The United States Bicentennial was celebrated in 1976, marking the nation's 200th anniversary.
The bicentennial commemorated the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Its main anniversary year was 1976, exactly two centuries after the founding event recognized by the national celebration.
The observance involved events across the country rather than one single ceremony. Communities organized parades, exhibitions, concerts, historical programs, and public ceremonies. The date also inspired special postage stamps, coins, medals, architectural projects, and other commemorative items.
The bicentennial is sometimes confused with the 1876 Centennial Exposition or the 1926 sesquicentennial observance. Those events marked the 100th and 150th anniversaries, respectively. America250 follows the same anniversary sequence: 1776 to 2026 is 250 years, while 1976 was the previous major national milestone at 200 years.