Break out the BBQ and unfurl your flags, Independence Day is here! Founding Father John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that he believed the holiday would be celebrated with parades, sports, shows, and illuminations. After 247 years, Americans are keeping those traditions alive, though not on the date that Adams anticipated. The Second Continental Congress voted to approve the independence of the United States of America on July 2, 1776, but formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4. That date, enshrined on the Declaration document, became the one we observe today. If you"re looking for a grand way to celebrate, journey to New York City for views of their annual fireworks show and the Empire State Building lit up to match in red, white, and blue.
Happy Independence Day!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Midnight sun
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Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California
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Ruins of St. Dwynwens Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales
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National Bird Day
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Venture into a prehistoric gallery of art
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A fortress in the sky
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World Book Day
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On a Healing Field for Veterans Day
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North Cascades National Park at 50
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Welcome to the Hoh
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Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
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Manatee Awareness Month
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Christmas market at Belvedere Palace in Vienna
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Too awesome to be a planet
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Row, row, row your gondola
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Celebrating the Acadians
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Tour de France begins
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Sequoia National Parks 134th anniversary
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Beavers Bend
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International Museum Day
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Colorful houses of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Alpine marmots at Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
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World Childrens Day
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By the light of the fireflies
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Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
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A national icon
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Let s run em up!
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World Octopus Day
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South Padre Island, Texas
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Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

