Seventy-six commemorative trees were planned for Independence National Historical Park for America’s 250th anniversary.
The tree project was announced by the Daughters of the American Revolution, which provided a $380,000 grant to Philadelphia in 2017. The number 76 refers to 1776, the year of the Declaration of Independence, rather than to the anniversary number 250.
Independence National Historical Park contains landmarks connected with the founding of the United States, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Planting trees there gives the anniversary a physical and living memorial that can continue growing beyond 2026.
The figure is easy to confuse with 250, the number of years being commemorated, or 13, the number of original states. The project’s number is specifically 76, echoing the “76” in the year 1776.