which past U.S. presidents were fascinated with fossils. For Pinewood Derby®, the feature category for the best-in-show competition on March 28 will recognize car designs that creatively incorporate the America 250 theme. On Sept. 19, Tinkerfest will shine a spotlight on a quarter millennium of Hoosier ingenuity and innovation.
Also, the museum will also participate in White River State Park’s America’s 250th Summer Celebration. Taking place June 27 on the museum’s front lawn, the festival will feature science experiments to explore the chemistry of fireworks and a hands-on community mural – all leading up to a spectacular drone show to end the evening.
In addition to festivities at the museum, eight museum system locations will also take part in the America 250th birthday celebration. In particular, the Vincennes and Corydon Capitol state historic sites will be in the spotlight for their respective connections to Indiana’s beginnings as a territory and a state.
Among the many unique events, Corydon will host a Martha Washington Tea on Feb. 21, 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 on June 12 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, May 23-24, during the town’s annual Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous, historic site visitors can enjoy free candlelight tours guided by staff in period-themed attire.
These are a handful of the more than 70 events the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites will offer throughout 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Other state historic sites hosting celebration events include: Culbertson Mansion (New Albany), Gene Stratton-Porter (Rome City), Lanier Mansion (Madison), Levi and Catharine Coffin (Fountain City), Limberlost (Geneva) and New Harmony.
Many America 250 events are free for members and included with museum admission. For programs that require admission, members will receive a 25% discount. For a complete list of the museum system’s America 250 celebration events and to purchase admission, visit IndianaMuseum.org.
About the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is a museum system with 12 one-of-a-kind locations across the state that ignite wonder, inspire curiosity, reveal stories and create connections. The museum, located in White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis, serves as a central hub offering immersive experiences for visitors of every age and interest — from art and architecture, to history and culture, to science and nature. The historic sites stretch north to the shores of Sylvan Lake, south to the banks of the Ohio River and many places in between. Learn more at IndianaMuseum.org.
