Explore American History At Historic Trust Sites
America’s semiquincentennial marks a great time to explore 250 years of United States history. There’s no shortage of ways to engage with American history, which has been well documented in books, films, magazines, websites, and more. Visiting a historic preservation site is another way to experience American history. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was founded more than 75 years ago as a means to preserving places that tell a story about America’s history as well as the history of the land that predates the formation of the United States. Many such places exist across the United States, and the following are some those interested in engaging with American history can visit.
• Fioli, Woodside, California: This estate situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone serves as a community cultural center featuring 654 acres of stunning landscape. The National Trust notes the estate was originally built as a private residence in 1917 but was opened to the public in 1975. The site features 16 acres of English Renaissance gardens, a roughly seven-acre orchard, and a nature preserve with eight miles of hiking trails.
• Acoma Sky City, Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico: The National Trust notes Acoma Sky City is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. A tour of Sky city may include a visit to San Esteban del Rey, a seventeenth century church. Visitors also may view pueblo dwellings located along the 367-foot-tall mesa that’s been inhabited for nearly 1,000 years.
• Brucemore, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Iowa’s only National Trust site is among the most significant cultural landscapes in the midwestern United States. Brucemore was constructed in the late nineteenth century and is a must-see locale for anyone interested in the stories of industrialists, artisans, architects, and others during a point in American history that has become synonymous with innovation. Visitors to Brucemore can explore the 26-acre estate and some of its more unique and notable features, including the Tahitian Room and Grizzly Bar added to the estate when Margaret and Howard Hall, the last residents of the mansion at Brucemore, called the grounds home.
• The Shadows, New Iberia, Louisiana: The Shadows was built nearly 200 years ago along the banks of the Bayou Teche. More than 200 men, women and children were enslaved at this site before the start of the American Civil War, and a visit to the site today provides a balanced and nuanced take on what life on a sugar cane plantation was like for property owners and enslaved individuals. A trunk in the attic of the property preserved thousands of letters, photographs, and receipts, which are continuously researched and utilized to provide unique insight into a much-studied period in American history.
• Broccoli and Mozzarella • Traditional (Ham, Salami, Pepperoni,
JULY HAPPENINGS
SATURDAY, JULY 4th
thru MONDAY, JULY 6th
2026 FOURLEAF AIR SHOW AND FIREWORKS at Jones Beach State Park, 1 Ocean Parkway in Wantagh. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is pleased to announce the 2026 FourLeaf Air Show and Fireworks at Jones Beach State Park! Festivities will kick off on Saturday, July 4, Independence Day, with a Fireworks Program from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Following Fireworks will be the FourLeaf Air Show, on Sunday, July 5, and Monday, July 6 at 10:00am – 3:00pm, which will feature the United States Navy Blue Angels as the headliner. Created out of a desire to salute America’s heroes and bring a truly patriotic event to Jones Beach State Park, the FourLeaf Air Show has grown into the premier North American air show for the United States’ Semiquincentennial (250th) Anniversary! No general admission ticket needed to attend, just a $10 Vehicle Use Fee onsite. For additional information about the Jones Beach Chalet experience please contact jonebeachchalet@parks. ny.gov or call 631-321-3510
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8th
7:00PM
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: STRAWBERRY FIELDS –BEATLES TRIBUTE
FRIDAY, JULY 10th
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SOMETHIN' FRESH
The Town of Babylon hosts its 2026 Summer Concert Series at the Tanner Park Bandshell, 400 Baylawn Avenue in Copiague. Join us for an evening of live music as part of the Town of Babylon’s Summer Concert Series. Featuring free weekly outdoor performances and tribute bands.
4th - Independence Day
MAKE A SUBMISSION! Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run free of charge on a space available basis. For more information, please call 631.226.2636 x275 or send events to editorial@longislandmediagroup.com
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a great night of entertainment. Weather permitting. For more information, please visit https:// townofbabylonny.gov/calendar.aspx
SATURDAY, JULY 11th
9:00AM-1:00PM
AMITYVILLE FARMER'S MARKET
The Amityville Farmer's Market runs Saturday mornings on the Great Lawn at 25 Broadway in Amityville, next to the historic First United Methodist Church. Amityville Farmer’s Market is sponsored by the Bay Village Civic Association. There will be a local farmer, and many vendors. For more information, contact amityfarmers market @gmail.com or bayvillagecivic@aol.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 18th
10:00AM-4:00PM
WANTAGH PRESERVATION SOCIETY'S 5TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE CAR SHOW
Rain date Saturday July 19th. On museum grounds 1700 Wantagh Ave, in Wantagh. Cars from the 1960's & older. Entrance fee - $1. Refreshments for sale, museum complex sites will be open, 50/50 , music. For more information, email: wantaghmuseum@ gmail.com
THRUJULY 19th
FAIR HOURS: 5:00PM-11:00PM weekdays and NOON-11:00PM Saturday - Sunday EMPIRE STATE FAIR at Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult age 21+ Enjoy Fireworks by Grucci, midway rides, family entertainment, favorite fair food & more! For more information, please call 866-666-3247 or Empire State Fair
FRIDAY, JULY 24th
7:00PM-11:00PM DISCO NIGHT
LIVE music by Deverne Williams & The Vintage Soul Band, Buffet dinner, beer/wine/soda, dessert & coffee included. $45 per person. Call Barbara Napoli 631-786-9306 for advance reservations. Brumidi Lodge Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, 2075 Deer Park Ave. in Deer Park
MONDAY, JULY 27th thru FRIDAY, JULY 31st
5:30PM-8:00PM VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Ages 4 through 11, $15 per child includes dinner nightly. Complete & return registration form & payment by July 9th, available on the website ALL4GOD.ORG. Community Presbyterian Church, 1843 Deer Park Ave. in Deer Park. For more information, please call 631-242-0221, churchon231@gmail.com
NOW THRU SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th
TIMES VARY
2026 JONES BEACH BANDSHELL SUMMER CONCERT
The New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation announces the 2026 Bandshell Summer Concert Series at Jones Beach State Park! The Bandshell hosts free events at the Field 4 Boardwalk. Every night through September 6th (excluding July 1st – July 6th) Program is sponsored by the Natural Heritage Trust, WBAB 102.3 and WBLI 106.1 Radio Stations. For up to date information on performance status and schedule, contact Jones Beach State Park at 516-785-1600.
Did You Know?
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, some may wonder where the name “America” comes from. According to the Library of Congress, it is derived from Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who suggested the lands reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492 were part of a separate continent. In 1507, German mapmaker Martin Waldseemüller honored Vespucci by naming the region “America” on a map—the first to depict it as a separate continent— now held by the Library of Congress and often called “America’s Birth Certificate.”
Did You Know?
July 4, 1776, is an important date in American history that is widely considered the birthday of the United States of America. But some people argue that August 2 should actually be America’s birthday, since that was when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The National Archives says that the Second Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of independence on July 4, 1776, formally severing ties with Britain. The approved Declaration was printed on July 5. On July 19, Congress ordered that the document be engrossed on parchment, which is a process of copying an official document in large hand. It is surmised that the engrosser was Timothy Matlock, an assistant to Charles Thomson, secretary to the Congress.
It was nearly a month after the Declaration was adopted before the document began to be signed by delegates. The signing of the Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, a building later renamed Independence Hall. John Hancock, who was the President of the Congress, was the first to sign the engrossed copy. Signatures were arranged by states from northernmost to southernmost. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although not all were present to sign on August 2. Some delegates never managed to sign the Declaration, including Robert R. Livingston of New York, who was a member of the Declaration’s drafting committee.
Get creative and color the drawing to the best of your ability! Three winners will be chosen - one in each age category: 4-5, 6-7, 8-10.
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5 Great Places To Celebrate The Fourth Of July
Americans celebrate Independence Day every July 4th, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence and a newly-founded nation’s freedom from British rule. Although just about anywhere in the United States is a good place to celebrate the Fourth of July, certain places can make the holiday that much more poignant. Here are five unique places to celebrate America’s birthday.
1. Delaware: Celebrants can head to Delaware, which is home to popular seaside towns like Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach and state parks like Cape Henlopen. Delaware became America’s first state when it was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
2. New York, NY: The bright lights of the Big Apple may seem a little dimmer when compared with the fireworks display that takes place in the waters surrounding Manhattan and outer boroughs. New York City can be an exciting place to celebrate America’s independence.
3. Boston: Boston has a long and patriotic history and is considered to be the birthplace of the American Revolution, making it an ideal backdrop for July 4 festivities. The Boston Pops
hold a free concert on the Fourth of July, which concludes with the firing of real cannons.
4. Traverse City, Mich.: Revelers can celebrate July 4 in this city and taste cherries in the “Cherry Capital of the World.” Luckily, red cherries make up one of the colors of the American flag’s signature red, white and blue.
5. Washington, D.C.: What better place to celebrate Independence Day than in the nation’s capital? With impressive landmarks, museums to explore, and a parade on Constitution Avenue, D.C. is a festive town come July 4 and one worthy of a visit any time of year.
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Did You Know?
His name might not have been the inspiration for America’s capital city, a state in the Pacific Northwest or countless locales across the nation, but Thomas Paine was a hugely influential figure in the formation of the United States. Born in England in 1737, Paine moved to Philadelphia in the early 1770s and soon wrote the pamphlet, Common Sense. According to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Paine argued against the British colonial system, asserting it was rooted in tyranny directed by the aristocracy and monarchy. That assessment led Paine to contend the colonies should sever their ties to England and establish a democratic government. The success of Paine’s work is due to various factors, including his writing style, which was clear and simple and thus digestible to the masses, a reader-friendly tone that many historians have noted helped to generate enthusiasm for the notion that the colonies should break apart from the British Empire.
Fourth Of July Party Tips
More than 332 million people live in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There’s a good chance that many of those individuals will be hosting or attending parties to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th.
Those planning a holiday gathering can keep these tips in mind as they prepare to celebrate with family and friends:
• Use a second grill. Grilling for a crowd can be timeconsuming, especially on a hot summer day. Cut down on cooking time by using an extra grill. Cook hamburgers and hot dogs on one grill and reserve the other for foods like chicken and sausages that require longer cooking times.
• Avoid constant checking. Resist the urge to repeatedly flip, press or move meat while it cooks. Too much handling can cause food to lose moisture and flavor.
• Distract insects. Bees are attracted to sweet scents, while wasps and hornets often gravitate toward meat. Place a saucer of sweet soda and a few food scraps in a distant corner of the yard to lure insects away from guests and dining areas.
• Prioritize pool safety. If your celebration includes
Lesser Known Founding Fathers Of The United States
swimming, consider hiring a lifeguard or designating a responsible adult to focus solely on monitoring the pool. Hosts and guests can become distracted, making dedicated supervision especially important.
• Give neighbors advance notice. July 4th gatherings are expected, but it’s courteous to let neighbors know about your plans, including start and end times. If you know them well, consider extending an invitation.
• Leave fireworks to the professionals. Even where fireworks are legal, professional displays are generally safer. Fireworks can create hazards from falling debris, and sparklers can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, posing a significant burn risk.
• Create a patriotic playlist. Use your favorite streaming service to assemble a mix of patriotic songs, summer favorites and party classics. Keep the volume at a level that encourages conversation. With a little preparation and attention to safety, hosts can create a fun and memorable July 4th celebration for everyone involved.
When Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States throughout 2026, names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams are sure to come up. While those men played major roles in the nation’s founding, many other Founding Fathers also made significant contributions. America’s semiquincentennial is an ideal time to recognize all who helped shape the country, including some lesser-known founders whose influence has faded over the past 250 years.
• William Livingston: Born in Albany, New York, in 1723, William Livingston was a prominent attorney before the American Revolutionary War. After moving to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in 1772, he became New Jersey’s representative to the Continental Congress. In 1776, he was appointed brigadier general of the New Jersey militia and, a year later, became governor of New Jersey, a position he held until his death in 1790. Despite being targeted by British forces, Livingston remained a steadfast supporter of independence and later served as a delegate
to the Constitutional Convention, signing the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
• William Hooper: Born in Boston in 1742, William Hooper established himself as a successful attorney in Wilmington, North Carolina. Appointed Deputy Attorney General of the colony in 1770, he initially supported British authority but later became a strong advocate for independence. Hooper served as a North Carolina delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and earned the nickname “Prophet of Independence” after predicting the colonies would break from Britain. A signer of the Declaration of Independence, Hooper also contributed much of his legal earnings to the Revolutionary cause. His support for independence made him a target of British forces, who burned his home in 1781.
• John Witherspoon: Born in Scotland in 1723, John Witherspoon immigrated to America in 1768 to become president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. He is the only active clergyman and college president to sign the Declaration
of Independence. Witherspoon later signed the Articles of Confederation and supported ratification of the Constitution. During his tenure, the college educated many influential figures, including James Madison and Aaron Burr. A strong supporter of independence, Witherspoon often spoke against British interference in colonial affairs.
• Roger Sherman: Born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1721, Roger Sherman worked in several professions before studying law and eventually becoming a judge of Connecticut’s Superior Court. Though initially cautious about colonial resistance, he later embraced the independence movement and served as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. Sherman helped draft the Declaration of Independence and contributed to the Articles of Confederation. He remains the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution.
Notable Facts About The American Civil War
The American Civil War is the deadliest conflict in United States history. Though the precise number of casualties remains unknown, a 2011 analysis from demographic historian Dr. J. David Hacker estimated that three quarters of a million people lost their lives during the American Civil War. Dr. Hacker’s research was met with praise by Civil War historians, and his estimate is just one of many notable facts about this pivotal conflict in American history.
• The National Park Service notes incomplete and destroyed enlistment records from the Confederate Army complicate efforts to determine how many soldiers fought in the American Civil War. However, historians estimate the total number of soldiers is somewhere between three and four million. The NPS notes nearly 2.7 million combatants enlisted for the Union Army, while estimates for the Confederate Army range between 750,000 and a little more than 1.2 million.
• The American Battlefield Trust reports that the Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing,
• Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. is best remembered for his lengthy tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court, which began in 1902 and ended in 1932, when Justice Holmes was 90 years old. But long before Justice Holmes took a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court, he was a combatant in the American Civil War, during which he was injured on three separate occasions.
The Nicknames Of All 50 States
The United States is the fourth largest country in the world in terms of total area. According to The World Factbook, the U.S. features more than 9.8 million square kilometers (roughly 3.8 million square miles), and the country’s terrain is as diverse as the people who call the nation home. There may be no better way to gain a feel for America and its inhabitants than getting behind the wheel and taking a road trip, but there’s many other ways to gain insight into what makes each state unique. Each state in the United States has at least one nickname, and those monikers can be a fun way to spark discussions and learn more about each of the 50 states that make up the country.
• Alabama: Cotton State, Yellowhammer State
• Alaska: The Last Frontier
• Arizona: Grand Canyon State
featured unprecedented carnage over two days in April 1862. The battle enabled Union troops to penetrate the Confederate interior, but the cost was steep, producing more casualties than any conflict on the American continent to date. By the time the battle ended, more than 13,000 Union troops had died while Confederate losses neared 11,000.
• American Civil War nurse and eventual founder of the American Red Cross Clara Barton was tending to a wounded soldier during the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 when a bullet ripped through her sleeve. Though Barton was unharmed, the bullet killed the man she was trying to help.
• Kentucky Senator John J. Crittenden had two sons who became major generals during the American Civil War. Though that’s notable on its own, it’s even more so given that Senator Crittenden’s sons fought on opposite sides. A third son served in the Union Army as well, attaining the rank of colonel, while two of the Senator’s grandsons also fought in the conflict, with one fighting for the Confederate Army and the other serving in the U.S. Navy under Union Rear Admiral David Farragut.
• President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address in 1863 is well-known for its brevity. But Edward Everett, who spoke before President Lincoln at the dedication ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, spoke for more than two hours.
• Arkansas: Natural State
• California: Golden State
• Colorado: Centennial State
• Connecticut: Nutmeg State, Constitution State
• Delaware: The First State, Diamond State
• Florida: Sunshine State
• Georgia: Peach State, Empire State of the South
• Hawaii: Aloha State
• Idaho: Gem State
• Illinois: Prairie State, Land of Lincoln
• Indiana: Hoosier State
• Iowa: Hawkeye State, Corn State
• Kansas: Sunflower State
• Kentucky: Bluegrass State
• Louisiana: Pelican State, Creole State, Sugar State
• Maine: Pine Tree State
• Maryland: Free State, Old Line State
• Massachusetts: Bay State, Old Colony State
• Michigan: Wolverine State, Great Lake State
• Minnesota: North Star State, Gopher State, Land of 10,000 Lakes, Land of Sky-Blue Waters
• Mississippi: Magnolia State
• Missouri: Show Me State
• Montana: Treasure State, Big Sky Country
• Nebraska: Cornhusker State, Beef State
• Nevada: Silver State, Sagebrush State, Battle Born State
• New Hampshire: Granite State
• New Jersey: Garden State
• New Mexico: Land of Enchantment
• New York: Empire State
• North Carolina: Tar Heel State, Old North State
• North Dakota: Flickertail State, Sioux State, Peace Garden State
• Ohio: Buckeye State
• Oklahoma: Sooner State
• Oregon: Beaver State
• Pennsylvania: Keystone State
• Rhode Island: Ocean State, Little Rhody
• South Carolina: Palmetto State
• South Dakota: The Mount Rushmore State
• Tennessee: Volunteer State
• Texas: Lone Star State
• Utah: Beehive State
• Vermont: Green Mountain State
• Virginia: The Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents
• Washington: Evergreen State, Chinook State
• West Virginia: Mountain State
• Wisconsin: Badger State, America’s Dairyland
• Wyoming: Equality State
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Americans celebrate Independence Day every July 4. The holiday has become synonymous with summer fun, as grand fireworks displays and backyard barbecues are integral components of many people’s July 4 celebrations.
As Americans and residents of the United States prepare for some festive Fourth of July celebrations, they can keep these interesting facts related to Independence Day in mind.
• There have been many iterations of the American flag.
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Interesting Facts Related To Independence Day
The American flag has become an iconic symbol of freedom recognized across the globe since the United States declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776. But few July 4th celebrants may know that the current version is the 27th iteration of the American flag. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the current version of the flag officially became the flag on July 4, 1960.
• More than half of all Americans own an American flag. A 2023
poll from WalletHub found that 57 percent of Americans own an American flag. And that’s not the only way Americans show their national pride, as the same poll found that roughly one in three Americans intended to purchase patriotic merchandise for July 4th.
• The United States is not the only place to celebrate American independence. Such celebrations occur in various countries, including Australia, Denmark, Ireland, and
Norway. The festivities in Rebild National Park in Denmark are believed to be the largest celebration of American independence outside the United States.
• The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that 150 million hot dogs are consumed on July 4. Though there’s no corresponding estimate related to how many hamburgers Americans eat on July 4, various reports suggest Americans eat roughly 50 billion burgers annually, so it’s fair to
conclude many a burger will be consumed this Independence Day.
• July is a popular month for nations to celebrate their independence. In addition to the United States, various countries, including Algeria (July 5), Argentina (July 9), The Bahamas (July 10), Belarus (July 3), Burundi (July 1), Canada (July 1), Cape Verde (July 5), Colombia (July 20), Kiribati (July 12), and Liberia (July 26), celebrate their Independence Day in July.
• John Adams, a Founding
Father of the United States and the second president in the country’s history, felt Americans should celebrate their independence from Great Britain on July 2. That’s because the Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776. However, the Declaration of Independence was not approved for two more days, thus making July 4 the day to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain.
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