Philadelphia hosted the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition mentioned in planning the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The exposition marked 150 years since the 1776 Declaration of Independence and was held in Philadelphia, the city where the Second Continental Congress met and where the Declaration was adopted. Its inclusion in the history of national anniversaries provides an important link between earlier commemorations and America250.
Philadelphia also became central to the 2026 semiquincentennial because of its Revolutionary-era sites, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The city’s connection to the founding period made it a natural location for major anniversary ceremonies and commemorative projects.
The exposition should not be confused with the 1876 Centennial Exposition, also held in Philadelphia, or the nationwide United States Bicentennial observances of 1976. “Sesquicentennial” means a 150th anniversary, while “semiquincentennial” means a 250th anniversary.