The United States Bicentennial took place in 1976, the immediate predecessor to America250.
The Bicentennial marked 200 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. Celebrations occurred across the country and included parades, exhibitions, concerts, educational programs, special coins, and commemorative stamps. The anniversary became one of the most visible nationwide civic events of the twentieth century.
The year also saw major public attention to historic preservation and Revolutionary-era places. Philadelphia hosted prominent celebrations, while communities throughout the United States organized local events connected to the national theme. The bicentennial therefore combined federal recognition with participation by states, cities, schools, museums, and families.
America250 follows the same anniversary sequence 50 years later. It is not the sesquicentennial, which would mean 150 years and was observed in 1926, nor the centennial, which occurred in 1876. The 1976 date is the clearest reference point for comparing the scale and style of the 2026 commemoration.