CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state of West Virginia is already going all out for the gear up of America’s 250th birthday that’s set for July 4, 2026.
So far this year, the West Virginia Semiquincentennial Commission has hosted a number of activities around the state recognizing the art, culture, and history that West Virginia has contributed over the years in helping to shape America as what it is today as part of the country’s major milestone.
A number of other events and activities are also planned for the remainder of the year.
The commission was created by the state legislature through the passage of House Bill 2916 in April of 2021 to support the 250th anniversary of the nation.
Randall Reid-Smith
Now the commission meets the second Wednesday of every month. Department of Arts, Culture, and History Cabinet Secretary and Chairman of the Semiquincentennial Commission Randall Reid-Smith said it’s divided into seven committees that all do their part in contributing to the organization of the commission as well as all of the activities it holds for the 250th celebration.
“We have a development committee that helps to raise funding for it, we have a PK through 12 educational committee, a lecture series committee, we have a higher education committee, we have tourism, we have events,” Reid-Smith said naming off a few of the committees which make up the commission.
Last year, legislatures gave the commission an appropriation so they can start to fund everything around the celebration.
Through that appropriation, the commission has now set up a grant application open to non-profit organizations, local governments, public libraries, and fairs and festivals across the state who can sign up to become a part of the celebration.
Acting Director of Arts Jenna Green said applicants can receive up to $5,000 for any event or educational initiative they wish to hold recognizing the America 250 celebration.
“They do have to match that one to one and then those are put to the commission as they come in on a rolling deadline for approval,” said Green.
Organizations can learn more and find out how to apply by contacting [email protected].
Reid-Smith said they have a major event in store in October as part of the celebration.
“Our first big event is the 250th commemoration of the Battle of Point Pleasant, October 10th 2024, because it was October 10th 1774,” he said.
He said there will be an educational component for students to get involved as part of the Battle of Point Pleasant commemoration. Reid-Smith said it’s an essay contest for seniors with the topic being “Was the Battle of Point Pleasant the first battle of the Revolutionary War?”
He said students with the two best essays– one for and one against the stance on the battle being the first– will then hold a debate on their stance.
The Point Pleasant Battle event will be held across three days, October 9th, 10th and 11th.
It will open on October 9 at Marshall University and for the actual commemoration in Point Pleasant on October 10.
Reid-Smith said they will hold a convoy with a lantern as part of the event recreating the actual path the original convoy took leading up to the battle.
“We’re going to start in Lewisburg because General Lewis, Colonel Lewis at the time, was the commander of the militia and he came through the Greenbrier Valley, the Kanawha Valley, up through to Point Pleasant, so we’re going to start a couple of days before with a convoy, through the National Guard, bringing a lantern, we’re going to stop at each county courthouse between Lewisburg and Point Pleasant,” he explained.
He said from Lewisburg the convoy will go through Hinton, Beckley, Fayetteville, Charleston and Winfield before ending at Point Pleasant.
Recently in June the commission held a ceremony recognizing the 249th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Army that was also a part of the America 250 celebration. On October 13th they will hold the 249th anniversary for the Navy and on November 10th one for the Marines.
Reid-Smith said the federal commission behind America 250 charged each state to hold events and activities on how each helped build the nation and whether they were a part of the 13 original colonies.
He said West Virginia contributed in extra ways during the formation which calls for an extra special project to leave behind.
“We were Virginia so we’re both, you know we became a separate state, so what we’re doing is a legacy project,” he said.
The project will be a new outdoor exhibit outside of the state Culture Center called “West Virginia Nature Designs a State that Fuels a Nation.”
Reid-Smith said the project will depict the history of all of the state’s natural resources that helped build the country. He said they have already begun work on the project and hopes to complete it within the next six months.
Reid-Smith said it’s an honor to be able to represent the state at the national meetings discussing the America 250 celebration.
“Let me tell, I am so proud to be able to tell them about the greatness of our state, we kept this state going through our natural resources.”