What was the name of America’s 200th-anniversary celebration in 1976, the predecessor to America250?

America’s 200th-anniversary celebration in 1976 was called the United States Bicentennial.

The Bicentennial marked 200 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. Its principal national observance took place throughout 1976, with parades, exhibitions, public works, cultural programs, and special commemorative objects appearing across the country.

The term “bicentennial” means a 200th anniversary. America250 uses a different term because 250 years does not have the same familiar label; “semiquincentennial” is the formal word used for the 2026 milestone.

The 1976 celebration is an important historical comparison for America250. Both anniversaries center on the 1776 Declaration, but they are separated by 50 years. The 1976 event therefore commemorated 200 years, while the 2026 event commemorates 250 years.