Stories that Shape America: Elizabeth, NJ
Stories that Shape America: Elizabeth, NJ
elizabeth 250th planning committee
MAYOR J. CHRISTIAN BOLLWAGE, THE CITY OF ELIZABETH, CO-CHAIR
REV. DR. WANDA M. LUNDY, CO-CHAIR
AIMEE FERNANDEZ-PUENTE, CO-CHAIR
Administrative Sub-Committee
To Be Determined
Planning & Logistics Sub-Committee
DOn Treich
History & Education Sub-Committee
Elliot Johnson
Volunteer Management Sub-Committee
Miguel Carvalho
Evaluation Committee Sub-Committee
To Be Determined
Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee
To Be Determined
Marketing & Promotions Sub-Committee
Jason ‘Remeoner’ Ellington
Fundraising & Sponsorship Sub-Committee
To Be Determined
Emergency Preparedness Sub-Committee
To Be Determined
Featured Series
Explore original content series, special research collections, and storytelling projects connected to Elizabeth at 250.
Discover how Burry’s Biscuit Corporation in Elizabeth helped produce Girl Scout cookies and shaped the city’s industrial food manufacturing history.
Explore the history of Durant Motors’ Star automobile factory in Elizabeth, NJ, and its role in early 20th-century American manufacturing.
Discover how Jerry O’Mahony’s Elizabeth factory helped shape New Jersey’s diner legacy from West Grand Street to diners across America.
John Prescott explores Elizabeth’s historic sites, Four Centuries in a Weekend, and inclusive stories that shape Union County’s America 250 legacy.
Mayor Bollwage’s Our City explores Elizabeth, NJ’s Revolutionary War roots through Boxwood Hall and the city’s fight for independence.
Women of the Revolution take center stage as Joanne Rajoppi shares powerful, local stories of courage from Elizabeth and Union County.
Principal George Mikros shows how Alexander Hamilton Prep turns history, rigor, and civic values into fuel for Elizabeth’s future leaders.
Discover how bicycles shaped sporting life, club culture, and community events in Elizabeth during the bike boom of the 1890s.
Learn how Standard Aircraft connected Elizabeth to World War I manufacturing, pilot training planes, and the early development of U.S. airmail.
Elizabeth’s tourism leader Jennifer Costa discusses America 250 strategy, global marketing, and World Cup 2026 preparation.
From Our Timeline
2026 Elizabeth Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
admin2026-06-15T11:34:42-04:00Elizabeth Today & The Road to 250 (2000–Present)|
Elizabeth’s 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony honored athletes, teams, scholarship recipients, and a proud tradition of local excellence.
Welcome Station Opens in Elizabeth NJ
admin2026-06-03T12:26:54-04:00Elizabeth Today & The Road to 250 (2000–Present)|
Elizabeth celebrates the Welcome Station grand opening with speeches, music, community leaders, and Tour Ambassadors.
UCNJ’s Kellogg Building Opens in Midtown
admin2026-05-13T12:59:05-04:00Modern Elizabeth & Cultural Evolution (1980–2000s)|
Opened in 2009, UCNJ’s Elizabeth I. Kellogg Building expanded the college’s downtown campus and became a major Midtown education anchor.
Featured Gallery Moments
Explore the story of Elizabeth’s 250th through recent events and community snapshots.
Welcome Station Grand Opening in Elizabeth NJ
Annual Midtown Car Show – September 2025
Elizabeth 4th of July Celebration 2025
2024 Info Session – GoElizabethNJ250 Community Kickoff
Elizabeth Tourism’s 10th Anniversary Kick-Off
Union County Kickoff – 250th Anniversary Awareness Walk
Welcome Station Grand Opening in Elizabeth NJ
250th Community & Statewide Events
Launch of Elizabeth Ambassador Tourism Certification
October 1, 2025 - October 31, 2026
Elizabeth, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of American history since the nation’s founding. As we approach America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026, we are proud to commemorate our city’s role in shaping the American experience. Through stories of resilience, innovation, and community, we honor the past while looking toward the future.
As an official partner of RevolutionNJ, the state’s lead organization for New Jersey’s 250th commemoration, Elizabeth at 250 will engage residents, visitors, and historians through events, storytelling, and historical reflections that highlight our city’s rich contributions to the nation’s founding and growth.
Join us in celebrating Elizabeth at 250: Stories That Shape America—a campaign that connects our city’s legacy with the next generation.
