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1776

1776 — 2026 — 250 Years

250 Years
of Freedom

The American Story, From the Beginning

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

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July 4, 1776 · Philadelphia

The Declaration of
Independence

In the summer of 1776, fifty-six men pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to a radical idea: that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. Thomas Jefferson's immortal words — refined by Franklin and Adams — became the founding document of the American experiment in self-governance.

Read the Declaration

John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence painting

George Washington crossing the Delaware River

1775 – 1783

The American
Revolution

Eight years of war tested whether those declarations could become reality. From Lexington and Concord to Valley Forge, from Saratoga to Yorktown, the Continental Army — often ragged, hungry, and unpaid — held together a fragile cause that would reshape the world. No victory was inevitable. Every winter was a question of survival.

Explore the War

September 17, 1787 · Philadelphia

The Constitution &
Bill of Rights

Winning independence was one thing. Governing a free people was another entirely. The framers assembled in Philadelphia to draft a framework for a republic unlike any that had existed before — balancing liberty with order, federal power with state sovereignty, and majority rule with individual rights enshrined in ten amendments ratified in 1791.

Founding Documents

Continental Congress in session

56

Signers of the Declaration

13

Original Colonies

250

Years of Independence

27

Constitutional Amendments

50

States in the Union

Through the Centuries

Turning Points of American History

The Stamp Act 1765

The Stamp Act & the Seeds of Revolution

Britain's attempt to tax the colonies without their consent ignited a political firestorm. "No taxation without representation" became a rallying cry that echoed for a decade until it found its answer in independence.

Boston Tea Party 1773

The Boston Tea Party

On the night of December 16, 1773, colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped 342 chests of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbor — a bold act of defiance that made armed conflict seem increasingly inevitable.

Battle of Lexington 1775

The Shot Heard Round the World

At Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, colonial militiamen and British Regulars exchanged fire in the confrontation that Emerson later immortalized as "the shot heard round the world." The Revolution had begun.

Battle of Bunker Hill 1775

Bunker Hill — The Colonists Can Fight

Though the British technically won the Battle of Bunker Hill, they suffered over 1,000 casualties. The engagement proved that colonial forces could stand against regular soldiers, fundamentally changing the calculus of the war.

Surrender at Yorktown 1781

Yorktown — The War Is Won

On October 19, 1781, General Cornwallis surrendered his army of 8,000 British troops to Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. As the British band played "The World Turned Upside Down," the long struggle for independence effectively ended.

American Heroes

Heroes of American Freedom

From the Founding Fathers and Revolutionary soldiers to abolitionists, suffragists, civil rights leaders, and veterans of every era — the story of American freedom is the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Meet the Heroes

The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. — Samuel Adams, 1771

250 Years of Freedom

Explore American Heritage

American History

History in Color

Step into the past with colorized photographs spanning the Revolution through the 20th century — history made vivid.

Declaration of Independence

Founding Documents

The Declaration of Independence

Read the full text, learn about each signer, and explore the ideas that launched a nation — annotated and in context.

American Heroes

American Heroes

Patriots, soldiers, reformers, inventors, and leaders — the individuals who shaped 250 years of American life.

America in Song

America in Song

From "Yankee Doodle" to "Born in the U.S.A." — the songs that defined, celebrated, and challenged the American spirit across 250 years.

American Cinema

American Cinema

The films that captured and shaped the American character — wartime epics, tales of ordinary life, and stories of national reckoning.

Commemorative Stamps

Commemorative Stamps

American history told in miniature — a gallery of postage stamps documenting the people, places, and milestones of the nation since the 1870s.

Historic Sites

The battlefields, halls of government, monuments, and landmarks where the story of American freedom was written — across all 50 states.

State Spotlights

State Spotlights

Every state has its own chapter in the American story. Discover the Revolutionary connections, historic moments, and heritage of all 50 states.

Visit History in Person

America’s great history museums bring the past to life — from Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello to the National WWII Museum and the Museum of the American Revolution.

History Museums Historic Sites