America 250 Events and Celebrations

This Fourth of July, the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. 

In honor of this milestone, America 250 is calling on Americans to celebrate and commemorate the nation’s past while looking forward to its future. The organization aims to engage 350 million Americans in anniversary-related initiatives through volunteering, storytelling, donating, and gathering. 

Here are some ways to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, right here in Mountaineer Country. 

Fourth of July Celebrations 

• Ruby Amphitheater 4th of July Celebration: Celebrate the Fourth of July from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ruby Amphitheatre in downtown Morgantown. Enjoy live performances, food trucks, face painting, and a firework show on America’s 250th birthday. 
• Palatine Park 4th of July Celebration: Don’t miss Fairmont’s jam-packed Fourth of July celebration at Palatine Park. Kicking off at 6 p.m., the event will feature live performances from Byron “Six Six” Cooper, Motorcycle Drive-By, and Nightrain, a Guns N’ Roses tribute band. 
• Big Bear Lake Fireworks: Located in Bruceton Mills, Big Bear Lake will host a Fourth of July fireworks show fit for the whole family. Additional celebration information will be released at a later date. 
• Triple S Harley-Davidson Drive to the Grafton Cemetery: Join Morgantown’s Triple S Harley-Davidson for its Independence Day Ride to Grafton Cemetery on July 4. Kicking off at 11:30 a.m., the ride will span around 70 miles before ending at Dairy Creme Corner. 

Historical Events

• New Deal Festival: Celebrate the rich history of Arthurdale, West Virginia’s first New Deal community, at the annual New Deal Festival on July 11. Enjoy a day filled with live music, artisan demonstrations, historic building tours, and family-friendly activities.
• Fairfax Slave Cemetery Dedication: Join Arthurdale Heritage for the dedication of the Fairfax Slave Cemetery at 10 a.m. on June 19. The dedication and cemetery honor the lives of over 40 enslaved laborers of Colonel John Fairfax in the 19th century, some of whom are buried in unmarked graves on what is now Arthurdale property. 

Historical Sites

• JFK Memorial: The John F. Kennedy “A Father’s Love” Memorial honors the former president and pays homage to fatherhood, featuring a bronze statue of John F. Kennedy Jr. saluting his father’s casket in 1963. The statue, located near the riverfront on the Rail Trail in Star City, recognizes former Senator Kennedy’s announcement of his intention to run in the West Virginia primary on February 4, 1960.
• Don Knotts Statue: The iconic bronze Don Knotts statue in downtown Morgantown commemorates the life and career of the actor and comedian from Morgantown, best known for his role as Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.” The statue was sculpted by well-known local artist Jamie Lester in 2016. 
• Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley statues: Created by local artist Jamie Lester in 2007 and 2016, two bronze statues outside Hope Coliseum honor WVU native basketball legends Jerry West and Rodney Clark “Hot Rod” Hundley. West played for WVU from 1956-60 before becoming a 14-time NBA All-Star, NBA champion, and the inspiration behind the NBA logo. Hundley played for WVU 1954-57 before pursuing a professional career with the Cincinnati Royals and Minneapolis Lakers. 
• Mast of the USS West Virginia: Remember Pearl Harbor at this historic landmark. The USS West Virginia was the third and final member of the Colorado Class dreadnought battleship. The ship was docked at Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, and was sunk during the attacks that served as the catalyst for World War II. The Mast now sits on Memorial Plaza on WVU’s downtown Campus.
• Arthurdale New Deal Homestead Museum: Step back into the 1930s in Arthurdale, West Virginia, the nation’s first New Deal Homestead Community, established in 1933. Now a National Historic District, Arthurdale features 160 original homesteads and the New Deal Homestead Museum. 
• Lady of the Pines Church: Reflect at one of the six pews inside the smallest church in 48 states. “Our Lady Of The Pines” is a small, well-kept Roman Catholic church open to visitors year-round in Eglon, West Virginia 
• Cannon Hill Park: Home to the Battle of Rowlesburg during the Civil War and located directly across from the town at the end of the county bridge, Cannon Hill was fortified during the Civil War and was used to protect the main line of the B&O Railroad.
• Prickett’s Fort State Park: Prickett’s Fort State Park, located five miles north of Fairmont in Marion County, features a reconstruction of the original Prickett’s Fort, which served as a place of refuge during colonial times. This historical park commemorates late 18th-century life on the Virginia frontier.
• Grafton National Cemetery: Located in Grafton, West Virginia, the cemetery contains burials of United States veterans of every conflict from the Civil War to Vietnam. The national cemetery opened in 1868 in order to provide a burial ground for Union soldiers who died in West Virginia’s military hospitals and battlefields.
• Adaland Mansion: Located on 20 scenic acres in Phillippi, West Virginia. The mansion is a beautifully restored 23-room Greek Revival home built in 1870. Located on the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion invites visitors to step into the region’s rich history and unique cultural setting.
• Morgantown History Museum: Located in downtown Morgantown, the Morgantown History Museum takes visitors back in time, showcasing the social, cultural, and economic history of Monongalia County. 
• Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum: Birthplace of the founder of Mother’s Day, the Anna Jarvis museum serves as an ode to Anna and her family’s history. Additionally, the house is known as the first field headquarters of General George McClellan during the Civil War. 
• International Mother’s Day Shrine: Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, the “mother church” of Mother’s Day, was incorporated as the International Mother’s Day Shrine on May 15, 1962, as a shrine to all mothers. The Shrine was constructed in 1873 and is located along Main Street in downtown Grafton, West Virginia.
• The Greatest Generation World War II Museum: Located in the Szilagyi Center in Rowlesburg, West Virginia, the museum features authentic wartime scenes with soldiers, exhibits, and artifacts from both the Allied and Axis powers.
• Rowlesburg B&O Depot and Museum: Located in Rowlesburg, West Virginia, this museum houses only railroad memorabilia, pictures, and trains. A portion of the building is the original building. The Caboose is a B&O Caboose and is restored.
• McGrew House: Visit the historic home of one of Preston County’s most influential citizens. The original 1840’s structure stands as a reminder of the tension-filled days prior to and throughout the Civil War, a time when men like McGrew were called into service as representatives to the Virginia Convention, where secession from the Union was hotly debated.
• Clarksburg History Museum: Located inside the Harrison County Board of Education, the Clarksburg History Museum features 30 exhibits, containing stories and relics from the past two centuries.
• America 250 Mural: This three-section mural created by West Virginia artist Blake Wheeler spans from High Street to Chestnut Street. It was created in honor of America 250 to commemorate Morgantown’s history.
• Passport to Harrison County:The Clarksburg History Museum’s “Passport to Harrison County” program encourages residents and visitors to explore historic sites throughout the county while learning about local history. Developed as part of the America 250 celebration, the self-guided experience highlights landmarks and stories that helped shape Harrison County from its earliest days to the present. 

Covered Bridges

• Philippi Covered Bridge: Dating back to 1852, the Philippi Covered Bridge is the oldest covered bridge in West Virginia. The structure nearly burnt down after a vehicle accident and subsequent fire in 1989, but reopened in 1991 following a two-year repair period. The bridge remains open to traffic today. 
• Carrollton Covered Bridge: Another Philippi-area span that once served as part of the Middle Fork Turnpike, the covered bridge at Carrollton carries Barbour County 36 over the Buckhannon River on a span 16 feet wide and 140.75 feet long. The bridge was built by Emmett and Daniel O’Brien in 1856.
• Simpson Covered Bridge: Built in 1881, the multiple-Kingpost truss bridge was washed out by a flood in July 1889 and later relocated to its current location a half-mile upstream. It is located at the intersection of Club View Drive. and Meadowbrook Drive.
• Barrackville Covered Bridge: Built in 1853, the structure is a modified arched Burr truss, with siding added twenty years after the bridge’s construction, and spans Buffalo Creek near Barrackville, West Virginia. It is located at the intersection of Pike St. and Buffalo Road.
• Dents Run Covered Bridge: The last covered bridge standing in Monongalia County was erected in 1889 by order of the Monongalia County Court. The bridge, located on US 19 at the junction with County Route 43, west of Laurel Point, is 40 feet long, 13 feet wide, and utilizes the King post truss design. 

Other Commemorative Celebrations 

• Grafton Memorial Day Parade: The 159th annual Grafton Memorial Day Parade is set to travel through downtown Grafton, West Virginia, at 10 a.m. on at 10 a.m. on May 25. Recognized nationwide as the longest-running Memorial Day parade in the country, it was named the  Official Memorial Day Parade of West Virginia in 2016. 
• Memorial Day at Prickett’s Fort State Park: Celebrate Memorial Day at Prickett’s Fort State Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 25. Veterans receive free admission. 
• Rowlesburg Ox Roast: Event information will be posted at a later date.
• Kingwood Summerfest: Kingwood Summerfest set to return June 20 with America 250 theme and record vendor participation.