Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps

Celebrating the Services who secured 250 years of independence.

As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – the Semiquincentennial – we should also commemorate the founding of the military services which gained and have defended our independence for 250 years. In 1775, the Navy and Marine Corps were founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,, and launched their fight for American independence from the Delaware River.

Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps is a charity created to host the main celebrations of the Navy and the Marine Corps 250th birthdays in their birthplace – Philadelphia and the Delaware River.

Based on Homecoming 250's efforts, the Secretary of the Navy has directed the Navy and Marine Corps to initiate detailed planning to celebrate the Navy and Marine Corps 250th birthdays in Philadelphia and adjacent Camden, New Jersey, in 2025!

The Secretary also announced that there will be a combined Navy/Marine Corps Week in Philadelphia and Camden in October 2023 to prepare for the big Navy and Marine Corps 250th celebration in Fall 2025.

Homecoming 250™ is planning spectacular celebrations for the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th!

In Fall 2025, Homecoming 250™ will celebrate the Navy and Marine Corps 250th birthdays with unique signature events on both banks of the Delaware River:

  • We will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Navy's founding on October 13, 1775, by an unprecedented display of Navy history, gathering for touring on the Delaware River ships representing every major conflict which the Navy has fought for America, from the American Revolution to today.
  • We will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps' founding on November 10, 1775, by assembling ships important to the Corps, and by holding the 100th Marine Corps Ball in Philadelphia where General Lejeune held the 1st Marine Ball 100 years before. We also plan to celebrate near the original site of Tun Tavern, birthplace of the Marines, and are working to recreate Tun Tavern just a short walk from there.
  • We will hold commemorations near Independence Hall and Congress Hall where the Navy and Marine Corps were created, and host parades, aerial demonstrations, exhibits, reenactments, veterans gatherings, and other great events to give the Navy and Marine Corps the 250th celebration they deserve!
  • We also hope to leave a lasting legacy by recreating the most famous ship of the Civil War, the USS Monitor, as well as recreating Tun Tavern as a permanent gathering place, attracting Sailors, Marines, and all citizens for years to come.

These celebrations will be the grand opening of the Semiquincentennial, shine an early spotlight on the birthplace of our Nation, honor the Navy and the Marine Corps, salute the men and women of all backgrounds who have defended America and the world for 250 years, inspire our youth, and remind us of what unites us.

We invite you to volunteer, donate, and help us to give our Navy, Marines, and Veterans a once-in-a-lifetime 250th celebration!

To learn more about the birth of the Navy and Marine Corps in Philadelphia and the Delaware River, the amazing celebrations planned for the Navy and Marine Corps 250th, and the organizations hosting and supporting this great cause, click on the images below or use the Menu or Search tools above.