Park County has a number of events planned to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, starting with the commemoration of Paul Revere’s ride to warn the colonists of British troops marching into the Massachusetts countryside more than a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

On April 1, the Park County Commission and Cody City Council both passed proclomations honoring the ride of Revere with a Two Lights for Tomorrow campaign — Powell City Council did the same Monday — which asks all residents to have two lights on the night of April 18, 250 years from the midnight ride immortalized in a poem by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow that included “One if by land, and two if by sea” in reference to the signal at Boston’s Old North Church as to how the British troops would advance into the countryside.

At 7:30 p.m. on 12th Street outside the Irma Hotel, city and county leaders will commemorate the famous April 18, 1775 ride. Two lights will be placed at The Irma as attendees gather for patriotic music, proclamations and community building.

“This event is a powerful reminder of the unity and shared purpose that has been a cornerstone of our nation since its founding. It’s an opportunity for our community to come together, reflect on our history, and look forward to a bright future,” said Park County Commissioner Dossie Overfield in a release.

“Two Lights for Tomorrow” is a nationwide initiative that calls for the display of two lights in homes and businesses as a visual reminder of the ongoing effort to build a “more perfect union.” It serves as a call to action for citizens to celebrate and serve their communities.   

That event is just the first of many planned between April 18 and July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, noted Cody Chamber CEO Jennifer Thoma as she spoke before commissioners April 1.

The America 250 project is a national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. It aims to honor the nation’s history, celebrate its achievements, and inspire future generations. The project encourages communities across the country to participate in events and initiatives that reflect the historical significance of the founding principles.   

Locally, Thoma said events are being planned across the county, including a farm to table meal in Powell and a potential cattle drive through Meeteetse.

Thoma said funding for the project is coming through the state, as the Park County America 250 Steering Committee has submitted a request for $10,000 she expects to receive for initial work on the projects.

She said $2,000 of that will go to preliminary event planning assessments, $3,000 for booking deposits and $5,000 for subcontracting administration from the chamber and

“Already we have in the works several different things, including the two lights for tomorrow,” Thoma told commissioners.

That includes a project with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to extend the Paul Stock Nature Trail behind the museum alongside the Shoshone River and add historic commemorative signing.

The committee is also working with the Cody Heritage Museum on a campaign to put up hundreds of flags in the park beside the downtown museum.

“We’re working on an anniversary celebration for the 100th anniversary of the Hayden Arch Bridge, a small celebration out there,” she said. “We are working on public art displays throughout the community, all the different towns in the community. We’re looking at a chuck wagon cook off. We’re trying to pull together some farm to table dinners, lots of fun events.”

After commissioner Kelly Simone asked about events outside of Cody, Thoma said Homesteader Museum Director Brandi Wright is helping to spearhead Powell events such as the farm to table dinner.

All of these events start with the commemoration, outside the more-than-100-year-old building, of an event 250 years ago that paved the way for the American Revolution.

“The need for unity and the call to serve our community is no less relevant today than it was 250 years ago when Paul Revere rode to ignite the fire of freedom,” Cody Mayor Lee Ann Reiter said in a release. “Let us not forget who we are as a nation and how fortunate we are to live free. Let us not forget the lives lost to win our freedom and hold on to the spirit of working together for the common good despite our differences. Patrick Henry, in the throes of tyranny and an extremely uncertain future stated, ‘I know not what course others may take; but for me, give me liberty, or give me death.’ We encourage you to show your support for the courageous leadership that founded this nation by proudly displaying two lights in your window April 18 and may our nation’s patriotic spirit live on.”

The Park County America 250 Steering Committee invites everyone to participate in this historic commemoration throughout the next year. For more information on how to get involved or to add your organization’s events to the America 250 calendar, contact Thoma at jennifer@codychamber.org or 307-586-1571. Follow Park County America 250 Facebook page for updates and future events.