Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary at Saint Joseph’s

Saint Joseph’s University will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America in the country’s birthplace in 2026.

“History provides you with identity and helps you understand who you are,” says Melissa A. Chakars, PhD, professor and chair of the history department, and chair of the America250 committee. “Here, we don’t all speak the same language, and we’re not all the same ethnicity, color or religion, but we’re all living here in Philadelphia where the dream of America was born, and engaging with that helps us understand who we are.”

America250 @ SJU will feature events such as lectures, films, museum exhibitions, trips and contests aimed at engaging with America’s past, present and future. 

Philadelphia will be an epicenter for the nation’s historical celebrations as the city also plays host for major events like the MLB All-Star Game and the FIFA World Cup. According to NBC10, the city of Philadelphia has put around $60 million into the year’s events and expects upwards of $1 billion in return on tourism. 

As part of the lecture series, participating students will hear from experts on topics ranging from George Washington’s iconic house to the right to bear arms in present-day America. 

“This is not just about history,” Chakars says. “We’re interested in those things, but we’re also interested in exploring what America is today and what it can be in the future.”

The committee is partnering with the Misher Festival of Arts and Humanities in March for a week of events; in accordance with the anniversary, this year’s festival theme is freedom. In addition to exhibitions at the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum and the Marvin Sampson Museum for the History of Pharmacy, the Career Center will also be launching a feature to help students search for internships and volunteer opportunities related to the celebrations.

Students who participate in events throughout the year can earn stamps through the Academic Adventure Passport Program. These students will receive a physical America250 passport, and those who complete a set of five stamps will earn an America250@SJU designation to add to their resumes. 

Julia Noone, BA ’26, is the marketing chair of America250@SJU, a newly formed student club organizing events on campus and beyond. 

“I hope students walk away from this experience feeling more connected with the City of Brotherly Love,” she says. “I’m most looking forward to celebrating the 4th of July and seeing the city so bright and lively with my friends and family.” 

Stamps are also available for those enrolled in courses that engage with the past, present and future of the country. These courses are offered in programs across schools and departments at the University, including history, philosophy, political science, food marketing, healthcare administration, sociology, economics, theology, music, theatre and film, and more. 

“We want students to get multiple perspectives on America and understand that it’s a complicated place,” Chakars says. “I hope they challenge themselves to think critically about what America is and, along with our Jesuit ideals at St. Joe’s, think about what we can do to make our home better for everyone.”