Coming up next on NewsDepth... We're celebrating the United States of America's 250th birthday.

The city of Marietta played a big role in the birth of the nation.

Some of America's founding fathers were also scientists.

and professional baseball.

got its start right here in Ohio.

News that is now.

2026 marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The moment that created the United States of America.

The birth of the US is celebrated on Independence Day every year on the 4th of July.

Hello everyone.

I'm Gabriel Kramer, thank you so much for joining us For our season finale, We're at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians, to celebrate the nation's birthday.

And what's more American than baseball?

The American milestone is known as the Semiquincentennial.

The word semiquincentennial simply means a 250 year anniversary, semi means half and quincentennial means 500 years.

So semiquincentennial is half of 500 years.

In 1776, a group of colonies declared their belief that people should govern themselves with rights to freedom, equality and the pursuit of happiness.

Those ideas sparked a revolution and laid the foundation for a new nation.

Over the next two and a half centuries, the United States grew, changed and faced challenges, expanding its borders, refining its democracy, and striving to live up to the ideals set at its founding.

The Semiquincentennial isn't just a party, it's an opportunity to reflect on how far the nation has come and see what role each generation plays in shaping its future.

But first, let's start back in history.

15 years before Ohio was even a state, before Marietta was a city in southeast Ohio, it was actually the first permanent American settlement in what would eventually become Ohio.

Founded in 1788 and established by Revolutionary War veterans led by General Rufus Putnam, the city was deliberately planned with ideals of democracy, education, and order.

Today, Marietta stands as a testament to America's early expansion, marked by vision, struggle, and enduring heritage.

Anna takes us back in time to visit the settlement in this week's Know Ohio.

were cities, before there was even the state of Ohio.

There was Marietta, nestled at the meeting point of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers.

It was here in 1788, that Ohio's story begins.

After Americans won the Revolutionary War in 1783.

Congress needed money but didn't want to tax struggling colonists.

Selling land in the Northwest Territory helped raise funds and gave war veterans a chance to buy land using their military rewards and continental currency.

This land, especially in the Ohio Country, was seen as valuable and full of potential.

Marietta was the first permanent American settlement in what would become Ohio.

The city was named in honor of Marie Antoinette, the French queen at the time.

As a gesture of gratitude to France for their support during the Revolution.

General Rufus Putnam led Revolutionary War veterans from the original 13 Colonies on a journey west.

They called themselves the Ohio Company of Associates, an organization determined to build a new society in the wild and fertile lands of the Ohio Valley.

They arrived on April 7th, 1788, bringing with them the ideals of democracy, education, and order.

As they built their new city.

They built Campus Martius, a fortified settlement, and laid out the city with wide streets, public squares, and civic buildings.

Unlike many frontier towns, it wasn't meant to be a trading post or a military outpost.

Marietta was designed to last a very long time.

One of their original buildings from 1788 still stands.

It is the Ohio Company Land Office, and it is considered the oldest building in Ohio.

This office was used as the Surveying and Land Purchase Headquarters.

In July 1788, just four months after their arrival.

Arthur Saint Clair became the first governor of the Northwest Territory.

This tiny settlement became the administrative, political, and legal heart of America's new frontier.

The first court in the Northwest Territory convened in log buildings inside a dense forest.

The foundations of Ohio law and order were laid, but Marietta's founding was not without cost.

The land was already the territory of the Shawnee, Delaware, and other native nations.

As settlers moved in, tensions grew, and with it conflict and displacement that would reshape lives and legacies across the region.

Today, Marietta is a city of heritage.

From the preserved walls of Campus Martius to the quiet flow of the Ohio River.

It stands as a living monument to courage, compromise and community.

Thank you, Anna.

In Marietta, history isn't just preserved, it's passed on.

That legacy continues at the castle in Marietta, where early Ohio life comes alive each summer through history camp.

Designed to immerse kids in the world of the early 1800s, the camp turns lessons into hands on experiences.

Ty Carpenter shows us how kids are stepping into Ohio's past at history camp.

At the castle in Marietta, history is more than a lesson in a textbook.

It's something you build.

- We have glue.

- Craft.

- Look how tiny.

or debate.

- Cows are going to provide?

- Milk - And milk can be made into?

- Butter - Are we going to take the churn?

- Yeah.

The camp delves into life from 1800 to 1820, turning early Ohio history into a hands on experience for dozens of children in the summer.

How can we make history that you might read in a book or learn in a classroom how we can make that more hands on and interesting to kids?

How can we get them to understand some of the things today versus back then?

Do some.

Compare and contrast.

I think that's what kind of a little unique approach to, summer camps that we do here.

The camp has sold out each the last five years and provides six new activities each day for a week.

All the kids get to experience new things.

They get to learn how to make their own food.

Like for example, we were doing silhouette, so we were learning about portraits and how portraits have evolved through the years.

So that was really cool.

Campers even discuss what they'd pack for a wagon journey, debating every item.

Coffee grinder was one of the things that settlers took.

But the kids say, is that really necessary?

- You could do a water.

- One little girl Yeah, she... One boy said, well, they could just drink water.

But one little girl said, I think it's necessary because if my parents don't have their coffee, they get grumpy.

So.

So then I said, do we want grumpy parents?

So everybody voted that.

Then we would take the coffee grinder.

How are you going to make how she going to have a coffee - And Apple has to wake up just as much.

- No!

The final test built a boat themselves from scratch.

The only role it has to float, just like the ones used on the Ohio River more than 200 years ago.

A little big, but it floats.

- It floats!

Special thanks to Ty Carpenter for sharing that story with us.

Now let's combine our history lessons with our science classes.

While America's Founding fathers are best known for securing independence in 1776, figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were also central to the early development of science.

Franklin's work with electricity and inventions like the lightning rod reshaped scientific understanding, while Jefferson applied scientific thinking to architecture, agriculture, and the study of fossils and nature.

Together, their curiosity reflected a core American ideal that knowledge, education, and critical thinking are essential to a free and democratic society.

Jeff has this week's spot on science.

250 years ago, America's founding fathers gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence.

But what does that have to do with science?

Well, two of our founding fathers, in addition to leading the cause for independence from England, made significant contributions to the growing field of natural philosophy.

Philosophy is the study of knowledge.

There really wasn't such a thing as scientist in 1776, but Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson both were curious experimenters and theorists.

Benjamin Franklin was a pioneer in the exploration of electricity.

Back then, there was no such thing as flipping a switch to light up a room.

Scientists were only beginning to understand the properties of electricity.

Franklin, in a famous experiment in 1752, went out in a raging thunderstorm to fly a kite with a key attached to the string.

He was able to show that lightning is a form of electricity, and the sparks flying off the key proved it.

Franklin went on to invent the lightning rod, which saved tall buildings from catching fire from lightning strikes.

Franklin was the first to use terms like positive and negative charge and battery when talking about the flow of electricity and storing its power.

He even invented an efficient heating appliance known as the Franklin Stove.

By the time of the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin was one of the most famous scientists in the world.

Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson gained fame as a thinker and tinkerer.

His famous home, Monticello in Virginia, was designed using scientific ideas about light, airflow, and space.

He studied plants, animals, fossils, and weather patterns.

He carefully recorded data and believed nature could be understood through observation.

Jefferson also had an interest in giant prehistoric animals.

When colleagues exploring a cave in western Virginia found mysterious fossilized bones, they sent them to Jefferson to study the extinct creatures named after Thomas Jefferson, and one on display at Ohio State University is even called Jeff, which I think is a great name for a giant ground sloth.

Benjamin Franklin said Thomas Jefferson's curiosity for understanding and exploring the natural world reflects one of the most persistent American ideals the belief that knowledge empowers people.

The Founding Fathers believed a free society depends on educated citizens who could think critically and make informed decisions.

So I think we can say that science and American democracy grew side by side.

Nothing beats being at the ballpark.

There are not many activities more American than baseball.

In fact, baseball is often referred to as America's pastime.

A pastime is another word for hobby, something people do for fun rather than for work.

The sport is called America's pastime because it was invented in the United States, and the game grew alongside the country.

As our nation grows, it becomes more diverse.

As baseball grows, it becomes more diverse, which is recognized by the Cleveland Guardians so much so that every season, the organization celebrates special Heritage Nights to celebrate the cultural diversity of its fans, staff and players.

I recently sat down with the Cleveland Guardians Office of Engagement and Belonging to learn about its heritage, celebrations.

My name is Kwan.

I am the manager of Engagement and Belonging here at Cleveland Guardians.

These are our community celebrations.

I like to call them ballpark takeovers.

So essentially, everything that isn't the game that's playing on the field has a little bit of a community incorporated into it.

So whether that be a resource fair before the game of nonprofit organizations for you to come visit or different celebrations or activations we like to call them.

It could be like a performance or an art display happening throughout the concourse before the game.

The goal is to celebrate the diversity of the fans by providing an extra sense of belonging and making them feel seen.

We have five community celebrations, our first one being our Asian American Pacific Islander.

Our second one being our Pride Night.

Third is going to be our Black Excellence Night.

Fourth is going to be our Disability Pride night.

And then finally, our fifth one is our Noche Latina or Hispanic celebration.

Part of this idea stems from celebrating baseball legend Larry Doby.

After Jackie Robinson became the first black player in Major League Baseball.

Doby became the first black player in the American League playing for Cleveland.

I think it's really exciting.

I mean, a lot of people know Jackie Robinson, right?

Breaking the color barrier.

Not a lot of people know Larry Doby.

And so we're really proud of that.

And we want to keep that tradition going and keep that legacy alive and continue what he started.

Here at the Cleveland Guardians.

We think a lot about our purpose, and our purpose is to unite and inspire our city with the power of team.

So how can we bring to life the vibrant community of Cleveland within our ballpark here?

How can we unite and inspire our city?

And that's how community celebrations were born.

Special thanks to the Guardians for taking us behind the scenes at the ballpark.

I love these heritage celebrations, but I also love everything else at the ballpark.

The homeruns, the strikeouts, the peanuts, the hot dogs.

Remember this from the last episode.

My favorite hot dog condiment is ballpark mustard, which, just like baseball, has roots in Ohio.

The first fully professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was formed in 1869 and helped lay the foundation for modern Major League Baseball.

Cities like Cleveland became early baseball hubs, producing legends such as Cy Young, alongside infamous teams like the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.

While the major leagues initially excluded many players, figures like Moses Fleetwood Walker and the teams of the Negro Leagues showed Ohio's importance in pushing baseball forward.

Zaria helps us celebrate the deep roots baseball has in the Buckeye State.

From the first pitch to the final out, Baseball today is a big league deal in the Buckeye State.

Not only do we boast two Major League Baseball teams, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians, but we also have a whole lineup of minor league teams from the Toledo Mud Hens to the Columbus Clippers.

Historically, Ohio has seen many more teams.

In fact, professional baseball began here.

In 1869 ten men in Cincinnati were the first to earn a salary for playing baseball as part of the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

The manager of the team, Harry Wright, also played center field.

Just a year later, the team disbanded and Harry and many of his teammates moved to Boston to form the Boston Red Stockings.

But baseball was alive and well in Ohio.

Up in Cleveland, the Forest Cities were another early professional team, and the city later became home to legendary players like Ohio native Cy Young.

The sport known as America's pastime, however, was not open to all Americans.

African Americans, despite being exceptional players, were often excluded from early professional teams.

One notable exception was Moses Fleetwood Walker.

Walker played for the Toledo Blue Stockings more than 60 years before Jackie Robinson is credited with breaking baseball's color barrier.

Sadly, Walker's career was cut short after an official rule banned African-Americans from professional baseball.

In response, African American players and organizers formed their own leagues.

Ohio became home to several Negro league teams, including the Dayton Marcos and the Cleveland Buckeyes.

Baseball has obviously come a long way since the days of the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

But if you're curious about how the game used to be played, you can still see it in action.

Teams like the Ohio Village Muffins in Columbus play vintage baseball, a version of the game that's a bit more gentlemanly than what we're used to seeing today.

Thank you, Zaria.

And that brings us to our final poll question of the season.

We want to know what is your favorite sport.

Slide over to our home page to vote.

You can choose between baseball, football, basketball, soccer, hockey, track and field or something else It's tough to pick just one, but I'd say my favorite sport is football.

But I am at Progressive Field.

So let's go with baseball.

Last week we stopped by the International Street Festival organized by the students of Ohio University in Athens.

And we wanted to know, what's your favorite street food?

40% of you love tacos.

18% of you voted for Hot dogs classic.

16% said you're hungry for momos.

About 13% of you picked Cincinnati's own chili.

10% said you love a good skewer, and about 3% voted for the banh mi sandwich I love a good food vendor, especially if they've got hot dogs.

You know, I was hanging out with Newshound the other day and we were talking about this 250th birthday for the United States.

And you know what he told me?

His favorite thing about the United States is our national parks.

Why am I not surprised?

The national park system was created by Ulysses S Grant, a president and an Ohioan, when he signed the Yellowstone National Park Act in 1872.

And it turns out that this week's A-plus award winners agree with Newshound.

The students at Independence Primary School capped off a year of learning about national parks by holding an art show that celebrated creativity and exploration by featuring our national parks.

They told us that each grade level at the school, which serves students in pre-K through grade four, studied one of America's major national parks.

The students studied their parks, history, physical features and wildlife.

People who were lucky enough to attend the art show got to explore the canyons, mountains, marshlands and waterfalls all through the art created by these very talented and artistic Blue Devils.

The art show also included an interactive virtual passport that allowed visitors to complete bonus missions and vote on what pieces of art made them smile.

I love that!

The highlight of the evening was the fourth grade's five panel mural that featured our very own Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

We are proud to give this week's A-plus award to the artistic Blue Devils from Independence Primary School for featuring the national Parks in their art show.

Keep up the great work.

I think Newshound heard us talking about him while we have his attention.

Let's see what he has found for this week's Petting Zoo.

What's up Newshound?

You already started your summer break.

It looks like you're out fishing with your uncles.

We still have to finish the show.

Well, what story did you catch this week?

Oh, cool.

You brought us a story about bald eagles and their eggs hatching in California's Big Bear Valley.

Unveiling two eaglets.

To check out this new feathery family, visit our website newsdepth.org.

Great story, Newshound.

Now you can officially start your summer vacation.

But now let's take off for our next story.

The Wright Patterson Airforce Base in Dayton, Ohio, is one of the most important military and research centers in U.S.

history.

Established in the early 20th century, it played a key role in the birth of American aviation.

Building on the legacy of the Wright brothers early flight experiments nearby, the base has been central to U.S.

military innovation, especially in aerospace research, aircraft development, and national defense.

So fasten your seatbelts, because reporter Hernz Laguerre Jr.

is about to take us soaring through history.

Wright atterson Air Force Base is a vast display of aviation through years.

From the early history of flight to modern day applications and future innovations.

I spoke with three representatives who shared with me the importance of the airbase.

Ohio is the birthplace of aviation.

Even today, Ohio has more astronauts than any other state in the country.

We're the heart of, you know, aviation and aerospace innovation.

McKenzie Wittmer says the base is the one stop shop about the field of flight.

You know, you can come here to Dayton, Ohio, and see all 120 plus years of aviation and space heritage.

Starting with the Wright brothers.

But you can walk through the National Museum of the United States Air Force and see today's technologies, things that are impacting our daily lives.

David Tillitson says the military was key to making airplanes such a widely used means of travel.

So after World War I, development of the aviation industry for airlines, airline development overseas, exploring all of the world for aviation, the military underwrote much of that.

And if you want to work in the aviation industry today, the options are endless.

80% of the people in the Air Force don't fly.

They're not pilots.

They're not air crew members.

They aren't even aircraft maintainers.

We need a well-rounded problem solvers for the aviation industry, and a lot of those skills you can find in the humanities.

There is so much opportunity in aviation right now.

It is a rapidly growing field and there is a place for everyone.

It's not just pilots, it's designers, it's engineers, it's technicians and mechanics.

Each of those fields exists in the aviation workforce and keep asking questions, stay creative and and know that you know, with, tenacity.

There is a place for everyone in this industry.

Special thanks to Hernz from CET and Cincinnati for sharing that story with us.

Teachers, if you like this segment and other statewide stories featured in this episode, let us know by filling up the survey at the bottom of this episode page.

Your input will help us share more news from across the state.

Before we head off for summer break, we'd like to leave you with our final write to us of the season.

We'd like you to tell us, how do you plan to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States?

Students, you can use our inbox form online or send us an email to newsdepth@ideastream.org to join in the celebration.

This 4th of July, I'll be hanging with family, grilling some food, and of course, watching fireworks.

On our last episode, NewsDepth intern Olivia took us to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to check out an exhibit showcasing designs from Kent State fashion students inspired by birds.

That's right, the exhibit inspired our write to Us question.

We asked you to design an outfit based on your favorite animal.

Let's check out some of these wild clothes by opening our inbox.

A fifth grader from Gordon DeWitt Elementary School in Cuyahoga Falls said, my favorite animal is a gray fox.

This is my dress.

A sixth grader from Claggett Middle School in my hometown, Medina said.

I designed a peacock outfit.

There is a cape on the back that represents a male peacock's feathers, and when you move your arms, it shows the feathers.

A fourth grader from Locust Corner Elementary School in New Richmond said, I think a good outfit idea would be a lion, which is also my favorite animal.

I think a good look would have a big skirt with fur that looks like a lion.

There would also be sleeves for the fur and since it could be itchy, the fur would only be on the outside.

A fourth grader from Little Miami School in Morrow said, my favorite animal is a stingray.

So I drew a dress, and I think stingrays are bright, golden and awesome.

And a fifth grader from Tallmadge Elementary School in Tallmadge said, my drawing is a frog dress.

I love everything about frogs.

Frogs are the best!

Those are some pretty snazzy outfits.

Maybe I should ask one of you to be my new stylist.

Thank you all for your submissions.

Well, that is a wrap for season 56 of NewsDepth.

And I think we knocked it out of the park.

The NewsDepth team would like to thank the Cleveland Guardians for letting us film the special episode at Progressive Field.

Teachers, we'd love to hear how you think we did to share your feedback with us, you can fill out the end of season survey linked at the bottom of this episode page.

And students, you know, we always want to hear from you and there are plenty of ways for you to stay in touch with us.

You can write to us at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Our zip code here is 44115.

You can email us at newsdepth@ideastream.org.

Plus you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

Hit subscribe if you're old enough so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm Gabriel Kramer.

We'll see you next school year.

NewsDepth is made possible by a grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.