What was the United States’ previous 200th-anniversary celebration called before America250?

The United States’ previous 200th-anniversary celebration was called the United States Bicentennial.

The bicentennial culminated on July 4, 1976, marking 200 years since the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. It was a nationwide series of celebrations rather than a single ceremony. Events included parades, exhibitions, educational programs, fireworks, and special commemorative projects.

The bicentennial followed the United States Centennial in 1876 and the Sesquicentennial Exposition in 1926. Its observances also helped shape how Americans remember the Revolution and the country’s founding documents. America250 continues that sequence: 1976 marked 200 years, while 2026 marks 250 years. The term “bicentennial” should not be used for America250, because “bi-” refers to two hundred, not two hundred fifty.