The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia, the city associated with the America250 anniversary.
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1776, and the Declaration was approved there on July 4. The city was the largest urban center in the colonies and a major political, commercial, and printing hub.
Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House, is especially important to the story. Congress deliberated there over independence, and the building later hosted the Constitutional Convention in 1787. This connection makes Philadelphia central to both the Declaration and the Constitution.
Philadelphia also played a prominent role in earlier and later national anniversaries. The 1876 Centennial Exposition was held there, and America250 planning has again emphasized the city as a leading location for commemorative events.