Spirit of ’76

Congress Celebrates the Nation

“The Declaration of Independence is the Polaris of our political order – the fixed star of freedom. It is impervious to change because it states moral truths that are eternal.”
-President Gerald Ford, 1976

Opening February 2026

Next year the United States marks its Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. On July 4, 1776, American colonists adopted the Declaration of Independence, marking the Fourth of July as the birth of the United States as an independent nation.

Coming in 2026, join us to explore how Congress and the nation have commemorated the Declaration of Independence.

“The Spirit of ’76” highlights how Congress and the nation observed previous milestone anniversaries of American independence. From world’s fairs to federal holidays, Congress has celebrated these national birthdays in a variety of ways. Original artifacts include:

Memorabilia from the 1824 visit of the Marquis de Lafayette, “The Nation’s Guest” and the last surviving general from the Revolutionary War
The Centennial Safe—a time capsule created at the 1876 Centennial Exposition and opened in the Capitol at the Bicentennial in 1976
The Declaration of the Rights of Women written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1876
“Buy-centennial” souvenirs—red, white, and blue products from the Bicentennial in 1976