Which U.S. anniversary celebration preceded America250 by 50 years?

The United States Bicentennial preceded America250 by 50 years.

The Bicentennial marked 200 years since the 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence and culminated on July 4, 1976. It was celebrated with parades, exhibitions, fireworks, historical programs, and special events across the country.

Planning began a decade earlier, when Congress created the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission in 1966. That body was later replaced by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, which coordinated celebrations rather than concentrating them in one city.

The Bicentennial is an important predecessor to America250, but the two anniversaries have different names because they mark different totals: 200 years in 1976 and 250 years in 2026. Philadelphia hosted many prominent 1976 events because of its connection with the Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence.