America 250 ~ NYS 250
Celebrating and Commemorating Our National History
Residents and visitors across Wayne County are invited to explore America’s national identity through the lens of our collective ancestors. This year will feature countywide programs that educate the public about our country’s history — marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
At the center will be Revolutionary-era themes that shaped the nation while also affecting the earliest inhabitants of our region which continue to influence us today. These initiatives are designed to foster appreciation for local history, encourage civic engagement, and connect past and present through shared stories and experiences.
NYS & Wayne Co. 250 Programs
Brewing Conflicts
Join your community at the local "coffeehouse" for lively, interactive history-based discussions with scripted and spontaneous debate on historical and contemporary issues — mirroring how Revolutionary War issues were debated and discussed. Historical organizations will sponsor lively, facilitated, history-based discussions for ages 14 & up, combining scripted and spontaneous debate on historical and contemporary issues.
These interactive programs ask participants to consider the difficult choices faced during the colonial period and to reflect on their modern parallels. Trivia and giveaways will be included, with popular brewed beverages offered: Tea, Coffee, and Hot Chocolate!
Events are in partnership with participating local historical society sponsors and venues. Programs will be free to attend. Space is limited. Please RSVP in advance.
A popular place for community discussion.
Leading the discussion, John (Chris Blomgren) introduces important topics.
Special Appearances by two historic characters.
A popular place for community discussion.
Business Sponsors: Imprint Coffee, Freedom Blend, Good Life Tea, Earl Grey; Cosmic Cobbler
NEXT BREWING CONFLICTS EVENTS:
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Sunday, May 3rd in Macedon. Sponsored by Macedon Historical Society.
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Saturday, July 25th in Ontario. Sponsored by Heritage Square / Ontario Historical Society.
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Thurs. August 13 at Gates Hall. Sponsored by Sodus Historical Society, Sodus Bay Historical Society and Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society.
Wayne Co. 250 - Keynote Speaker "Stolen Ground"
Join the conversation with historian and distinguished professor, Dr. Michael Oberg from SUNY Geneseo as he shares his unique perspective on America 250. Based on a quarter-century of Native American research, he will focus on the often overlooked aspects of the Declaration of Independence regarding the depiction and treatment of Indigenous people and the systematic dispossession of Indigenous land, including the Phelps-Gorham purchase and military tract in Wayne County.
PLEASE RSVP FOR THIS EVENT
Thursday, May 13 at Gates Hall, 6:30 pm - 8:30pm
Ye Hills of Wayne Driving History Tours
Take a Self-guided tour while traveling through Wayne County’s historic countryside, along the shores of Lake Ontario to the banks of the Erie Canal. Routes explore the people and places that shaped the region and highlight historical stops. Tours will be available online, via a mobile app, and in print by June 2026.
Routes will wind through historic hamlets and culturally significant landscapes, encouraging exploration of places and people that shaped the region. Tours will include audio playback and suggested historic stops, allowing participants to learn at their own pace while experiencing the county’s colonial and national heritage related to first inhabitants of the land, Revolutionary ancestors, and all that came after...
These America 250 programs are made possible through support from the
New York State Department of Education and will be presented in partnership with local historical societies, municipal historians,
civic organizations, and community venues throughout Wayne County.