The United States Bicentennial culminated on July 4, 1976.
That day marked 200 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Bicentennial was not a single ceremony but a broad series of celebrations, exhibitions, parades, broadcasts, military displays, and local events held across the country during the mid-1970s.
The official festivities included Operation Sail in New York Harbor, fireworks in major cities, historical reenactments, and the nationwide American Freedom Train. President Gerald Ford attended major events in Pennsylvania, New York, and Philadelphia. Queen Elizabeth II also made a state visit during the anniversary period.
A common mix-up is treating July 2 as the Bicentennial date. Congress approved the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, but the Declaration was proclaimed on July 4. America250 similarly uses July 4, 2026, as its central anniversary date.