Destination retailers and vendors share how they plan to commemorate America250 with historic souvenirs. When the ball dropped in Times Square this January, a yearlong celebration kicked off across the country with 2026 marking America’s 250th birthday. Just as during the nation’s bicentennial, a wave of patriotism and nostalgia is expected to take over for this year’s semiquincentennial and is being reflected in retail offerings everywhere in the U.S. Some destination retailers even started celebrating this milestone as early as July 4, 2025.
The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, released a few commemorative America250 souvenirs last 4th of July to help spark interest.
 The McKinley Presidential Library store carries a variety of America250 souvenirs, from banners to mugs and plush.
Lewis says the gift shop has steadily expanded its America250 souvenir collection since that countdown began, starting with just a few commemorative coins and magnets from Americana Souvenirs to snow globes, shot glasses, banners and even a locally made ornament.
The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum also gave its guests a taste of its America250 merchandise early in its gift shop, debuting a wall of America250 mugs from Sunset Hill Stoneware last November. The store also carries some commemorative T-shirts, coasters, ornaments and caps.
“We wanted to get them in so folks could buy some for Christmas gifts,” says Todd Ward, store manager for the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, Mississippi.
Ward says America250 ties in seamlessly to the mission of the museum.
“The general premise of the museum is we’re a replica of a 1920’s Mississippi small town,” he says. “With us basically being a replica of 100 years ago in Mississippi, we have kind of always expressed a patriotic feel.”
Ward says he plans to keep the America250 section going strong throughout the year. “If customers see the excitement, see our flags up, it might spark something in them to have a patriotic feel and enjoy the celebration,” he says.
A boom of optionsDestination retailers looking to add some last-minute America250 souvenirs have countless options, as the official America250 Commission partnered with over 200 licensees that have developed America250-specific merchandise, from apparel and jewelry to drinkware.
Jennifer Condon, executive vice president of the America250 Commission, says the commission has been busy over the last two years finding vendors and developing partnerships to help Americans celebrate this year.
“Really for the past 18 months in earnest, we have been working to engage 350 million Americans by the 250th,” she says. “What’s been important to us is ensuring every American can see themselves in the narrative of the 250th. We want to be sure the celebration is accessible to all Americans.”
To date, America250 has just over 200 licensees with a range of 2,000 to 5,000 licensed products. Condon says she anticipates commemorative patriotic ornaments might be big sellers this year, especially those with the America250 logo.
Kurt Adler is one of the America250 licensees and has released some officially licensed ornaments this past year as well as some other patriotic-themed ornaments and decor to complement the collection — think Santas and Nutcrackers wearing tricorn hats and a bedazzled Liberty Bell ornament.
“We started with a small collection but quickly this became a large theme for us,” says Michael Adler, account manager at Kurt Adler. “We played with it for a little bit and kept adding as we got excited about it and customers got more excited about it.”
Becoming an America250 licensee was also a good fit for Stuffed States USA, which offers plushies in the shape of the U.S. and each of its states. The company released two new plush designs just for America250 — a USA Mascot Stuffed State and American Flag Stuffed State.
“These designs already existed for us, so it was truly special to have them recognized as a natural fit for the America250 celebration by the team at America250.org,” says Owner Stacey McLaughlin. “The collaboration felt very organic because the pieces already celebrated American pride, were accessible for all ages and were educational to boot.”
Coast to coast collectiblesSome of the companies releasing America250 souvenirs hope people collect these keepsakes at various attractions across the country.
 State-shaped cutting boards, magnets and mugs can help people enjoy America250 at home.
He adds that Eastern National is an official America250 licensee, with some commemorative products available for wholesale and that can be found at America’s National Parks stores, including stickers, apparel and stoneware mugs.
“We’re finding that people are in the mood to commemorate and celebrate the founding of America,” Scarpello says.
For America250, Better Magnets created several magnet designs for each of the 50 states. T Schoen, licensing director for Better Magnets, says some new designs look like license plates and others look like postage stamps, one for each of the 50 states.
Since the company only plans to sell its America250 licensed magnets until Oct. 15, Schoen says she’s hopeful the time-sensitive nature of these products will encourage more people to collect them before they’re gone.
Add in AmericanaSome vendors and retailers are also diving heavily into Americana and military motifs.
Spoontiques, another America250 licensed vendor, has debuted both new souvenirs with the America250 logo and some patriotic-themed gifts. Vice President of Sales Don Lehman says he thinks Americana-themed products might nicely supplement America250 merchandise displays this year.
He adds, “Americana and military motifs sell all throughout the year.”
Leaning into that phenomenon, Kurt Adler is promoting fun Americana ornaments and decor along with its America250-logoed products.
“Start with a small collection, but also have variety,” Adler advises retailers.
Strategic storytellingCondon notes that just about any gift shop or attraction can be successful with America250 merchandise this year — it just comes down to understanding customers and strategic storytelling with store displays.
“Almost everything in the U.S. can be aligned with the 250, and all aspects of the American life are uniquely part of the American experience,” she says, noting that just about any store can incorporate red-white-and-blue into displays in an authentic way leading up to the 4th of July.
She adds, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help bridge divides and bring Americans together in celebration of the world’s greatest experiment in democracy. It’s a time to come together to proudly display the American flag and all other patriotic products.” |
