A Midwest Stop for America 250: Indiana’s Presidential Story

As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary in 2026, travelers are seeking places that go beyond timelines and monuments to destinations that tell a deeper, more complicated story about how American democracy was formed, tested and reshaped over time.

One of those places sits in the heart of the Midwest.

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, consistently ranked among the top things to do in Indianapolis—and ranked #1 historic site in Indiana by TripAdvisor—offers a rare, multi-generational lens on the American experiment through the story of a single family whose influence stretches from the colonial era to the modern presidency.

In 2026, the Presidential Site is leaning fully into America 250 with new exhibits, expanded tours and immersive programming that position it as a must-visit history destination for the anniversary year.

New January 2026 Exhibit: There at the Founding

Opening January 22, 2026, There at the Founding explores one of the most interesting families in American history, and how three generations of the Harrison family helped shape, challenge and redefine American governance from the Revolution through westward expansion and into the Gilded Age.

The exhibit traces the family’s roots back to 17th-century Virginia and follows their evolving role in public life, beginning with Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who later opposed ratification of the Constitution, helping spur the creation of the Bill of Rights. It continues through William Henry Harrison’s rise during America’s territorial expansion and concludes with President Benjamin Harrison’s efforts to strengthen federal legal protections for civil rights during a rapidly modernizing nation.

Featuring rarely displayed artifacts, the exhibit invites visitors to consider how the ideals of the founding were not just of one era but continuously debated, contested and reinterpreted across generations.

Interactive elements bring the story forward, including an “infinite scroll” Declaration of Independence that visitors are invited to sign their own name to, connecting founding principles with a renewed commitment to rights and civic responsibilities. Highlights also include iconic Americana artifacts spanning the centuries and specifically featuring an original, hand-painted 1840 presidential campaign poster, among the earliest examples of modern campaigning.

Additional 2026 Exhibit: Presidential Ink

Opening in March 2026, Presidential Ink takes place in what was once the Harrison family’s third-floor ballroom, now home to rotating exhibitions and the Harrison Family Presidential Research Library. Curated by Vice President of Curatorship and Exhibitions Jennifer Capps, the exhibit draws from the Presidential Site’s nationally significant collection—as well as from two significant private collections—and explores the personal and political stories preserved through written words, signatures and symbolism.

Admission includes access to all exhibit spaces, including the rebuilt historic carriage house, now serving as the Welcome Center and “President’s Cabinet” gift shop.

America 250 Programming & Experiences

Throughout 2026, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site will offer expanded America 250 experiences designed for travelers, families and history enthusiasts alike, including:

• Enhanced America 250 tours highlighting five defining chapters of American history through the Harrison story

• The Harrison Way, a new America 250 fieldtrip and student experience exploring three generations of presidential leadership

• Coffee with the Curator: America 250 Series, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the exhibits and collections

• Project POTUS, a national civic engagement initiative encouraging students to explore presidential history through creative storytelling

Together, the programming underscores a simple but powerful idea: the founding of the United States was not a single moment in 1776, but an ongoing process and one reflected vividly in the lives, debates and decisions of many American families—as so powerfully illustrated by the Harrison family.

For travelers planning America 250 itineraries, New York, Philadelphia and DC may come first to mind—but Indianapolis, as the crossroads of America, has something more to say about one of the most interesting families in American history.