Congress established the nonpartisan commission behind America250 in 2016.
The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was created to plan and coordinate observances for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Its work links national programs with commemorations organized by states, communities, cultural institutions, and historic sites.
The commission was established 10 years before the anniversary itself. That advance planning reflected the scale of the event: the commemoration concerns the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary era, civic participation, education, public history, and celebrations across the country.
America250 is not the name of the anniversary year alone. It is also the public identity associated with the commission’s programs and outreach. The commission’s creation in 2016 is distinct from the 1976 bicentennial organizations, which were created for the earlier 200th anniversary.