A new US national fair celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has opened in Washington, combining tourism, business promotion and patriotic displays while facing opposition from several states that have declined to participate over concerns about political messaging.
The Great American State Fair opened Thursday on the National Mall, the historic central area of Washington where the United States presents its national story. The 16-day event is intended to mark the upcoming anniversary of the Declaration of Independence but reflects the “America First” approach associated with President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.
Organizers invited all 50 states and six US territories to take part, but around a dozen declined. States including Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Hawaii, Alaska and Connecticut, along with the territories of Samoa and the US Virgin Islands, chose not to participate, citing concerns including what they described as the “politicization” of the anniversary and budget priorities.
The fair’s layout features temporary structures housing state exhibits arranged around a slow-moving Ferris wheel and a small rodeo area. The event also includes a replica triumphal arch, placed near the site where Trump has expressed interest in building a permanent 250-foot granite arch.
The design of the temporary structures reflects a classical Greek and Roman style, matching Trump’s stated preference for traditional federal architecture. The president previously issued an executive order calling for a return to what he described as beauty in federal buildings and criticizing modern architectural styles.
The fair has also drawn attention for the way it presents American history. The event highlights national achievements, cultural figures and state identities, but includes limited references to issues such as racism, Native American displacement or the civil rights movement. African American and Indigenous figures are represented mainly through their contributions to music, sports and other cultural fields.
The celebration is organized through Freedom 250, an initiative created under the administration’s Salute To America task force. The group replaced a previous anniversary organization created by Congress a decade earlier. Events connected to Freedom 250 have included a large Christian gathering on the National Mall, a mixed martial arts event at the White House and Trump campaign-style rallies near the Washington Monument.
Trump opened the fair with a rally on Wednesday and is expected to hold another event on July 4.
Participation among states varies widely. Arizona attracted visitors with a virtual reality presentation showcasing the state, while Florida also drew significant attention. Other states focused their displays on local attractions and industries.
Republican governors including Ohio’s Mike DeWine and Nebraska’s Jim Pillen attended to promote their states. Ohio highlighted state industries and Nebraska promoted its low electricity costs. West Virginia centered its display around John Denver’s song “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” while South Carolina promoted golf and southern hospitality.
Common themes among several state exhibits included golf, cattle and agricultural products. Abraham Lincoln also became a point of competition between Kentucky, where he was born, and Illinois, where he developed his political career.
Visitors at the fair included families collecting stickers and stamps in a passport-style activity designed to encourage people to visit every state exhibit. Some attendees said they did not view the event as political, while others questioned the absence of participating states.
The anniversary celebrations continue alongside other exhibitions, including a Smithsonian-affiliated display at the Renwick Gallery exploring the history and artistic traditions of American state fairs. That exhibition presents a broader historical view of the fairs that have been held across the country since the 19th century.
