MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Marion County officially joined the national semiquincentennial countdown today, launching “America 250 Marion,” a year-long initiative celebrating the community’s 250-year contribution to the United States.
The ‘America 250 Marion’ mobile app was unveiled Monday at the Marion County Historical Society’s Heritage Hall during a joint city-county proclamation. The app serves as the hub for the “Trails, Tales, and Treasures” program, a monthly interactive scavenger hunt featuring ten local historical stops across the county.
“We want every person in this community to feel like a part of Marion’s legacy,” organizers said during the kickoff.
The first monthly installment, the “January Trail: Marion’s Firsts and Originals,” is now live. It guides participants to landmarks, including the Huber Museum and the GNR—home of the world-famous fried bologna sandwich. Users who answer quiz questions at each site are entered into monthly and year-end “treasure” raffles.
The initiative is co-led by the Marion Community Foundation and the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Funding from a one-time grant will support “anchor events” throughout 2026, including the “Red, White, and You” capstone weekend scheduled for July 16–19.
The free app is available now on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and does not require a user login.