Karen Steele was the first baby born on July 4, 1976, and became known as the Bicentennial Baby.
Steele was born 12 seconds after midnight on the day the United States celebrated its 200th anniversary. Her birth immediately attracted national attention because the date combined an ordinary family event with one of the country’s most prominent commemorations.
She received recognition from President Gerald Ford, New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne and other public figures. She also appeared on television programs including The Today Show and Good Morning America. The Bicentennial generated many symbolic stories, and Steele’s birth became one of the most personal examples.
The nickname did not mean she was the only child born that day, of course. It referred to the publicity surrounding the first reported birth associated with July 4, 1976. The story belongs to the 1976 Bicentennial, which serves as a historical predecessor to the 2026 America250 observance.