Founding Colonies Invest Hundreds of Millions in America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations

Six original colonies are allocating hundreds of millions of dollars toward events, restorations and marketing for the United States’ semiquincentennial.

The six states that originally formed the union are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the America 250 celebrations. Pennsylvania’s America250PA commission has received $13.4 million in state appropriations, $7.6 million in private sponsorships and $2.6 million in-kind support, plus a $50 million marketing budget that backs events such as the NFL draft and FIFA World Cup matches in Philadelphia, where the city itself set aside $620 million for safety, airport upgrades and festivities.

New Jersey’s administration reports over $130 million spent on restoring ten Revolutionary-war sites, while Virginia has allocated $27 million to its VA250 commission and secured $6 million privately, complemented by a $20 million preservation fund. Massachusetts contributed $6 million in state funds and raised $16.5 million privately for events like the Boston Pops fireworks and Sail Boston, and New York devoted $5 million to festivals and received federal grants for historic sites. South Carolina has appropriated about $24.5 million, distributing $13.5 million through a statewide grant program that supports local projects across all 46 counties.