The United States Congress established the nonpartisan America250 commission in 2016.
The organization is formally known as the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. Its purpose is to coordinate and encourage commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding-era events associated with it.
The commission’s creation came a decade before the anniversary year, allowing time for partnerships, educational programs, public history projects, and national observances to be developed. America250 became the commission’s recognizable public-facing identity.
This date is distinct from 2026, the anniversary year itself, and from 1976, the year of the earlier U.S. Bicentennial. The commission’s work reflects the long lead time required for a nationwide commemoration involving federal agencies, states, communities, museums, and civic organizations.