New digital and in-person resources are being launched to celebrate the deep historical connections between Northern Ireland and the United States ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

Tourism NI has introduced 14 visitor experiences across Belfast, the North-West, Mid Ulster, and counties Antrim and Down. The programme, funded by the Department for Communities' USA-NI250 Scheme, includes activities such as jewellery-making, whiskey tours, an Ancestral Cottage Trail, ancestry research, and guided walks.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald highlighted the economic importance of the US market, noting that American visitors made 186,000 trips to Northern Ireland in 2025, contributing £54 million to the local economy. She said the new experiences would add to the region’s tourism offering and reflect centuries of shared history.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said the experiences build on the legacy of connection between Northern Ireland and America, and that the America250 milestone allows audiences to learn more about those common bonds.

Separately, a digital resource titled America’s Ulster Story has been launched by Nerve Centre with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund. The interactive website features a timeline, historical research, maps, and animations detailing the role of Ulster-Scots and wider Ulster communities in the founding and development of the United States.

Content was written by Mark Thompson with assistance from Dr William Roulston of the Ulster Historical Foundation. The platform is aimed at students, teachers, researchers, and members of the global diaspora interested in exploring ancestral links to Ulster.

Both initiatives are designed to deepen engagement with Northern Ireland’s heritage and its enduring ties to the United States.