September 25, 2025
Content sponsored by
Provided Courtesy/Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps
Philadelphia takes center stage this fall as the nation marks the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The celebration began with a weeklong series of events on both sides of the Delaware River.
From Nov. 7 to 11, Homecoming 250, in partnership with The Tun Legacy Foundation, will present a vibrant lineup of free and ticketed events in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. These commemorative experiences will offer the public and Marines alike an opportunity to engage with the Corps’ rich history and enduring legacy through special programming, performances, and ceremonies. Highlights include:
1 N. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA | Ticket required
Join guided, timed tours of the historic Masonic Temple to explore rarely seen archival items, including artifacts from the historic Tun and exhibits showcasing the deep-rooted connection between Pennsylvania Freemasonry and the U.S. Marine Corps. Purchase tickets here.
1 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA | Tickets required
Be part of the debut of The Tun Legacy Tour and see Philadelphia sites significant to the historic Tun and the establishment of the Continental Marines. The tour will be a legacy of the 250th United States Marine Corps birthday celebration in Philadelphia, offered in 2026 as part of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania’s Semiquincentennial celebration, and as a regular offering once The Tun® opens. Purchase tickets here.
211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA | Tickets required
Enjoy waterfront dining and learn the compelling story of how the Marine Corps was founded on the banks of the Delaware River. Purchase tickets here.
21st Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA | Free
Join fellow Marines and Veterans in marching through Center City during this festive tribute hosted by the City of Philadelphia, ending at the Veterans Festival. Free and open to the public. To march in the parade, sign up here.
401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA | Tickets required
Celebrate aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia with a formal dinner cruise and keynote by Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel Harvey C. Barnum Jr. Purchase tickets here.
101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 | Tickets required
Attendees of the Birthday Breakfast will don nightcaps at the Museum of the American Revolution and kick off the Marine Corps' 250th birthday at midnight. Purchase tickets here.
320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA | Free
At the historic Arch Street Meeting House grounds, we will honor Samuel Nicholas, the first commandant of the Marine Corps. The ceremony is held in cooperation with the Corporal Brandon Hardy Chester County Detachment #286 of the Marine Corps League. Free and open to the public. Space is limited.
5th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA | Free
The public is invited to honor the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps’ founding by gathering in front of Independence Hall for addresses by leaders of the Marine Corps, the official Pennsylvania Marine Corps 250th Birthday cake cutting sponsored by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and more.
Union League, 140 South Broad Street, Philadelphia PA | Ticket required
The Union League of Philadelphia and its Armed Services Council invites members and the public to join in celebrating 250 years of honor, courage, and commitment at this landmark Marine Corps Birthday event. The keynote speaker will be Major General James Livingston, USMC (Ret.), Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War hero. Ticket required. Contact crawfordt@unionleague.org for tickets.
2nd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA | Free
The public is invited to join the Tun Legacy Foundation during its Birthday Block Party at the future site of the rebuilt Tun, featuring performances by Marine and musician Dave Bray USA, Marine and comedian Bryson Banks, and the American Bombshells.
200 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA | Ticket required
The public is invited to celebrate 250 years of the United States Marine Corps at the birthplace of one of its most cherished traditions—the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Homecoming 250 is hosting the 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball in the same ballroom where Commandant Lejeune hosted the inaugural celebration a century ago - the Grand Ballroom of the historic Bellevue Hotel. Many more will get to view the happenings on screens at the Marine Corps Overflow Ball of the top floor of the Bellevue.
101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA | Tickets required
Honor the Corps’ founding steps from the site of the historic tavern called the Tun. Hosted by The Tun Legacy Foundation.
62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103 | Free
Honor veterans aboard the Battleship New Jersey in a ceremony highlighting the Marine Corps' values of honor, courage, and commitment.
Museums across the Philadelphia region are also marking the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversaries with special exhibitions that highlight the city’s maritime heritage and its role in shaping America’s naval power.
At the Independence Seaport Museum, exhibits trace the Navy’s early years and Philadelphia’s part in its founding, while the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is spotlighting Delaware River shipbuilding with artifacts recovered during the battleship’s 2024 drydocking.
Other institutions are adding broader perspectives: the African American Museum in Philadelphia explores waterways as escape routes in Sailing to Freedom, the Pennsylvania Hospital examines maritime medicine in the early republic, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania looks at naval history from the Revolution through the Cold War. Beyond the city, the American Helicopter Museum, Andalusia Historic House, and the American Swedish Historical Museum add further depth with exhibits on helicopters, early naval leaders, and Philadelphia’s shipbuilding tradition.
Together, these displays offer a quieter but equally rich way to engage with 250 years of naval and Marine Corps history.
