America 250 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. It commemorates the moment when, in July 1776, the thirteen colonies formally declared independence, beginning a new political experiment that reshaped world history. The Semiquincentennial culminates on July 4, 2026, exactly 250 years after the Declaration was proclaimed.

With a single sheet of parchment and 56 signatures, the foundations of American independence were set in motion. America 250 reflects on that origin while examining the nation’s full historical arc, from the Revolutionary era through the present day.

The United States Semiquincentennial, also known as the Bisesquicentennial, Sestercentennial, Quarter Millennium, or America250, is a nationwide commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. It recognizes the political, social, and cultural developments that shaped the United States over two and a half centuries.

Official planning for the Semiquincentennial began in 2016 with the creation of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, a bipartisan, congressionally established body. The commission was tasked with coordinating commemorations, educational initiatives, and public engagement efforts across the country.