Rooted in History: Guernsey County Kicks Off America-250 Celebration

CAMBRIDGE, OH – Guernsey County is joining communities across Ohio to grow something meaningful- one tree at a time.

Although America’s 250th birthday isn’t until 2026, Guernsey County is getting a head start on the celebration. The Guernsey County Commissioners and the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors and Convention Bureau held a special Heritage Tree Planting Ceremony. A native Ohio white oak now stands on Highland Avenue, one of 88 being planted across the state.

“We’d like to get one the map. We want people to come and visit us and see our beautiful county. Hopefully, 50 years from now people will see the tree and the plaque, and they will know why we wanted to be a part of it,” Karin Castello communications manager at the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors and Convention Bureau said.

The ceremony is part of America 250-Ohio’s “Heritage Trees: Planting History” initiative, which will plant a white oak in every Ohio county. The white oak was chosen for its strength, beauty, and its deep roots in Ohio’s natural heritage.

“A white oak was chosen because they are native to Ohio, and all of the species can thrive with the different types of climates and soils that we have in Ohio. It’s continuity but also variety to account for the diversity of the terrarium places that the trees will live,” Operations Director for America-250 Ohio Commission Quanta Brown said.

As the countdown to 2026 begins, keep an eye out for more events and celebrations popping up across the state as Ohio gears up for America’s 250th birthday.