Celebrating 250 Years of Independence

Sea Girt will host an America 250 celebration on Saturday, May 30.

Every 50 years, America’s patriotic summer holiday can’t be contained to just July 4. The Semiquincentennial marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a statement of unity among the states and the right to self-determination. Its signing triggered a war that was fought in Monmouth County to defend liberty.

Monmouth County has scheduled events throughout the year to recognize America’s birthday, including one at Sea Girt’s Baltimore Park.

The borough’s daylong party will feature music from popular shore cover band Enjoy!, with food provided by The Blonde Shallot, Ray’s Cafe, and Shore Pour. Events will include an apple pie contest, beer, and a hot dog-eating competition at the firehouse.

Councilwoman Diane Anthony says the event is meant to honor the founding generation and those who followed.

“To recognize the true meaning of the 250th celebration of America’s birth as a nation, as it pertains to the grave sacrifices made, the overwhelming accomplishments achieved, and the fortitude and perseverance of our founding fathers and generations to follow, is a true testament to the traditions that Sea Girt respects, appreciates, and cherishes,” Anthony says. “The May 30 event will be an invitation to those who value the history of our country, the place that Sea Girt has played in making meaningful impacts since our founding and promoting the strong sense of community participation and enjoyment,” she adds.

Jubilee

The tradition of celebrating every 50 years dates back to 1826, when hundreds of New Jersey veterans of the Revolution were honored with church sermons and parades for the first “Jubilee.” Former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both instrumental in creating the Declaration of Independence, died July 4, 1826, 50 years to the day after its signing.

Centennial

In 1876, the nation celebrated with a yearlong Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the first World’s Fair in America. The event showcased industrial America and introduced bananas, Hires Root Beer, Heinz Ketchup, and the telephone to more than 12 million visitors in a nation of 45 million.

When the fair ended, many of its 200 buildings were auctioned off. The largest came to the Jersey Shore to help build resorts at Spring Lake and Sea Girt. The Lake House Hotel was built from the Department of Public Comfort Building. The Missouri State Building became a private home that still stands on Ocean Road. Parts of the Agricultural Hall were used to build the Ventnor Cottages (Beacon House), the Wreck Pond bridge, and to curb streets in Spring Lake Beach. The grand staircase from the Ocean House hotel also came from the Centennial.

Sesquicentennial

The 1926 Sesquicentennial featured another fair in Philadelphia, this one showcasing a giant Liberty Bell. Across the region, communities prepared weeklong celebrations.

In Spring Lake, Mayor Daniel Hills, owner of D.H. Hills Drugs, now the site of Sundae Times Ice Cream, asked the Sesqui-Committee to keep Sunday as a day of worship and moved the town’s celebration to Monday, July 5. The Spring Lake Gazette called it “An Adequate Celebration.” Events included a parade of decorated automobiles through town, a choral program at the Community House, and a two-hour fireworks show at the beach.

In Sea Girt, events were held later in the summer when New Jersey Gov. Harry A. Moore, who occupied the Little White House, hosted three Governor’s Day celebrations attended by thousands of day-trippers arriving by special train.

Bicentennial

The 1976 Bicentennial sparked a revival in Spring Lake. With the 1975 demolition of the Monmouth House, residents grew nostalgic for the past. The town moved to preserve its historic character, placing plaques on 19th-century homes. Citizens formed a historical society and revived theatrical productions at the long-vacant Community House Theater.

“Bye Bye, Birdie,” produced by Patricia Barry, was the first show. Barry became the executive director, and productions have continued for 50 years.

Sea Girt planted a Liberty Tree at Sea Girt and Washington avenues, painted fire hydrants with Bicentennial Committee-approved designs, and staged a recreation of the 1800s Big Sea Day at the beachfront for residents. The national Bicentennial celebration featured a flotilla of tall ships in New York Harbor and large-scale fireworks displays.

Semiquincentennial

The tall ships return in 2026. Sail4th is planning to display the largest collection of tall-masted sailing vessels in the harbors of Baltimore, New York, and Boston over the summer, with 60 nations sending more than 200 ships. Communities and cities across the country are planning special fireworks around July 4.

Monmouth County is hosting a gala at Bell Works in June, and Monmouth250 lists dozens of activities to mark the anniversary, including Sea Girt’s May 30 celebration. The county theme is “Freedom’s Battleground.”

The celebration also honors the 56 delegates from the 13 colonies who signed the Declaration, announcing their defiance of King George III and the most powerful empire in the world to assert: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

For more information, visit monmouthnj250.org or seagirt-nj.gov.

45th Annual Spring Lake Historical Society House Tour

Don’t miss the 45th Annual Spring Lake Historical Society House Tour on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.! This beloved self-guided tour is a wonderful opportunity to step inside some of Spring Lake’s most beautiful and storied homes. Tickets are $50 in advance (available through June 3 at Kate & Company, Bain’s Hardware, and J. McLaughlin on Third Avenue) or $60 on tour day. Pick up your ticket and map at the Spring Lake Train Station starting at 9:30 a.m.—coffee will be served! For more information, call the Spring Lake Historical Society at 732-449-0772.