America is poised to celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, and Franklin County PA is joining the celebration. America250PA is striving to be E.P.I.C.—to educate, to preserve, to innovate, and to celebrate, and Franklin County is joining the statewide effort with these specific goals:
- Bring awareness to America250 PA
- Elevate awareness of Franklin County contributions to PA and America
- Bond the communities of Franklin County
- Build pride in Franklin County’s contributions by showcasing history, art, veterans, youth, and inventions. As much as possible, highlight the focus areas of the America250PA platforms—which emphasizes history, agriculture, food, innovation, stewardship, civic engagement, and leadership.
- Create a community memory through the interviews and printed publication of the 250th Franklin County America250 PA commemoration.
The Franklin County America250 PA Committee is seeking organizations, individuals and businesses to be part of the growing committee. Meetings are 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM and held at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. Meeting dates for 2025 are:
- Friday, January 10
- Monday, February 10
- Monday, March 10
- Thursday, April 10
- Monday, May 12
- Monday, June 9
- Thursday, July 10
- Monday, August 11
- Wednesday, September 10
Parties interested in joining may contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at 717.552.2977, email jpollard@explorefranklincountypa.com, or simply attend an upcoming meeting.
The 2025 kick-off project is the Franklin County America250 PA T-shirt Design Contest. Anyone that is a resident of Franklin County, works in Franklin attends school in Franklin County or has a distinct connection to Franklin County is invited to get creative and design the official Franklin County America250 PA T-Shirt. The design just needs to be:
- An original design, inspired by Franklin County and include America250PAFranklinCounty.
- Hand drawn or digitally created with a minimum of 300 dpi.
- Be submitted by January 27, 2025 to fcvb@gmail.com , mailed or dropped at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, 15 South Main Street in Chambersburg.
Other plans of the Franklin County America250 PA Committee include “Stories of Franklin County” to compile residents’ stories in their own voices to share during the celebration and a Franklin County America250 Parade, planned for September 2025.
Franklin County’s commemoration is striving to bring a fresh perspective and a renewed appreciation to the contributions of Franklin County to the Commonwealth and America. Learn more at www.ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or www.America250PAFranklinCounty.com.