Gov. JB Pritzker announces plans for America’s 250th anniversary

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Illinois is rolling out a range of initiatives aimed at showcasing the state’s contributions to the country’s early history.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced plans for the celebration Wednesday at Navy Pier on Illinois’ 207th anniversary.

“The story of Illinois has always been the story of America,” Pritzker said in a statement. “It will be an opportunity to reflect on the past 250 years, to educate one another and to tell the stories of the people who made Illinois the best state in the country and America the greatest country in the world.”

The Illinois America 250 Commission was established by state law and charged with organizing an inclusive, statewide commemoration that uplifts local stories, highlights significant sites and programs, and demonstrates how Illinoisans carry forward the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

So far, 68 of Illinois’ 120 counties are participating in the planning process, with more than 167 organizations joining the effort, state officials said.

“To inspire our people and to bring our communities together to tell our American story fitting 250 years of growth and of struggle and of resilience and of success into a single year of programming is no easy feat,” Pritzker said.

Anniversary plans include statewide public art installations, music festivals, and events that celebrate the diversity of Illinoisans, highlighting Native American culture, Black history, and the state’s immigrant communities.

The Illinois Arts Council said it will invest $350,000 to support 20 public art installations, among them a partnership with the Chicago Park District to create a new piece at Steelworkers Park on the South Side that pays tribute to generations of workers from the former U.S. Steel South Works plant.

A full list of events can be found online.