Celebrate America250 at Dickinson
Dickinson joins national America250 events with campus celebrations.
Dickinson College will participate in two national America250 initiatives this July, joining institutions across the country in marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
From July 1–9, Dickinson will illuminate Old West in red, white and blue as part of “Light to Unite,” a nationwide effort to symbolize unity and shared history. Stop by to take photos and share them online with #lighttounite and #dsonproud.
The college will also host a communitywide “Sharing the Spirit of America” event on Wednesday, July 8, on the Academic Quad. The program will run from 5 to 7 p.m. and culminate in a synchronized national reading of the Declaration of Independence at 6 p.m. President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, will perform the reading, joining participants across all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia in marking the historic moment first shared publicly on July 8, 1776.
The event will feature live entertainment and a variety of food trucks, including Creekview Food Company, Blue Bear BBQ, 717Tacos, Uncle Bs Philly Cheesesteaks, All Belgium Waffles, The Cheese Affair, Playa Bowls, Jack and Joan’s Kettle Corn, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck, Rita’s Italian Ice, Back Porch Brewing and Castlerigg Wine Shop.
Faculty and staff, alumni, families and members of the Carlisle community are invited to attend. Come early, bring friends and be part of a nationwide celebration.
Trout Gallery Events
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Trout Gallery at Dickinson College presents two exhibitions. The first, Branch: Trees in American Art, tells stories of America through a variety of artworks representing trees and runs from June 12, 2026, through January 23, 2027. The Trout Gallery also presents Recent Acquisitions: American Stories, an exhibition celebrating recent additions to the gallery’s permanent collection with a particular focus on American artists. The exhibition runs June 12 through September 26.
In addition, The Trout Gallery is hosting a number of public events, including:
- Summer Community Day: July 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Join The Trout Gallery for art activities, story time, exhibition tours, a scavenger hunt, face-painting, snacks, prizes and more!
- Pizza on the Plaza: September 4, 5 - 7 p.m. Help us celebrate our current exhibitions by enjoying free pizza made by the Dickinson College farm and served on Weiss Plaza.
All events, programs and exhibitions are always free and open to the public. Additional details are available on The Trout Gallery's website.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published June 18, 2026