Ready to make history one mile at a time? Walk or Run 250 Miles to Celebrate America’s 250th!

Lace up your sneakers and get moving in the free Run America 250 Challenge: a country-wide virtual walk/run event celebrating 250 years of American history!

Between July 4, 2025 and July 5, 2026 we’re challenging you to walk or run 250 miles—anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re hitting the trails, the treadmill, or your neighborhood sidewalk, every mile brings us closer to honoring America’s incredible journey since 1776.

How you hit 250 miles is totally up to you! From grocery runs to evening dog walks, teeing off on the golf course to exploring scenic trails, every step counts.

Registration for the Run America 250 Challenge opens July 4, 2025, and it’s completely free to join! Sign up by April 30, 2026, to start working toward your 250-mile goal and a commemorative medal.

To log your miles, make sure you’ve downloaded the RaceJoy app. This is how we’ll track your progress so that you can get your well-earned medal! Use the app’s GPS feature to log your miles in real-time, or enter your miles manually into the RaceJoy app. This will help make it easy for you to track your progress and help you reach your goal!

Register Here!

Presented by Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor of the Stafford County Historical Society. Aquia Creek was at one point a major commercial waterway from the mid-1600s up until the early 1900s, in contrast to its modern geography. Three deep-water landings received international sailing vessels along the waterway, and industry flowed through the heart of the freestone quarrying area, much of which was used in the construction of various buildings in Washington D.C. and in the surrounding areas in Virginia. Moreover, several large fisheries operated along the creek, and thousands of cords of wood, along with hundreds of thousands of railroad ties, were shipped down Aquia Creek to many destinations across the United States. Learn of this area’s rich history, including the location of Stafford County’s only known military entanglement of the Revolutionary War: the Burning of Richland. In July of 1776, British warships sailed up the Potomac and met the Stafford Militia, who were stationed at the Richland Plantation, which was owned by William Brent.

Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor is the author of They Called Stafford Home, among other works related to the rich history of Stafford County. A life-long Staffordian, Jerrilynn continues to heavily contribute to historical and genealogical studies of the people and places of this County. She is a secretary of the historical society and a frequent lecturer on various historical topics to numerous regional historical organizations.

Automobile enthusiasts are invited to a monthly meetup in the museum parking lot the second Saturday of each month May-October, 2026 from 8 AM – 11 AM. Event is open to all makes, models and years. Coffee will be available for purchase. The visitor center will be open during the event and the museum opens at 10 AM for tours with paid admission.

Second Saturdays
May 9, June 13, July 11, August 8, September 12, October 10

Please use caution when entering and exiting our gravel lot. This event is free and open to the public. Questions? Contact our Visitor Services Manager Lindy M. Lynn, [email protected], 540-654-1843

America’s 250th Birthday celebration continues with an all-American classic considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy. It ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950 and won a total of 5 Tony Awards with and the revival winning 4 Tony Awards in 1992. It’s an oddball romantic comedy celebrated for its humor and storytelling. Travel from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City. Show title TBA Running for 7 weeks, including a special student matinee: May 13-June 28, 2026.

Presented by Dr. Jason Sellers, University of Mary Washington. The colonial unrest that led to the American Revolution offered opportunities for diverse Americans to pursue freedom. This program will discuss the roles Native nations on Virginia’s frontiers played in shaping its support for an independent United States. It will also consider how and why Virginia Indians participated in that struggle for independence.

Dr. Jason Sellers is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Mary Washington specializing in the cultural and environmental history of 17th-and 18th-century North American landscapes and bodies.

Step Inside History with the RISE ABOVE Mobile Movie Theater.

The fully functional RISE ABOVE Mobile Movie Theater features two compelling original short films, RISE ABOVE: The Tuskegee Airmen and RISE ABOVE: The WASP, sharing the stories of the extraordinary obstacles these heroes overcame to serve during World War II.

Housed in a climate-controlled 53-foot semi-trailer with expandable sides, the theater is equipped with a ramp and hydraulic lift to ensure accessibility for all, comfortably accommodating up to 30 visitors per showing. Its dynamic 160-degree panoramic screen creates the thrilling sensation of soaring in the cockpit above the clouds alongside these historic figures.

The Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were trailblazers who broke barriers in a time of segregation and discrimination. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military pilots in U.S. history, proving courage and skill could overcome systemic prejudice. The WASP were the first women to fly military aircraft for the U.S., paving the way for future generations of female aviators. Both groups not only contributed critically to the Allied war effort during WWII but also challenged societal norms, inspiring lasting change in military service and civil rights.

Admission to the exhibit is FREE for all event attendees. The theater will be located at Stafford Airport (95 Aviation Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22406) as part of the Stafford County VA250 Memorial Day Commemoration.