Official planning for the United States Semiquincentennial began in 2016.
Congress created the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016 to promote and coordinate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Establishing the commission a decade before the anniversary allowed time for federal agencies, states, cities, museums, schools, and private partners to develop programs.
The planning process became more visible in 2018. Commissioners were sworn in at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and the American Battlefield Trust was selected as the commission’s nonprofit administrative partner. The trust helped provide staff support, temporary offices, legal assistance, and organizational planning.
The year 2016 is sometimes confused with 2018 because the commission’s first formal organizing activity occurred in 2018. The earlier date refers to congressional authorization and the beginning of official planning; 2018 refers to the swearing-in and initial organizing meetings.