As Harford County joins communities across the country in commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, local leaders saw an opportunity to create something that would extend beyond a single celebration. Rather than simply marking a historic milestone, the goal became creating meaningful ways for residents and visitors to connect with the people, places, and stories that shaped the county and continue to define it today.
That vision became Harford 250, a collaborative countywide initiative built around the themes of history, service, and civics. “2026 is the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but this isn’t the first celebration or commemoration,” said Jacob Bensen, Historic Preservation Planner for Harford County and co-chair of the Harford 250 committee. “We started several years ago celebrating Harford County’s 250.”
Bensen explained that earlier commemorations helped lay the groundwork for this moment, including celebrations tied to Harford County’s founding, the anniversary of the Bush Declaration, which pledged local support to the Continental Congress, and the 250th anniversary of General Lafayette’s return to the United States. Those experiences sparked bigger conversations about what America 250 could mean locally.
In summer 2025, Harford County partnered with the Historical Society of Harford County and other organizations across the region to formally establish the Harford 250 committee. Representatives from museums, historic sites, libraries, municipalities, and educational institutions came together with the shared goal of building programming that would engage both residents and visitors. The committee continues to meet regularly, and subcommittees are focusing on advancing projects and initiatives.
One early priority was creating a central place where people could discover everything happening throughout the county. “We wanted to create a central calendar for all of the events so anyone in the county could find everything,” Bensen said
That effort came together through Hello Harford. Jodi Marschhauser, Tourism Manager for Hello Harford, offered the use of the existing tourism platform, allowing organizers to create a resource that was both accessible and easy to maintain while also extending visibility beyond Harford County. “We wanted to provide something that was easily used by all, [so that people] wouldn’t need to go anywhere to get a map," Marschhauser said.
The calendar brings together exhibits, community programs, and commemorative events while helping connect local efforts to broader statewide celebrations. But organizers wanted to create something that would live beyond individual event dates.
That idea led to the creation of the Celebration Trail, a self-guided experience available through the Let’s Rallie app that encourages users to explore more than 60 sites across Harford County. Participants can visit locations on their own schedule, check into sites, track progress, and discover stories connected to different eras of local history.
For Sandy Wallis, Historical Society Trustee and member of the history subcommittee, the Celebration Trail fills a different role than the calendar. “The calendar is event-specific. The Celebration Trail is site-specific,” Wallis said. “The real strength of the trail is that there are a lot of places to visit and learn history.”
Wallis noted that the sites reflect a broad view of Harford County’s story. Rather than focusing exclusively on the Revolutionary period, the experience highlights agriculture, mills, hunting traditions, historic homes, and the many ways everyday life evolved over generations. She also sees long-term value in the relationships formed during the process. “The long-term strength of the project is that people see rich history and that sites will see the benefit in co-promoting each other and making history vibrant in Harford County,” Wallis said.
That broader perspective was intentional. “We’re not just celebrating the American Revolution, but also 250 plus years in Harford County,” Bensen said. “We are celebrating the whole history of human settlement in Harford County, not just the Revolution.”
The committee also recognized that accessibility via the Let’s Rallie app would be essential to participation. “It’s the wave of the present,” said Chris Potts, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Harford County and member and co-chair of the Harford 250 committee. “We are acknowledging that’s the way a lot of people plan their vacation and travel,” she said. “We want to capture the interest of younger people… Everyone can get excited about history, and we want to go where people are.”
Marschhauser added that the digital format allows people to engage on their own terms, exploring when they want and returning to the experience over time. Fortunately, local sites were also eager to participate.“Collaboration was not a challenge,” Marschhauser said. “People were excited to come together.” That spirit of participation and connection is also what county leaders hope continues long after the anniversary year.
Bob Cassilly, County Executive for Harford County, reflected on the significance of the moment and the values behind the commemoration. “Harford County citizens and my own relatives have defended our nation in every major conflict since the American Revolution, and as a lifelong resident and U.S. Army veteran, I know that patriotism runs deep in our community,” Cassilly said. “We are excited to celebrate America 250 and the founding principles of freedom, equality, limited government, the rule of law, and individual responsibility that make our country great.”
For organizers, success will not be measured only by attendance numbers. Through events, shared experiences, and the Celebration Trail, Harford 250 aims to invite people to explore not only local history but also the connections that make community meaningful.
“Moments like this are a great opportunity for community building,” Potts said. “When you discover a shared history in community, that’s a way of bringing people together. I hope that we will have that kind of result. It’s something that will resonate not just now but into the future.”
More Ways to Join the Celebration
Harford 250 was designed to encourage people to experience local history in unexpected ways. Beyond signature commemorations, the year includes opportunities to participate through public readings of the Declaration of Independence at local libraries, Revolutionary baseball, a public art installation at the Historical Society, July 4th parades in Darlington, Bel Air, Aberdeen, and Havre de Grace, and special events across the county and beyond. Organizers also hope the initiative helps visitors look beyond familiar landmarks and uncover stories tied to agriculture, local industry, historic communities, and everyday life. Whether attending an event or creating your own route, the invitation is simple: get involved and explore.