America's 250th birthday and the history of its major anniversaries

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the country is looking back at the ways Americans have celebrated earlier milestones. From the 50th anniversary in 1826 to the 200th in 1976, these events have featured public ceremonies, fireworks, parades, reenactments, and speeches about the nation's founding. The article highlights the 2026 semiquincentennial observances in Washington, D.C., including a state fair on the National Mall, a presidential address, military flyovers, performances by the U.S. Army Band, and a large fireworks display. It also reviews earlier anniversaries, such as the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition, and the nationwide bicentennial celebrations in 1976, showing how each generation marked the Declaration of Independence and reflected on American history.