The year was 1976. Gerald Ford was president, the American population stood at 218 million (compared with 342 million today), and the United States was locked in the Cold War with the Soviet Union. That year, the U.S. celebrated its bicentennial: the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A wave of patriotism swept across the nation as Americans took part in tens of thousands of events. The festivities included picnics, parades, concerts, reenactments, and even a wagon train, in which volunteers from every state traveled over historic trails in covered wagons. This photo shows the Fourth of July parade in Washington, D.C., which honored the prior two centuries and looked to the future. “The American adventure is a continuing process,” President Ford said during his remarks. “As one milestone is passed, another is sighted.” Now, half a century later, the U.S. is gearing up to observe its 250th birthday. How do you think the 2026 celebrations will compare?