ANNAPOLIS – Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) today announced the launch of the Be Revolutionary: America 250 Exploration Trail, a new countywide visitor experience honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In celebration of this milestone, more than 50 historic, cultural, and community sites will share their own revolutionary stories—highlighting the bold people, unforgettable places, and powerful ideas that have shaped Anne Arundel County across generations. The trail invites residents and visitors to explore these stories at their own pace, discover the revolutionary spirit that continues to define the region, and reflect on what their own revolutionary story is—or will be.
“America’s 250th gives us a rare opportunity to celebrate the ideas and individuals that helped shape our nation—and the partners who continue to move our community forward,” said Kristen Pironis, CEO of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. “What makes the Be Revolutionary trail so meaningful is that every site has embraced its own revolutionary story, whether it began in 1776 or with a business opening its doors in 2026. Together, these stories reflect a diverse, inclusive, and ever‑evolving county—one powered by the dreamers, innovators, and artists who continue to shape our future.”
Anne Arundel County’s Revolutionary legacy is unparalleled, offering some of the most authentic 1770s streetscapes in the nation and serving as the backdrop for defining moments such as the burning of the Peggy Stewart, George Washington’s resignation of his military commission in the Maryland State House, and the ratification of the Treaty of Paris that officially ended the American Revolution.
Layered across these milestones are the stories of the people who propelled the region forward—and continue to do so today. As visitors make their way through the 50-plus site trail, returning as often as they like to complete the full experience, they’ll encounter these narratives brought to life through special activities and activations created for the 250th commemoration.
Be Revolutionary: America 250 Exploration Trail
Consisting of a broad network of historic, cultural, and community partners, Be Revolutionary showcases Anne Arundel County’s role in America’s founding through a countywide exploration trail featuring 50-plus participating sites.
Each location displays an interpretive panel with a self‑selected “revolutionary” verb and story—ranging from museums and archives to farms, breweries, libraries, and waterfront landmarks—collectively illuminating the people and places that shaped America’s earliest chapters and the diverse communities that define the county today. The sites and their chosen verbs are as follows:
- Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park – Propel
- Annapolis Pride, hosted by Leo Annapolis – Evolve
- Annearrundell County Free School Museum– Educate
- Arundel Mills – Captivate
- Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum – Echo
- Boatyard Bar & Grill – Commit
- Bread and Butter Kitchen – Progress
- Captain Avery Museum – Cultivate
- Charles Carroll House – Believe
- Chase Home, Inc. Chase-Lloyd House – Sign
- Chesapeake Arts Center – Create
- Chesapeake Children’s Museum – Share
- Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area – Tour
- Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery – Gather
- Crooked Crab Brewing Company – Unite
- Discoveries: The Library at the Mall – Liberate
- Galesville Heritage Society – Launch
- Glen Burnie Library – Anne Arundel County Public Library – Belong
- Great Harvest Bread Co., Annapolis – Bake
- Hammond-Harwood House – Design
- Hancock’s Resolution Historic Farm Park – Endeavor
- Historic Annapolis: Hogshead Trades Museum– Engage
- Historic Annapolis: Museum of Historic Annapolis – Honor
- Historic Annapolis: Waterfront Warehouse – Discover
- Historic Annapolis: William Paca House & Garden – Resist
- Historic Inns of Annapolis: Governor Calvert House – Hear
- Historic Inns of Annapolis: Maryland Inn – Listen
- Historic Inns of Annapolis: Robert Johnson House – Feel
- Historic London Town & Gardens: Gravel Trail at Lathe House – Blossom
- Historic London Town & Gardens: William Brown House – Interpret
- HOBO – Seek
- Honey’s Harvest Farm – Rejuvenate
- Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary – Restore
- Maryland State Archives – Access
- Maryland State House – Assemble
- Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library – Anchor
- Northern Arundel Cultural Preservation Society at the Lloyd Keaser Community Center– Reflect
- Odenton Library – Anne Arundel County Public Library – Bridge
- Rising Sun Inn, Historic Tavern and Museum – Refocillate
- Rumhouse – Rumble
- Schooner Woodwind Sailing Cruises– Sail
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Campus Entrance – Research
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Woodlawn History Center – Conserve
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Java Ruins – Involve
- St. Anne’s Cemetery – Hallow
- St. Anne’s Parish – Transform
- St. John’s College: Greenfield Library – Think
- St. John’s College: Liberty Bell Site – Question
- The Oaks Inn Annapolis – Reclaim
- Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, hosted by the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park – Illuminate
- Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County – Welcome
- Watermark Historic Walking Tours – Inspire
- Watermark Historic Sightseeing Cruises – Explore
- Wild Kid Acres – Regenerate
Bandwango Mobile Pass and Prizes
The Be Revolutionary: America 250 Exploration Trail is hosted through a free Bandwango pass, requiring no app download. Visitors can sign up through the portal featured on the VAAAC America250 website or by scanning the QR code displayed on any of the trail’s interpretive panels. Once activated, the pass provides:
- A map of all participating sites
- Descriptions and hours of operation
- A simple check-in system using QR codes
- Automatic point tracking toward prizes
Each site is worth 100 points, and check-ins are limited to one per person per location. The pass is designed to be intuitive and accessible for all visitors, whether they are exploring one neighborhood or the entire county.
To encourage deeper exploration, the program features three prize tiers:
- 13 Sites — Prize: A limited‑edition sticker set designed exclusively for the America 250 celebration, showcasing iconic elements of our destination across its past, present, and future.
- 25 Sites — Prize: A special Be Revolutionary gift bag filled with exclusive keepsakes created to commemorate America’s 250th in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
- 50 Sites — Prize: A one-of-a-kind Be Revolutionary Yeti mug that you can toast to the 250th while you explore our Drink Like a Revolutionary trail.
Visitors will receive notifications when they reach each milestone, along with instructions on how to claim their prize at the VAAAC Visitors Center during regular operating hours. The trail officially launches March 19, 2026, and will run through December 31, 2026, with an additional 30 days for participants to redeem prizes.
As the nation marks this historic milestone, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County invites everyone to continue discovering the stories, experiences, and partnerships that make this destination revolutionary in every era. For suggested itineraries, upcoming events, partner happenings, special offers, and everything you need to experience America 250 in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, visit the America 250 section of the VAAAC website. It’s your hub for planning, exploring, and celebrating this anniversary across the destination.
This project has been financed in part with State Funds from the Maryland 250 Commission and Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, instrumentalities of the State of Maryland. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the State, Maryland 250 Commission, or Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. Additional support has been provided by the Annapolis 250 Commission.
About Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) is a nonprofit, partnership-focused destination marketing and management organization dedicated to fostering a welcoming destination and promoting tourism for visitors, partners, and the community.
The tourism and hospitality industry in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County significantly impacts Maryland’s economy. In 2024, visitor spending injected $4.3 billion into the state economy, attracting more than 7.2 million visitors, and sustaining more than 27,000 jobs (both directly and indirectly), according to the 2024 Economic Impact of Tourism in Maryland Report.
That daily impact — an average of $11.9 million in visitor spending — strengthens small businesses, supports the hospitality workforce, and enhances quality of life for residents across the region. For more information, please visit www.VAAAC.org.