America is celebrating its 250th birthday, and the long July 4th weekend will offer spectacular fireworks shows and parties across the country. The Sail250 event, a flotilla of tall ships and military vessels, will make its way up the Atlantic coast, stopping at cities like Baltimore, New York, and Boston.

Unique Celebrations

In addition to traditional fireworks and parties, the nation’s birthday can also be marked in more unusual ways that highlight American history, ingenuity, and diversity. The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Virginia, is hosting an innovative exhibit featuring paintings by Italian American folk artist Oscar de Mejo.

The National Geographic Museum of Exploration in Washington, DC, is opening with a $300 million interactive collection, including a ‘Red, White & Blue’ exhibit exploring the United States through the colors of the US flag. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, is also opening, focusing on Roosevelt’s cattle ranching and cowboy days in the 1880s.

Other events include a reading of Frederick Douglass’ famous speech, ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’ at his former home in Washington, DC, and a massive recreation of the Battle of Gettysburg with hundreds of uniform-clad reenactors.

Local Celebrations

Cities across the country are hosting their own unique events to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The town of Medora, North Dakota, is hosting a four-day festival around July 4, while the city of Easton, Pennsylvania, is celebrating its 50th annual Heritage Day with a parade, block party, and reenactors playing historical figures.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.