Independence Day Celebrations: Hoosiers Enjoy Free Tours and Activities at Social Event

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis hosted its annual Independence Day Social, offering a free celebration that combined history and fun for all ages.

"The Fourth of July is certainly a moment of celebration with fireworks, food, family, and friends," said Charles Hyde, president and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. "But it's also good to be reflective of what it means for this country to have survived 249 years." For the event, people participated in free tours of the first floor of the home and enjoyed activities on the lawn, including crafts, games, music, and local foods.

Attendees like Cindy Kahut, who brought her family on vacation, appreciated the variety of activities. "We do that every year," she said. "There are our granddaughters and our kids that did not want to be on camera, but we are here to celebrate the Fourth of July, and they had this on their website. So, we thought it would be a fun thing to do."

Ligia Vasquez-Hout, who attended with her family from North Carolina, valued the event's blend of history and entertainment. "I think it's really cool, really interesting," she said. "I like museums, so we get a little piece of history, but also something fun to do with family."

According to Hyde, the event serves as more than just a celebration – it's a reminder of civic values that shape the state. "This being the home of America's Hoosier president, it's all the more important when we're celebrating our nation's independence," he said. "When we're thinking about an individual who, as a president, certainly upheld the constitution, but he had the deep family history with his grandfather being ninth president of the United States and his great-grandfather signing the Declaration of Independence."

The home, which now serves as both a museum and tribute to Benjamin Harrison's legacy, offers tours seven days a week.