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Celebrating America

May 11, 2026

By Cailin Loesch

Every Fourth of July, fireworks light up the sky across the United States. But this year’s celebrations will be extra special because the U.S. is turning 250 years old. On July 4, 1776, representatives from the 13 Colonies approved the Declaration of Independence. The colonists had officially declared their freedom from Great Britain.

Some celebrations have already started. The Freedom Plane is carrying a few of our nation’s founding documents to cities across the U.S. One is a rare draft of the Constitution. Other festivities are planned for America’s semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary. In New York City, a lit-up ball will drop in Times Square at midnight on July 4—like the famous New Year’s Eve tradition. On July 8, people from every state will read the Declaration of Independence together at the same time.

This won’t be the first birthday party Americans have thrown for the country. Here’s a look at three past celebrations.

1876: The Centennial

America Turns 100

President: Ulysses S. Grant

Number of States: 37

Population: About 46 million people

Leaders organized the Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the first World’s Fair held in the U.S. About 10 million visitors got the chance to see brand-new inventions like the telephone and the typewriter. They also tried foods that were new to many Americans at the time, including bananas, root beer, and ketchup.

Visitors to the Centennial Exhibition also got a sneak peek at the Statue of Liberty’s arm and torch (above). The full statue wasn’t completed until 1886.

1926: The Sesquicentennial

America Turns 150

President: Calvin Coolidge

Number of States: 48

Population: About 117 million people

Another big birthday, another party in Philadelphia! This one was called the Sesquicentennial International Exposition. It included exhibits and shows about American history. Because of rainy weather, fewer people attended the event than organizers had hoped.

One of the main attractions was an 80-foot-tall replica of the Liberty Bell. The real Liberty Bell is about 5 feet tall. The replica (above) was lit up by 26,000 bulbs. This was a big deal because, at the time, nearly half of all U.S. homes still didn’t have electricity.

1976: The Bicentennial

America Turns 200

President: Gerald Ford

Number of States: 50

Population: About 218 million people

Tens of thousands of celebrations unfolded, as patriotism swept the nation. One of the first major events was Super Bowl X on January 18, in Miami, Florida. Players from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys wore bicentennial patches on their uniforms. The halftime show featured popular songs from American history.

Many concerts and reenactments took place throughout 1976. At parades like the one in Washington, D.C. (above), people honored the first two centuries of the United States and looked ahead to the future.