The United States used the name Bicentennial for its 200th birthday celebration in 1976.
The bicentennial marked 200 years since the 1776 Declaration of Independence. It was a nationwide observance featuring parades, exhibitions, public ceremonies, commemorative objects, and special events across the country.
The term “bicentennial” means a 200-year anniversary. It should not be confused with “semiquincentennial,” the 250-year anniversary term used for America’s 2026 commemoration. The earlier celebration provided a major precedent for planning the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The 1976 festivities also coincided with the American Revolution’s enduring place in public memory. Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and many other communities held events connected with the nation’s founding and development.