Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the Declaration of Independence, the document whose adoption is commemorated by America250.
The signers were delegates to the Second Continental Congress representing the thirteen colonies. Their names appear on the engrossed parchment copy, with John Hancock's large signature standing out prominently near the top.
The number of signers is not the same as the number of colonies. Thirteen colonies were represented, but each delegation contained multiple members. Some delegates who voted for independence did not sign, while others joined Congress later or added their names after the main signing ceremony.
Most historians place the principal signing on August 2, 1776, rather than July 4. Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, but preparing the formal parchment copy and gathering the delegates' signatures took additional time. This distinction explains why the anniversary date and signing date differ.