What name is given to the 1976 celebration that preceded America250 by 50 years?

The 1976 celebration that preceded America250 by 50 years was the United States Bicentennial.

The Bicentennial marked the 200th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Its centerpiece date was July 4, 1976, exactly two centuries after the 1776 adoption. America250 follows the same commemorative pattern at the 250-year mark.

The 1976 observance included fireworks, parades, historical reenactments, exhibitions, and Operation Sail, an international gathering of sailing ships. President Gerald Ford participated in national ceremonies, and celebrations took place in cities and communities across the country.

“Bicentennial” means a 200th anniversary. It should not be confused with “centennial,” which means 100 years, “sesquicentennial,” which means 150 years, or “tricentennial,” which means 300 years. The 1976 event was also part of a longer sequence that included the 1876 Centennial and 1926 Sesquicentennial.