If you have lived in McKinney for years and still have not made it inside the Collin County History Museum or walked through the Chestnut Square Historic Village, this is a practical reason to go before the month ends.

Visit McKinney launched the America 250 Scavenger Hunt to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. The tour is self-guided, run through a mobile app, and sends participants through some of the most historically significant sites in McKinney Downtown Historic area. Complete all the mandatory stops and you can claim a limited-edition America 250 challenge coin at the Visit McKinney Experience Center. The tour runs through July 31.

Where the Hunt Takes You

The required stops include the Chestnut Square Historic Village, the Collin County History Museum, the Heard-Craig Arts Center, and Historic Downtown McKinney's square itself. Each of these sites holds a different piece of McKinney's story. The Heard-Craig Center, for those who have not visited, is one of the most intact examples of early 20th-century residential architecture left in the city. The Collin County History Museum carries the longer arc of what this part of Texas looked like before McKinney was the place people relocated to.

Senior communications specialist Sarah Nolting said the goal of the hunt is for residents to discover parts of McKinney's story they may never have explored. That framing matters. This is not a tourist activity dressed up for locals. It is a genuine invitation to pay attention to what is already here.

Why the Square Rewards a Slower Look

McKinney's historic downtown is easy to walk through quickly - a good brunch, a few shops, and back to the car. The scavenger hunt is a reason to slow down and actually read the markers, look at the buildings, and notice what those brick streets have quietly held through generations of Texas weather and growth.

The America 250 commemorative framing adds a layer most residents probably have not thought about in a local context. This city was founded before Texas joined the union. Its history is longer than its fast-growing present suggests. A challenge coin is a small thing. The reminder of that longer arc is not.

The hunt is free to participate in. The challenge coin supply is limited. July 31 is the final day.

Find out more about the America 250 Scavenger Hunt and how to download the mobile app tour by checking out the McKinney Experience Center page then plan your afternoon on the Square before the month runs out.