Gerald Ford officially opened the United States Bicentennial year in 1975.
Ford, the 38th president of the United States, issued a proclamation on December 11, 1974, designating 1975 as the start of the official three-year observance leading to the 200th anniversary. The bicentennial culminated on July 4, 1976.
This extended schedule reflected the scale of the celebration. The anniversary was not limited to one ceremony; it included state and local programs, historical exhibitions, public works, cultural events, and commemorative products. Ford also took part in major bicentennial ceremonies during 1976.
The question connects America250 with its most important predecessor. America’s 250th anniversary is anchored to 2026, while the bicentennial was anchored to 1976. The presidents were different as well: Ford led the federal government during the bicentennial, while the 2026 observance belongs to a later generation and a different political era.