The United States Bicentennial celebrations culminated in 1976.
The Bicentennial commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s adoption in 1776. Its central anniversary date was July 4, 1976, when celebrations took place across the country, including fireworks, parades, exhibitions, and historic reenactments.
Planning began earlier: Congress created the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in 1966. That body was later replaced by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, which coordinated nationwide observances rather than concentrating the celebration in one city.
The Bicentennial provides the clearest historical comparison for America250. The 2026 event marks 250 years rather than 200, but both anniversaries focus on the Declaration and the revolutionary founding of the United States. Bicentennial commemorative coins also carried the double date 1776–1976.