NYS 250th Commemoration Commission

2026 will mark the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of the revolution that occurred between 1775 and 1783 and resulted in the creation of the United States of America. What is now the State of New York played an immense and vital role in both the Revolutionary Era and the subsequent 250 years of American history. On February 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the “New York State 250th Commemoration Act” which establishes a state commission to facilitate the planning and development of the commemoration of the 250th in New York State. This bill was introduced in the State Assembly by Assemblymember Carrie Woerner and in the State Senate by Senator Shelly Mayer and passed both houses of the legislature unanimously. The 250th Commemoration Act draws particular notice to the potential of the 250th commemoration to consider both the complexity of the American Revolution itself and the continuing struggle to achieve the ideals of the Revolution that at the time excluded a large portion of the population. 

New York State’s 250th commemoration will seek to highlight and commemorate not just the roles of New York’s citizens during the Revolutionary War, but also the subsequent 250 years of action toward the ideals of our nation’s founding principles. Through exhibitions, events, public programs, and publications, the 250th commemoration will focus on the revolutionary actions of New Yorkers and the ever-evolving process by which they have fought to bring the nation closer to its founding principles.

This website is dedicated to New York State's Commemoration of the 250th and contains information, events, news, and resources about both the commemoration itself and New York’s role in American history. It is a living document and will be added to regularly. 

If your organization is planning any events or has any other relevant information related to New York's role in the Revolution or the subsequent struggle over the concepts of civil rights, liberty, and equality, please contact the Office of State History at statehistory@nysed.gov.