2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies in 1776. Many historical sites, heritage organizations and communities are already making preparations for the Semiquincentennial, which will bring out visitors in droves to celebrate the first 250 years of the United States of America.

On April 6, Harbinger principal Michele Archie met with a group of partners of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, a 680-mile series of roads used in 1781 by the Continental Army, under command of George Washington, and the Expedition Particuliere commanded by Jean-Baptiste d Rochambeau during their 14-week march from Newport, Rhode Island, to Yorktown, Virginia. This route is a designated National Historic Trail, with an active partnership coordinated by the National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association.

April 6 was the first of two meetings, focused on gathering data and translating economic value so that it can be understood and leveraged for informing and influencing stakeholders and the community. This first session set the stage, focusing on understanding heritage tourism and the kinds of economic and community values associated with it. The second session, on May 4, will focus on how heritage organizations, museums and historical sites, and local communities and businesses can collect visitor data and other information, analyze it and use it to benefit their work.