At the Great American State Fair, you can find a dinosaur's rib cage. Unity is another matter

WASHINGTON (AP) — A dinosaur rib cage. A 7,000-pound sandcastle made with Jersey Shore sand. Two rocking chairs in an unstaffed booth as well as a number of empty spaces.

This is the Great American State Fair.

The fair kicked off this week and is a run by Freedom 250, an organization created by President Donald Trump to run his administration's official events. Its creation caused tension with America250, a congressionally created group that was designed to plan the nation's 250th anniversary. The event on the National Mall will run into July.

Crowds came in small numbers early Friday, spending little time at security. The entryway led straight to a 110-foot tall Ferris wheel, the lone ride at the fair, and a smaller arch, similar to the ones that the Republican president has used to adorn other events.

The consensus among people who were interviewed was that the fair was a great idea — and perhaps an opportunity missed.

Familiar to anyone who has ever attended a fair were the goats, sheep and a calf whose mooing could be heard across the Mall, all courtesy of the Washington High School Future Farmers of America from Jefferson County, West Virginia. Baby chicks, resplendent in all of their downy softness, were a huge draw, and there was the promise of a cowboy performance with bucking broncos to highlight the rise of the American cowboy.

Visitors were united by their enthusiasm for states to come together and show off their unique characters, famous natives, industries and history and geographical diversity. They were also drawn by a desire for a nonpartisan celebration of American unity.

“There’s nice people, nice events, nice family events,” said Sharyn Bovat, who said she lived in Florida but has remained in the Washington area since having a heart attack this year. “Half the country is divided with the other half. I wish they would create a USA 250 for all the people. I’m tired of the politics.”

She said the arch was the main thing that gave the event a political overtone. “It makes me think of Germany,” she said.

The fair booths, all inside structures that resembled the neoclassical architecture of the nearby National Gallery of Art, offered snippets of Americana to visitors.

Among the items representing Montana was a gigantic rib cage, a scaled-up version of apatosaurus, which is a cousin to the better-known brontosaurus.

Virginia's booth offered a journey through the state's role in American history. For the District of Columbia, there was a huge banner for visitors to sign, along with a tree filled with cherry blossoms. South Carolina invited people to enjoy a putting green.

Texas included a space capsule, a facade of the Alamo and a statue — Big Tex. The one place where there was a line outside was for Arizona's exhibit, which had an interactive that allowed visitors to put themselves in terrain from the state.

Visitors to New Jersey's booth saw an ornate sandcastle made from 7,000 pounds of sand brought from the Jersey Shore and built over the course of four days by an artist.

Andy Walters and his wife, Kirsten, were there with their three children from Wapakoneta, Ohio, the boyhood hometown of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong. “I think it's nice. I wish all the states were participating,” Andy Walters said. “It's a little underwhelming but it's a great idea.”

Kirsten Walters said she wished something similar would be held more often, without the overtones. “We’re excited to be here and participate,” she said.

Most states participated, treating the fair almost like a tourism opportunity. But there was not full representation.

Maine, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania opted to not send delegations, citing costs, scheduling or politicization concerns.

Some booths, including those for Hawaii and Alaska, were unstaffed. Hawaii's did feature a couple of rocking chairs, which tired visitors put to good use.

Alonzo Lewis Jr. and Kelly Domizio, from Rome, New York, took advantage to take a load off.

“This was really pretty cool,” she said. “Been going to all the different states.”

But her husband had a different view.

“Was it necessary, I don't think so,” Lewis said. “It feels forced. There's so much separation.”

Domizio said she remembered the bicentennial in 1976.

“There was a sense of pride” and togetherness she said. “We are enjoying the day but it feels forced.”

The Freedom 250 Ferris Wheel and the U.S. Capitol are seen on the National Mall from the Washington Monument during the Great American State Fair on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Alonzo Lewis Jr, and Kelly Domizio sit in cushy chairs in Hawaii's exhibit during the Great American State Fair on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Natalia Romanova from Kazakstan uses a smartphone in Arizona's interactive exhibit during the Great American State Fair on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Visitors experience a Montana dinosaur dig in the Montana's exhibit under a a gigantic ribcage, a scaled up version of an apatosaurus, a cousin to the more well known brontosaurus, the during the Great American State Fair on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Christine Bayly, right, and Jason Brown, left, take a photo as they eat lunch on the National Mall with the Washington Monument, Freedom 250 Ferris Wheel, and a replica of the triumphal arch, behind them during the Great American State Fair, Friday, June 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Nathan Smith, Will O'Rourke and Zak Foulkes combined to put New Zealand firmly in control on Day 3 of the third and final test against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

The pace trio took advantage of a deteriorating pitch offering bounce and movement as England was bowled out for 354 at tea to trail New Zealand by 84 runs on first innings.

Smith led the way for the Kiwis with 4-91 and he was ably assisted by O'Rourke (3-53) and Foulkes (3-35).

On a warm day, but with temperatures much lower than they were on the first two days, New Zealand took an early grip on proceedings.

Resuming on 223-2, England lost its first wicket when Joe Root was trapped lbw for 21 by an in-swinging delivery from Smith.

Jacob Bethell followed soon after, caught at second slip by New Zealand captain Tom Latham off O'Rourke's bowling for 74.

Jamie Smith did not last long, snapped up low down at first slip by Daryl Mitchell off namesake Smith with his score on 1.

Ben Stokes was then dropped on 1 by Devon Conway, a difficult low chance as he dived to his right off the dangerous Smith.

But Stokes, back in the team along with Atkinson after they were dropped for the second test for disciplinary reasons, was eventually removed for 15. Foulkes, a concussion substitute for Blair Tickner, claimed the wicket of the England captain with another sharp in-swinging delivery.

Atkinson then survived an lbw appeal just before lunch when a DRS review showed the ball was going over the stumps.

Brook (58) went to his half-century just before lunch before falling just after the resumption, Foulkes getting a delivery to move sharply away and clip the top of the off stump.

O'Rourke dropped a tough caught-and-bowled opportunity when Jofra Archer was on 13 but the England fast bowler eventually went for 15 when he edged a nasty, lifting ball from Smith to Mitchell at first slip.

Atkinson also received a life when Ben Sears dropped an easy catch at mid-on. However, he soon became O'Rourke's third victim when he was snaffled by Mitchell for 23.

Josh Tongue was the last wicket to fall, caught at mid-wicket by Mitchell Santner off Foulkes for 2.

Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157) were the stars of the show with a huge 317-run partnership for the first wicket in New Zealand's first innings on Day 1.

The series is level at 1-1.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Joe Root walks off the field after being bowled out by New Zealand's Nathan Smith via lbw during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Joe Root, foreground, reacts after being bowled out by New Zealand's Nathan Smith via lbw during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Joe Root, center right, reacts after being bowled out by New Zealand's Nathan Smith via lbw during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

England's Ben Stokes, left, is bowled out by New Zealand's Zak Foulkes, during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

New Zealand's Nathan Smith celebrates bowling out England's Joe Root via lbw, during day three of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Saturday June 27, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)