Commemorating America at 250

A ceremony in 1897 with dozens of spectators in formal wear in front of a stage adorned with American flags as a speaker addresses Columbia President Butler with the dedication of a bronze plaque commemorating the 1776 Battle of Harlem Heights on a building wall at Columbia University.

July 2, 2026

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, we reflect on the story of Columbia University, which began in 1754 before the nation itself in 1776. Pictured above is the plaque on the west wall of Mathematics Hall on Broadway that commemorates the 1776 Battle of Harlem Heights, which unfolded on what is today’s Morningside campus. This early patriot engagement was George Washington’s first battlefield victory in the American Revolution, and it also echoed the debates and conflicts inside Columbia (then called King’s College). The Sons of the Revolution presented the plaque to Columbia in 1897, after the University had moved its main campus to Morningside Heights. The plaque reminds us of the weight of history beneath our feet, then and now. 

For more information, check out U.S. Semiquincentennial and Columbia University.

Photo of the Week is a feature of Columbia News that captures moments from around the University and New York City. Have you taken a great photo? We want to see—share your photos with us.

See all the photos from the series here.