The Friends of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County, and the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology Chapter 21 will hold events celebrating America's 250th birthday. The events will take place daily from Wednesday to Sunday, July 1 to 5. Unless otherwise noted, they will be held at the White Horse Inn, 31 Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville.

The presentations on July 1 will be "Colonial Beverages" by Douglas A. Miller at 10:30 a.m.; "The First Colonial Woman Industrialist: Anna Savage Nutt" by Dan Graham at 2 p.m.; and "Notorious Revolutionary War Conway Cabal Connections to Reading" by Brian Engelhardt at 3:30 p.m.

On Thursday, July 2, David Blackburn will present "Colonial Chester County" at 2 p.m., and Gene Delaplane will speak on "Death in Valley Forge" at 3:30 p.m.

On Friday, July 3, Michelle Lynch will offer "Revolutionary War Refugees in Reading" at 2 p.m., and the Daughters of the American Revolution Berks County Chapter will present "Colonial Women" at 3:30 p.m.

A public reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, on Saturday, July 4, at 2 p.m.

A celebration of the Declaration of Independence will start at 2 p.m. on July 5 at the White Horse Inn.

All programs are free of charge. Refreshments will be provided.