Join Oswego in Honoring 250 Years of Independence

In 2026, the United States will mark a historic milestone—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of this nationwide commemoration, the Village of Oswego is proud to participate in the America 250 celebration. 

This once-in-a-generation event is more than a celebration of the past—it's an opportunity to reflect on our shared history, uplift untold stories, and imagine the future we want to build together.

What to Expect

Over the coming months, Oswego will join communities across Illinois in planning inclusive and engaging events that highlight our town’s unique contributions to the American story. 

We invite residents of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences to take part in shaping this celebration. Whether you're a student, teacher, artist, veteran, or community leader—your voice matters.

Get Involved

Oswego250 Concrete Eagle Program 

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Oswego250 Team is proud to coordinate the sale of handcrafted concrete eagles from Lion Concrete Statuary of Oswego, IL. These iconic pieces, which are built with enduring craftsmanship and unmistakable patriotic spirit, serve as timeless symbols of strength, freedom, and our nation’s heritage.

Whether displayed in public spaces, businesses, or private homes, each eagle stands as a tribute to America’s past and a bold statement for the future. Join us in commemorating this historic milestone with a monument that will last for generations.

If you are a business owner, please consider registering your Eagle for the Oswego250 scavenger hunt! This program hopes to bring families to your locations and boost your community interactions. 

If you would like to order a concrete eagle for the 250th celebration, please follow this link to submit your order! 

Oswego250 Goosechase

As part of the village’s upcoming festivities, the Oswego250 Committee will be launching a Goosechase experience on President’s Day weekend to commemorate our nation’s 250th birthday. Goosechase is a fun, interactive smartphone app that turns activities into exciting scavenger hunts and challenges. Participants join a “game” through the app, where they complete missions, such as taking photos, answering trivia or checking in at specific locations, to earn points. Once a certain number of points are earned, participants will be entered into a drawing to receive one of several different types of prizes!

While the first challenge will not drop until President’s Day weekend starting on February 14, all Oswego participants are invited to download the app to get familiarized with how it works. Simply download the free Goosechase app by doing any one of the following scanning the QR code below OR searching for the “Oswego250” Experience in the app. For either option, all participants will need to enter the passcode Oswego250 to join.

Please keep an eye out on Village socials and in the Goosechase app for additional details on upcoming experiences and mission drops. For more information on Goosechase and how it works, please visit https://support.goosechase.com/en/collections/3254127-participating-in-an-experience. Happy hunting!

Meet the Oswego250 Artist

Meet the artist behind the Oswego250 logo.

We are proud to announce Valerie Anderson as the winner of the Oswego250 Logo Contest. A resident of Oswego since 2005, Valerie’s design reflects a strong sense of community pride, neighborliness and a shared commitment to celebrating Oswego’s past while looking toward the future.

Inspired by her passion for hand-drawn graphic art, Valerie created a logo that honors Oswego’s place in America’s 250th anniversary. She hopes the design sparks joy, connects Oswegoans to this historic milestone and serves as a lasting symbol of celebration for years to come.

Thank you, Valerie, for helping tell Oswego’s story through your art.