This article is part of our America 250 coverage. See calendar recommendations for the Midwest, the Northeast, and the South, plus more stories on things to do and signature foods to eat in each of the 50 states (plus D.C. and Puerto Rico).
Not all Western states were on the map 250 years ago, but the region has long shaped America’s story. From the ancestral homelands of Indigenous nations to the coastal cities and canyonlands that anchor the country’s frontier myth, the West offers a more complex view of independence. It’s one rooted in resilience, reinvention, and renewal—and a lens for reexamining what freedom means today. As the nation honors its Semiquincentennial in 2026, states across the region are joining the celebration with exhibits, cultural festivals, and outdoor gatherings that honor the many voices and landscapes that make up the American experiment. These events, part of the nationwide America 250 celebration campaign, reflect on the past while imagining what freedom and belonging can mean in the centuries ahead. Many programs are still being finalized, so check official sources for the latest details before making plans.
A master weaver and natural dye expert spins Navajo Churro wool on a Navajo spindle in the Museum gallery.
Photo by Diego Velasquez/ Courtesy of Moab Museum
Voices of the Plateau: Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary at the Moab Museum in Moab, Utah
When to visit: January 16–December 2026
This yearlong exhibition series spotlights the diverse histories and cultures of the Colorado Plateau through art, storytelling, and community collaboration. From the Ute-led Breaking 100 Years of Silence to explorations of lowrider culture, Buffalo Soldiers, and contemporary migration stories, the Moab Museum invites contemplation on identity and belonging in the evolving American experience.
Wyoming Historic Governors’ Mansion 250th Speaker Series in Cheyenne
When to visit: January 24, February 21, March 21, and April 18, 2026, 2–3 p.m.
At Cheyenne’s Historic Governors’ Mansion, this monthly lecture series delves into unexpected stories from the Revolutionary era. They include battlefield medicine, women’s wartime roles, and 250 fun facts about Wyoming’s own past.
Ascend to The Little Bighorn Last Stand monument obelisk and graveyard.
Photo by Mendenhall Olga/Shutterstock
150th Anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency, Montana
When to visit: June 25–27, 2026
Coinciding with America’s 250th, this commemoration marks 150 years since the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which was one of the defining clashes between the U.S. military and Indigenous nations when a combined force of Lakota and other Native American people routed General Custer’s invading troops. A newly expanded visitor center debuts with exhibits co-created by Tribal partners, offering a more nuanced understanding of the conflict’s causes, consequences, and continuing legacy across Montana and the Great Plains.
Americana at 250: Eagles, Flags, and Uncle Sam at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe
When to visit: February 13, 2026–January 18, 2027
Opening in February 2026, this yearlong exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico, explores symbols of national identity—eagles, flags, and the ever-evolving figure of Uncle Sam—while inviting visitors to ponder what it means to be both American and Nuevo Mexicano.
Visitors exploring the Moments That Made Us exhibition at the History Colorado Center in Denver
Courtesy of History Colorado Center
Moments That Made Us at the History Colorado Center in Denver
When to visit: November 22, 2025–October 18, 2026
This marquee exhibition, Moments That Made Us, in Denver, Colorado, brings together more than 40 iconic artifacts that shaped the nation—from George Washington’s spurs and Jackie Robinson’s bat to moon rocks from Apollo 11 and Nixon’s Oval Office tape recorder. The pieces illuminate struggles, setbacks, and triumphs that defined America.
United We Celebrate: The Traditions That Bring America Together at the Idaho State Museum in Boise
When to visit: March 4–July 31, 2026
This patriotic exhibition, United We Celebrate, traces how Americans—and Idahoans in particular—have celebrated national milestones and community traditions across generations, exploring how collective rituals help shape civic identity.
Get ready for an interactive tour of Thermopolis Hot Springs, Wyoming.
Courtesy of Michael Kirsh/Unsplash
Trailblazer Days: Opening the Last Frontier in Hot Springs County, Wyoming
When to visit: June 2026; exact dates TBA
Step back in time during this weekend festival celebrating Wyoming’s frontier heritage. Highlights include mule-team parades, a cowboy poetry festival (July 17–19), interpretive tours of Hot Springs State Park and Legend Rock, and open-house access to the Hot Springs County Museum’s “Hole-in-the-Wall Bar.”
