What anniversary did the 1976 United States Bicentennial mark, preceding America250?

The 1976 United States Bicentennial marked the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It was the major national predecessor to America250, which marks the 250th anniversary in 2026.

The bicentennial culminated on July 4, 1976, two centuries after the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration in Philadelphia. Celebrations included fireworks, parades, exhibitions, ship gatherings, historical reenactments, and programs across the country.

President Gerald Ford attended major bicentennial events, and Queen Elizabeth II visited the United States during the anniversary year. The Smithsonian Institution presented historical exhibitions, while the National Air and Space Museum opened its new building on July 1, 1976.

The terms can be separated numerically: a centennial is 100 years, a sesquicentennial is 150, a bicentennial is 200, and a semiquincentennial is 250. America250 follows the same anniversary tradition at the next major quarter-millennium milestone.