What was the United States’ previous nationwide anniversary celebration before America250?

The United States’ previous nationwide anniversary celebration before America250 was the United States Bicentennial.

The Bicentennial took place in 1976, marking 200 years since the Declaration of Independence. It generated nationwide ceremonies, exhibitions, festivals, parades, commemorative objects, and public works. The celebration’s branding and red-white-and-blue imagery became especially prominent across the country.

America250 follows the same broad anniversary sequence but marks 250 years rather than 200. The two celebrations are separated by 50 years, making 2026 a direct historical successor to the major 1976 observance.

The words can be confusing because “bicentennial” means 200th anniversary, while “semiquincentennial” means 250th. The 1976 celebration did not commemorate the Constitution’s ratification, which occurred in 1788; its central reference point was independence and the Declaration adopted in 1776.