The 2016 Semiquincentennial Commission Act identified four “leading cities” for America250 events.
The cities named in the legislation were Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Charleston, South Carolina. Each has a major connection to the American Revolution and the formation of the United States. Their inclusion reflected the law’s direction to hold events in locations of historical significance.
Boston was central to the resistance that preceded the Revolutionary War. Philadelphia hosted the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. New York City was an important revolutionary theater and later served as the first national capital under the Constitution. Charleston was a major southern port and a significant site of revolutionary conflict.
The designation did not mean that celebrations were limited to these four places. America250 planning involved all states and territories, with local commissions and organizations developing programs nationwide. The four cities were specifically highlighted as leading locations in the federal legislation.