Purdue celebrates its contributions to the American dream as nation turns 250

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Boilermakers have helped power America’s progress for generations, lending their courage, curiosity and conviction to discover, disseminate and deploy knowledge. From exploration of air and space to national landmarks like the Hoover Dam and Golden Gate Bridge, the Purdue name is written across the pages of American history.

In the spirit of America250, a national mission dedicated to commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Purdue will celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial throughout 2026 and spotlight innovative pursuits by Boilermakers past and present.

“Purdue proudly celebrates the 250^th birthday of the United States of America, the most crucial experiment in the history of human civilization,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “This university remains the first vista of intellectual competitions and a long-lasting bastion of individual freedoms, and Boilermakers continue to live out the meanings of America the beautiful, America the exceptional, America the hopeful.” 

The yearlong plan includes multiple Presidential Lecture Series (PLS) events, special days of celebration and other community engagement activities.

A spring semester PLS will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 26, when award-winning science writer, producer and documentarian Timothy Ferris joins Chiang to kick off the series. During the event, Ferris will discuss his bestselling book “Science of Liberty: Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature,” which highlights the pivotal role that science plays at the core of liberty and free expression and as a precursor to a liberal society while also advancing and promoting economic prosperity.

“We have always embraced and epitomized the American dream at Purdue, which, as a land-grant institution, is not for only the elites in the world but where anyone can come, roll up their sleeves, prove their mettle and experience the joys and opportunities that America can hold for all people,” said Gina DelSanto, special advisor to Purdue’s president who is also coordinating the university’s America250 celebrations.

Throughout the year, signs of celebration will be visible campuswide, from banners and America250-inspired merchandise to commemorative lapel pins and special artwork on Purdue’s “All-American” Marching Band’s World’s Largest Drum. Look for symbols of America250 throughout this year’s Purdue Day of Giving campaign as well.

Additional PLS speakers related to America250 are being planned for fall and include renowned authors, political scientists and historians. Purdue Day of Giving will have a special edition this year. Other activities will be updated on Purdue’s America250 website.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.