Which four U.S. cities did the 2016 semiquincentennial law identify as leading historical cities for anniversary events?

The 2016 semiquincentennial law identified Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Charleston as leading historical cities for anniversary events.

These cities were named because of their important connections to the colonial era, the American Revolution, and the creation of the United States. Boston was a major center of colonial resistance; Philadelphia hosted the Continental Congress; New York was strategically important during the Revolution; and Charleston was a prominent southern revolutionary city.

The law did not limit America250 activities to these locations. It directed special attention to them while allowing events across the country, including programs organized by states, territories, communities, museums, schools, and cultural institutions.

The four-city list also shows that the commemoration is broader than a single-site celebration. The Declaration was adopted in Philadelphia, but the political and military history of independence unfolded throughout the colonies. America250 uses that wider geography to connect local history with the national anniversary.