By 1808Delaware
Westerville’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary begins with an evening built around community, creativity and local history. The America250 Westerville Kick-off event will take place Friday, June 26, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Hanby Elementary School, 56 S. State St. The free community gathering will feature crafts, music, games and free ice cream for the first 750 attendees.
But the evening is more than a summer celebration. It also marks the official kick-off and activation of the America250 Westerville Mural Project, a public art initiative designed to help residents and visitors see the city’s past in a new way.
Bringing Under-Told Stories Into View
At the heart of the event is a focus on Westerville’s under-told stories, the people, places and moments that have helped shape the community but may not always be part of the familiar historical narrative.
Artists connected with the America250 Mural Project will be on site to talk with visitors about those stories, their work and the themes behind the murals. Attendees can also pick up an official America250 Westerville Guide and learn how to follow the new digital mural trail throughout the city. The project features 12 large-scale vinyl murals installed at locations across Westerville, creating a self-guided public art experience that connects history, creativity and exploration.
A New Way To Explore Westerville
The mural trail is designed to encourage residents and visitors to move through Westerville with fresh eyes. Each installation highlights a particular location, theme, piece of history or artistic interpretation tied to the community. An interactive mural map provides details about each mural, including its location, historical theme and artist information. Together, the murals create a citywide invitation to pause, look closer and consider the stories embedded in familiar places.
A Community Effort
The City of Westerville is partnering with Visit Westerville, Otterbein University, the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Westerville Historical Society, the Westerville History Museum and the Westerville Public Library to support the America250 Westerville Mural Project.
That broad partnership reflects the spirit of the kick-off itself: a celebration not only of history, but of the people and organizations working together to preserve, interpret and share it.
From music and games to public art and local storytelling, the June 26 event offers a lively start to Westerville’s America250 observance and a reminder that history is not only found in books and archives. Sometimes, it is waiting on the side of a building, ready to be seen.
