The United States celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, marking 200 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
The central anniversary occurred on July 4, 1976. The celebrations were not limited to a single ceremony: the American Revolution Bicentennial included parades, fireworks, historical reenactments, exhibitions, festivals, and special commemorative projects across the country. The event became one of the largest national celebrations in modern American history.
President Gerald Ford participated in major observances, including festivities in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Queen Elizabeth II also made a state visit during the celebrations. Philadelphia received a replica Liberty Bell from Britain, while New York hosted Operation Sail, an international gathering of tall ships.
The bicentennial is sometimes confused with the 1876 Centennial Exposition, which marked 100 years, or with the 1975–1976 minting period for special circulating coins. The quarter, half dollar, and dollar received dual-date designs reading 1776–1976, but the anniversary year itself was 1976. The bicentennial commemorated the Declaration’s adoption, not the later signing process, which primarily took place on August 2, 1776.