I didn’t grow up in the 70s so I missed out on the bicentennial craze of ‘76. I did have a bit of excitement for Americas 250th but I don’t see much chatter about it. America isn’t perfect but I did want to celebrate it. Is it still too early for anyone to care? Are we too partisan now?? What are your thoughts?


36 comments

  2. I think it’s just too early, it’s next year. I imagine people will be more excited around the 4th of July. I know the Whitehouse is trying to plan all sorts of celebrations.

  5. I was 11 in 1976, and, yes, it was a huge deal with a ton of prep. It doesn’t feel like much prep has been done. Pennsylvania is issuing special vehicle license plates so there is that, but it does not feel like much is being done so I assume it will be a nothingburger. The Bicentennial had a traveling train exhibit and such. If people were planning to do stuff next summer, on a large scale, they’d need to start planning now or even before so… it will probably whimper.

  6. The White House has been planning for a while. There’s going to be a wrestling match on the lawn or something. I can’t say I’ll be tuning in to that.

  9. I live in Massachusetts so we’ve already been celebrating since April (250th of Lexington & Concord). It’s been a big deal here with wraps on the trains and a ton of events. One of my neighbors goes to the reenactment every year and said it is normally busy but manageable, but this year it was a nightmare and they had to walk 3+ miles back to parking since the bus lines were hours long. 

    I feel like it’s been so hyped because of the political climate, rather than in spite of it. For example driving around Concord there are tons of “No Kings Then. No Kings Now.” lawn signs.

    EDIT: We also have new license plates that are SICK.

  10. I remember 1976 pretty well as I was 11 years old that summer and it was all so magical. I’m proud of my country, proud to be an American, and I’m looking forward to the celebrations for the 250th in 2026.

  11. I don’t really care too much about it and not in a political way it just doesn’t seem that significant to me

  12. Personally, I don’t. But I live near Boston and I expect they’ll add things to the usual pops concert + fireworks. I live *very* close to North Bridge and there was a big celebration for the 250th of the Battles of Lexington and Concord

  13. Not really. I’m much more concerned about the overthrow of our constitutional republic with a lawless, kleptocratic dictatorship.

  14. I’m kinda excited. Living in DC, I usually get my family the hell out of dodge because it is so awful here around Independence Day.

    I already have reservations for July 2026 in our usual peaceful retreat, but have been on the fence about canceling and staying here. I mean…I’ve got a place to stay and I’m already on the capital city for America’s 250th…be a shame to miss some big memorable spectacle.

  15. I do, but honestly I don’t want a big deal made of it at this point.

    Any federal celebration like there was back in 76 would just be turned into yet another Trump rally where he disparages half the country.

  16. I was 14 during the bicentennial and it was a big deal well beforehand. I haven’t noticed anything special in my area, Michigan, for 250.

  18. I would say so far in Virginia it isn’t as big of a deal as the Civil War 150th was, but to be fair there’s nowhere near as many Revolutionary sites in Virginia as Civil War ones.

  19. I graduated high school in 1976. The Bicentennial was commercialized more than anything I’ve ever seen. There was at least a five year buildup.

    Im not seeing it with this 250th celebration. It will be ok.

  21. Kind of, yeah. I wasn’t alive for the Bicentennial and I’ll be in my 80s if I live to see the Tricentennial.

  22. I see chatter about it all the time. Wounded Warriors is giving out a special 250th anniversary blanket to people who become monthly donors

  23. Tough crowd after Trump fucked over everyone with his military parade that he fell asleep at.

  24. I am not feeling proud enough of my country to make any effort to celebrate it. If someone is throwing a party at that time, and I am invited, and it sounds like a fun time, I will probably go.

  25. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I hadn’t been born for the 200th, and I won’t be around for the 300th.

  27. I was 14 in 1976, and my family took a vacation to Philadelphia. And yeah – it was a huge deal.

    As an added historical footnote, we stayed across the street from the hotel that had the big Legionnaires Disease outbreak a few weeks later. As a kid, it was kinda wild watching all the news realizing that we had been so close just a short while earlier.

    I haven’t heard much about next year’s celebrations, but I don’t live anywhere near the places that will be at the center of the action.

  28. I think the hundreds are celebrated more, I’ve heard a lot about the centennial in 1876 and bicentennial in 1976 celebrations but not so much about the semi centennial in 1826 or sesquicentennial in 1926 though there were definitely celebrations

  30. Haven’t heard too much about it, although it’s still 9 months away

    Still hyped about it, wonder if my town will do anything for it

  31. I do, but I’ve got the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps to get through first. I’m pumped up for that, then I’ll probably get more excited for the county as we get closer.

  32. I do, but a) I have friends who work at a museum with Revolutionary War connections and b) majored in American history.

    I plan on doing things with the 250th, and right now I’ve been doing day trips to Revolutionary War sites in the area.

  33. As a reenactor of the American War of Independence, I do. All the fun battles to reenact are coming up in the next few yrs.

  34. Hey OP. I’m lighting off some fireworks. I wasn’t old enough to enjoy 76. I’ll be dead for the next one. Gen X- This is our year.

  35. Massachusetts is doing a lot of promotion for tourism around the 250 anniversary. We even got a special license se plate for it that is quite popular.

    “It all started here” is the messaging.

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