Which federal commission organized the America250 celebration after its creation in 2016?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission organized the America250 celebration after its creation in 2016.

Congress established the commission as a nonpartisan federal body to coordinate planning for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Its work includes encouraging national, state, local, educational, and civic programs connected with the milestone. America250 is the recognizable public brand used for much of this work.

The commission's name identifies the anniversary it was created to commemorate. “Semiquincentennial” means a 250th anniversary, while “centennial” means 100 years and “bicentennial” means 200 years. Earlier anniversary celebrations had different organizing structures and names, including the national bicentennial effort of 1976.

Planning began well before the anniversary year because a celebration of this scale involves museums, historic sites, government agencies, schools, communities, and private organizations. The commission is distinct from the United States Semiquincentennial itself, which refers to the anniversary and its broader observances.