BLM hosts its first signature event to celebrate America’s 250th birthday at Empire Ranch in Arizona

The Historic Empire Ranch, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) site steeped in our nation’s ranching history, was the perfect setting to kick off the BLM’s first signature event as part of the Department of Interior’s "Freedom 250” campaign — to celebrate America’s milestone anniversary this year. In addition to America’s birthday, BLM in July 2026 will proudly celebrate 80 years of stewardship, a journey marked by the dedication of its people and the vibrant stories tied to our nation’s public lands.

Empire Ranch has been a working cattle ranch for 150 years, and it sits within the BLM Arizona Tucson Field Office’s Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, located 45 miles southeast of Tucson.

The January 24 event at the ranch gave around 600 attendees the opportunity to deepen their understanding of and relationships with public lands, which are the physical representation of America’s foundational principles. About half of the attendees had never visited this BLM site before, and so this Freedom 250 event brought valuable awareness of the BLM and our mission.

Under cloudy skies with no rain and a balmy 52 degrees, it was perfect running weather for the main spectacle: a 5K, 10K, and family-friendly run, coordinated through a BLM Special Recreation Permit. As the more than 500 runners lined up at the starting place, they were greeted by a collection of flags from significant events in U.S. history.

Other event activities transported attendees back in time, deepening their connections to our country’s Western roots. Over at the “Ranching Life” display volunteers led demonstrations on saddle making and silversmithing, as well as other depictions of ranching life and tools.

“One volunteer talked about how ranching was a family effort and even the women were expected to pitch in and help where needed,” said BLM Arizona Public Affairs Specialist June Lowery, who attended the event. “Women wore dresses during the Victorian era until the invention of the split skirt in the 1890s. The skirt would have buttons on the side that when unbuttoned revealed pants underneath. This design made mounting a horse much easier.”

You may not know it, but some of your favorite Western films and TV shows were made at Empire Ranch. The “Hollywood vs. Reality” display spotlighted the ranch as the setting for numerous Westerns filmed between the 1940s and 1990s, including productions such as Oklahoma, Gunsmoke, The Outlaw and more. Volunteers dressed in period and Hollywood-style cowboy clothing to model the difference between what Hollywood cowboys and real cowboys from the period wore. For more information about the movies filmed at Empire Ranch, visit the Empire Ranch Foundation’s website.

At the BLM booth, staff educated visitors on three major anniversaries occurring in 2026: our nation’s 250th anniversary, BLM’s 80th anniversary, and Empire Ranch’s 150th anniversary. They also talked to visitors about volunteerism on public lands and passed out informational brochures and BLM 80th anniversary stickers. The January 24 event at the Empire Ranch was hosted by the BLM’s partner Empire Ranch Foundation as well as Run Tucson. 

Visit the Bureau of Land Management Arizona's Flickr to view more photos.