An equestrian statue of Caesar Rodney in Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. Installed in 1923, the monument was removed in June 2020 amid civil unrest. After six years in storage, it was installed in Washington, D.C.’s Freedom Plaza in April 2026 as part of the nation’s America 250 celebration.
On July 1, 1776, the Delaware delegation to the Continental Congress was deadlocked on the question of independence. One delegate supported breaking from Great Britain, another opposed it, and the fate of Delaware’s vote hung in the balance.
More than 80 miles away in Dover, Caesar Rodney — a Founding Father, lawyer and politician with English and Italian roots — received word of the impasse and set out on a grueling overnight ride to Philadelphia.
Arriving just in time on July 2, Rodney cast the tie-breaking vote that delivered Delaware’s support for independence, clearing the way for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and forever securing his place in American history.
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, 250Ride.org will bring Rodney’s remarkable journey to life with an immersive two-day reenactment of his historic ride by horse-drawn carriage.
Participants will retrace the route that culminated in one of the most consequential votes ever cast in the American experiment.
Portraying Rodney is Ciro Poppiti, founder of the 250 Ride and the Delaware Italian American Foundation, and the unanimous choice to bring Rodney to life.
The journey will officially begin on Friday, June 12, with a prayer at Historic Christ Church in Dover, setting the tone for a launch rooted in unity and reflection.
From there, the Ride will travel north through Delaware, culminating that evening at Thousand Acre Farm in Middletown, where guests will gather for the 250 Ride Gala.
On Saturday, June 13, the reenactment continues through Historic Old New Castle, joining the annual Separation Day Parade before concluding later that day at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
For more on the story and upcoming events, visit 250Ride.org.
In 1930, immigrant families banded together to create the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), now one of the most prominent and financially successful Italian American organizations in the nation. In the last decade, we built a 730,000-strong social media community, grew our not-for-profit fraternal association, ISDA Financial Life, to nearly a half billion dollars in member assets, co-founded the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), and launched the fastest-growing Italian American publication (La Nostra Voce).
