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Celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States Marines Corps in Philadelphia – Birthplace of the Marines

Join Homecoming 250® and The Tun Legacy Foundation for five days of festivities in America’s birthplace.

November 7 – 11, 2025

Highlights of the 250th USMC Birthday on November 10

  • Marine Corps 100th Birthday Ball at the Site of the First Marine Corps Ball in 1925 with special guests Medal of Honor Recipients Major General James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.) and Colonel Harvey Curtiss “Barney” Barnum, Jr., USMC (Ret.)
  • Marine Corps 250 Birthday Ball at the Museum of the American Revolution honoring the Continental Marines
  • Ceremony Honoring Samuel Nicholas, First Commandant of the Marine Corps
  • Ceremony at Independence Hall with the Reading of the Resolution Establishing the Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Birthday at the Future Site of The Tun®
  • Midnight Champagne Birthday Breakfast

Please see our weekend schedule below for details on events and activities.

Click here for hotel information.

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7Nov

FRIDAY 

Masonic Temple Library & Museum and Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Tour
Masonic Temple Library & Museum, One North Broad St.
4:00 p.m. (SOLD OUT), 4:30 p.m. (SOLD OUT), 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m.

Welcome Gathering
Pub Crawl at four taverns in Midtown Village, Philadelphia
5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

8Nov

SATURDAY

The Tun Lunch and Learn
Masonic Temple Library & Museum, One North Broad St.
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Tun Legacy Tour
Starts at Second St. between Market St. and Chestnut St.
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Olympia Tour
Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Welcome Dinner at the Independence Seaport Museum
211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

9Nov

SUNDAY

 Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival
21st St. & Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Eakins Oval
Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Olympia Tour
Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Marine Corps 250th Celebration on the Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise
401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Midnight Champagne Birthday Breakfast
Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third Street
11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

10Nov

MONDAY
250th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps

Ceremony at the Resting Place of the First Commandant of the Marine Corps, Samuel Nicholas (SOLD OUT)
320 Arch St.
9:00 a.m.

Marine Corps 250th Commemoration at Independence Hall
520 Chestnut St.
10:30 a.m. 

Marine Corps Birthday at Future Site of The Tun®
Second St. between Market St. and Chestnut St.
11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Marine Corps 100th Birthday Ball at the Bellevue Hotel
200 S. Broad St.
6:00 p.m. to Midnight 

Marine Corps 250 Birthday Ball at the Museum of the American Revolution
101 S. Third St.
6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

11Nov

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025

Veterans Day Ceremony on the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
62 Battleship Place, Camden, N.J.
11:00 a.m.

Sponsors

For sponsorship information, please email samuel.nicholas@thetun.org.

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Hotels

The following hotel partners are offering a special rate for The Tun Legacy Foundation guests. Use the links below to reserve your room, or call the hotel directly with questions. Rooms must be booked prior to October 7 to receive the special rate.

Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing (Delaware River Waterfront)
201 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA  19106
Reserve Now

Walking distance to U.S.S. Olympia, Independence Seaport Museum, Spirit of Philadelphia & more!

Guests can book within the November 7-11 date range for the $218 discounted rate. Use Code 92V when booking / The TUN Legacy Foundation Room Block. Guests must book prior to October 7. (From November 2-6 and November 12-18, the discounted rate may apply.)

For questions, call: (215) 521-6500

Independence Park Hotel (Old City, Philadelphia)
235 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA  19106
Reserve Now

Walking distance to Museum of the American Revolution, Block Party & more!

Guests can book within November 7-11 date range for the rate of $229-$329 (price varies by room type). Guests must book prior to October 7.

For questions, call: (215) 922-4443

Philadelphia Marriott Old City
One Dock Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reserve Now

Book Sunday, November 9 – Monday, November 10 for the $218 rate. Please call the hotel directly for assistance. (Special rate may apply to shoulder dates, if available.) Guests must book prior to October 7.

For questions, call: (215) 238-6000