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  1. Birds eye view of Donaghadee and the Lough landscape

    As America prepares for its 250-year milestone, join us in exploring some of the remarkable local links that helped shape the nation’s earliest chapters.

  2. Visitors enjoying picnics in the grounds of the Folk Museum
    This living history site captures the culture and experience of the Ulster emigrants who helped shape early American society, especially in the Appalachian region. The museum tells the story of everyday Ulster people, many of whom emigrated to America in the 1700s and 1800s, bringing with them customs, skills, and values.
    1. 1 Mar 202630 Sep 2026
    2. 1 Oct 202628 Feb 2027
  3. Ulster-Scots in Ards and North Down
    The Ulster-Scots, or Scotch-Irish, were among the earliest and most influential settlers in colonial America - many became prominent pioneers, soldiers, and presidents. Learn about the story of a people whose values and traditions helped shape the foundations of the United States that led to a shared transatlantic heritage.
  4. Exterior to the centre with welcome banner
    This heritage site celebrates the legacy of Reverend John Livingston, a 17th-century Presbyterian minister, and explores the roots of Presbyterianism in Ulster. Reverend Livingston’s descendants helped shape Presbyterian communities in colonial America, influencing religious freedom and civic life.
  5. A photo from a distance showing Eisenhower Pier on a sunny day, framed by a leafy tree branch
    At the seafront in the City of Bangor in Ards and North Down, a short stroll from the promenade, past Bregenz House (Headquarters to HM Coastguard), takes you to the Eisenhower Pier

    America 250: The Ards and North Down Connection

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