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.
Elizabeth’s tourism leader Jennifer Costa discusses America 250 strategy, global marketing, and World Cup 2026 preparation.
Learn how Standard Aircraft connected Elizabeth to World War I manufacturing, pilot training planes, and the early development of U.S. airmail.
Explore the history of Durant Motors’ Star automobile factory in Elizabeth, NJ, and its role in early 20th-century American manufacturing.
Principal George Mikros shows how Alexander Hamilton Prep turns history, rigor, and civic values into fuel for Elizabeth’s future leaders.
Discover how Burry’s Biscuit Corporation in Elizabeth helped produce Girl Scout cookies and shaped the city’s industrial food manufacturing history.
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.
Women of the Revolution take center stage as Joanne Rajoppi shares powerful, local stories of courage from Elizabeth and Union County.
Mayor Bollwage’s Our City explores Elizabeth, NJ’s Revolutionary War roots through Boxwood Hall and the city’s fight for independence.
Discover how bicycles shaped sporting life, club culture, and community events in Elizabeth during the bike boom of the 1890s.
GoElizabethNJ250 Partners & Sponsors
250th Community & Statewide Events
Launch of Elizabeth Ambassador Tourism Certification
October 1, 2025 - October 31, 2026
May 2026 REV250 at the Elizabeth Public Library
May 2 - May 31
Industrial Revolution in Elizabeth Mini Exhibit
May 5 - May 31
23rd Annual Tour de Elizabeth 2026
May 17 @ 7:00 am
From Our Timeline
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.
UCNJ’s Lessner Building Opens in Elizabeth
admin2026-05-13T12:43:31-04:00Modern Elizabeth & Cultural Evolution (1980–2000s)|
In 1992, Union County College opened the Sidney F. Lessner Building in downtown Elizabeth, creating a permanent home for its urban campus.
Union College Opens Butler Street Center
admin2026-05-13T12:19:55-04:00Civil Rights & Social Movements (1900–1970s)|
In 1979, Union College opened its Elizabeth Urban Education Center on Butler Street, expanding access to college courses and workforce training.
Featured Gallery Moments
Explore the story of Elizabeth’s 250th through recent events and community snapshots.
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
Annual Midtown Car Show – September 2025
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.
The Elizabeth 250th Planning Committee extends a heartfelt invitation to you, our esteemed guest, to be a part of history. As we stand on the cusp of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, we seek your presence to pay homage to the storied past of Elizabethtown, NJ. This land, steeped in the echoes of the Revolutionary War, was not just a backdrop for battle but a forge for the liberties and values that define our nation today.
Explore our volunteer opportunities by clicking on a category below. Follow the instructions to REGISTER for the info session.
Your involvement places you amidst the tapestry of time, connecting you to the pivotal events and the valorous spirit that influenced the course of our collective future. Let us come together to acknowledge Elizabeth’s indelible impact and to ensure that the legacies left behind continue to inspire truth, freedom, and a path forward for all Americans. Your participation is not just a gesture; it is a celebration of the strides we’ve made and an invitation to the creation of our tomorrow.
Discover the myriad of ways to volunteer and celebrate Elizabeth’s revolutionary spirit. Tap into the categories below to explore the diverse sub-committees awaiting your involvement. Your presence is the bridge between past and future—join us in this historic undertaking.
explore our volunteer opportunities by clicking on a category below. Follow the instructions to register
ADMINISTRATIVE
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
FUNDRAISING
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
MARKETING
EVALUATION COMMITTEE
HISTORY & EDUCATION
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
