The United States’ previous major national anniversary before America250 was the Bicentennial, celebrated in 1976.
The Bicentennial marked 200 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. It produced nationwide ceremonies, parades, exhibitions, historical programs, commemorative objects, and a large wave of red, white, and blue public decoration.
The official observance began several years before July 4, 1976, reflecting the scale of the planning involved. Philadelphia hosted major events because of its connection to the Continental Congress and the Declaration, while communities across all fifty states organized local celebrations.
“Bicentennial” means a 200th anniversary, so it is not interchangeable with “semiquincentennial,” the term for 250 years. America250 follows the same broad tradition of a nationally coordinated anniversary while reflecting a different milestone and a different generation’s understanding of the country’s history.