The United States Semiquincentennial Commission, known as America250, began official planning in 2016.
Congress created the commission through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act. Its role was to coordinate and recommend ways to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence across the country.
The commission was established a decade before the anniversary date, allowing time for federal agencies, states, communities, museums, and civic organizations to develop programs. The planning scope extends beyond a single ceremony, encompassing the Revolution, the founding period, and the wider history of the United States.
This commission should not be confused with the United States Centennial Commission of 1871, which organized the 1876 centennial, or the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, which supported the 1976 bicentennial. Each body was created for a different anniversary.