The Semiquincentennial Commission Act named four leading cities for anniversary events.
The cities listed were Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Charleston, South Carolina. Each has major connections to the colonial era, the American Revolution, or the creation of the United States. The list reflects the legislation’s goal of holding events in places of historical significance.
Philadelphia hosted the Second Continental Congress and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Boston was a major center of resistance to British policy, while New York City was strategically important during the Revolutionary War. Charleston, then in South Carolina, played a major role in the southern theater of the conflict.
Naming four cities did not make them the only places allowed to participate. America250 programs were planned across the country, with state and territorial commissions supporting local commemorations. The statutory list identified prominent hubs rather than restricting the celebration geographically.