banner celebrating Americas 250th birthday

America is turning 250 — and there’s no better place to celebrate than the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Join us in honoring this once-in-a-generation milestone with parades, fireworks, concerts, historic reenactments, and community events across Biloxi, Gulfport, Ocean Springs, and beyond. From now through July 4, 2026, this page will serve as your central hub for all local Semiquincentennial celebrations. The 250th Anniversary of the birth of our nation is an event to be celebrated.


Bookmark this page and check back often as we continue to update it with new events and ways to participate in the 250th birthday of the United States — right here on the coast.

Check out our FAQ’s at the end of this page, including: Which member of the Continental Congress refused to sign the Declaration of Independence?

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Countdown To July 4, 2026

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What is the U.S. Semiquincentennial — and Why It Matters

🇺🇸 Quick History: What Happened on July 4, 1776?

On July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, officially declaring freedom from British rule. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the document boldly stated that all people are created equal and have unalienable rights — among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This act of unity sparked the birth of a new nation: the United States of America. While independence had been brewing for years, July 4th became the symbolic moment when America stood on its own, setting the foundation for democracy, self-governance, and civil liberties.

Now, years later, we honor the 250th anniversary of that bold step with nationwide celebrations — and here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we mark the occasion with pride, patriotism, and community spirit.

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What happened on July 4, 1776

Mississippi Gulf Coast 250th Birthday Events

(Events and activities will be added as they are developed)

🎉 Parades
Join Independence Day parades featuring marching bands, veterans, and community pride across:
  • Moss Point
  • Pascagoula
  • Gautier
  • Ocean Springs
  • Biloxi
  • D’Iberville
  • Gulfport
  • Long Beach
  • Diamondhead
  • Pass Christian
  • Bay St. Louis
  • Waveland
🎆 Fireworks
Fireworks displays will light up the skies in the following cities:
  • Moss Point
  • Pascagoula
  • Gautier
  • Ocean Springs
  • Biloxi
  • D’Iberville
  • Gulfport
  • Long Beach
  • Diamondhead
  • Pass Christian
  • Bay St. Louis
  • Waveland
🎵 Music Festivals
Live performances and patriotic music festivals are planned in:
  • Moss Point
  • Pascagoula
  • Gautier
  • Ocean Springs
  • Biloxi
  • D’Iberville
  • Gulfport
  • Long Beach
  • Diamondhead
  • Pass Christian
  • Bay St. Louis
  • Waveland
📜 Historical Reenactments
Step back in time with reenactments and heritage events held in:
  • Moss Point
  • Pascagoula
  • Gautier
  • Ocean Springs
  • Biloxi
  • D’Iberville
  • Gulfport
  • Long Beach
  • Diamondhead
  • Pass Christian
  • Bay St. Louis
  • Waveland
🎖️ Military Tributes
Military honors and patriotic ceremonies will take place across:
  • Moss Point
  • Pascagoula
  • Gautier
  • Ocean Springs
  • Biloxi
  • D’Iberville
  • Gulfport
  • Long Beach
  • Diamondhead
  • Pass Christian
  • Bay St. Louis
  • Waveland

“How Britain First Heard the News”

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/11690/page/1/data.pdf

National 250th Birthday Events

🇺🇸 National Birthday Events
As part of America’s 250th anniversary, national-level events will take place across the country, many of which will be broadcast or streamed online. While the Mississippi Gulf Coast will have its own local festivities, we’ll also be tuning in and participating in several major national programs. Highlights include:
  • National Commemorative Ceremony: A live event in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, at Independence Hall.
  • America 250 Parade: A televised national parade celebrating U.S. history, innovation, and diversity.
  • Presidential Address: The President of the United States will deliver a message marking the Semiquincentennial.
  • U.S. Navy and Air Force Salutes: Flyovers, ship displays, and ceremonial honors in select cities.
  • National Bell Ringing Ceremony: Citizens across the country will ring bells at the exact hour independence was declared.
  • Streaming & Broadcasts: PBS, C-SPAN, and other platforms will feature documentaries, concerts, and historic reenactments.

We’ll post times, links, and how to watch as national events are confirmed. Bookmark this page and stay informed!

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Travel Tips

✈️ Travel Tips for the 250th Anniversary Celebration on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

If you’re planning to visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the 250th birthday of the United States on July 4, 2026, you’ll be joining thousands of travelers celebrating this historic milestone. Here’s how to plan ahead for a smooth and unforgettable trip.


🏨 Book Your Mississippi Gulf Coast Accommodations Early

July is the busiest month of the year for travel to the Mississippi Gulf Coast — and with America’s 250th Anniversary drawing even more visitors, hotels and motels are expected to fill up quickly. We strongly recommend booking your accommodations early to ensure availability and the best rates.


🏠 Top Tip: Consider a Gulf Coast Vacation Rental

Vacation rental homes are a popular option for families and groups attending July 4th events on the Gulf Coast. Many rentals are located near the beach and offer full kitchens, BBQ areas, and plenty of space — ideal for celebrating together.
👉 For trusted and locally managed properties, visit ChristiesGulfBeachRentals.com to explore beachfront vacation rentals in Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, and surrounding areas.


🚗 How to Get to the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Travelers can reach the Coast by car via Interstate 10, which runs east-west through the region. If you’re flying, the most convenient airports are:

  • Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) – just minutes from local beaches
  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) – approx. 1.5 hours away

Both offer easy access for those attending the 250th anniversary events in South Mississippi.


🍤 Enjoy the Local Cuisine

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is known for its unforgettable food. While you’re here, enjoy the best of Southern, Cajun, and Creole cuisine — including freshly caught Gulf shrimp, oysters, and blue crab. You’ll find dozens of locally owned restaurants across Biloxi, Gulfport, Ocean Springs, and Bay St. Louis.
Staying in a vacation rental? Pick up fresh seafood from a local market and grill out in the backyard or cook indoors — a great way to relax and enjoy a taste of the Coast with family and friends.

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Historical Highlights

🕰️ Historical Highlights: Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1776

While the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was not part of the 13 original colonies — it was under British control as part of the territory known as British West Florida.

Life on the Coast at that time was likely quiet and routine. The people living here — a mix of Native American communities, settlers speaking Spanish, French, and English — were more focused on fishing, hunting, and survival than on political upheaval occurring far to the north. The news of American independence may have taken weeks or even months to arrive, and for most, it would have seemed distant and irrelevant. They remained loyal British subjects under a different colonial system.

However, the Revolutionary War’s ripple effects eventually reached the region. A small number of veterans who fought for American independence would later migrate to Mississippi, bringing with them stories and influence that contributed to the shaping of the state’s early identity.

This unique historical context is part of what makes the Mississippi Gulf Coast a distinct and meaningful place to reflect on the nation’s 250-year journey — from frontier outpost to proud part of the United States

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25,000 lost their lives during the fight for Independence

🇺🇸 How Many Soldiers Lost Their Lives Fighting for the U.S. in the Revolutionary War?

Estimates vary, but here are the widely accepted figures for American military deaths during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783):


⚰️ Total Estimated U.S. Military Deaths: ~25,000

🔹 Combat Deaths:

Approximately 6,800 American soldiers were killed in battle.

🔹 Non-Combat Deaths (mostly disease):

Roughly 17,000–18,000 soldiers died from disease, starvation, and exposure — most commonly from smallpox, dysentery, and typhoid.

💡 Disease claimed nearly three times as many American lives as combat did.


🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Total American Casualties (Killed, Wounded, Missing):

  • Killed: ~25,000
  • Wounded: ~8,500
  • Missing/Captured: ~10,000–12,000

📌 Perspective:

  • The American population at the time was just 2.5 million, so around 1 in every 100 Americans died fighting for independence.
  • These sacrifices occurred over 8 years of war, from Lexington and Concord (1775) to the Treaty of Paris (1783).
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This will be a spectacular celebration

🏛️ Planning America’s 250th Anniversary

The 250th anniversary of the United States — also known as the Semiquincentennial — is more than just a celebration. It’s a national effort, planned years in advance with contributions from public and private partners across the country.

🇺🇸 Task Force 250

In 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13958, creating a White House task force known as “Task Force 250” to coordinate a grand, nationwide celebration of the United States’ founding. The initiative aimed to engage federal departments, state governments, and civic organizations to highlight the country’s heritage, patriotism, and founding principles.
Task Force 250 was designed to ensure that July 4, 2026, would be recognized as a major historic milestone — on the scale of the Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

🏛️ America250 – The Official Planning Organization

In parallel with federal efforts, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission established America250, a nonprofit organization tasked with planning and promoting programs, partnerships, and celebrations for the 250th anniversary.
Authorized by Congress in 2016, America250 is working with all 50 states and U.S. territories to create:

  • Local and national events
  • Educational programs
  • Historical preservation projects
  • Marketing campaigns that inspire national unity and civic pride

Visit America250.org to explore national initiatives and find ways to get involved.

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🖋️ Signers of the Declaration of Independence

There were 56 delegates who ultimately signed the document. Here’s how it breaks down:


📅 When Was the Declaration Signed?

  • July 4, 1776:
    The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration, but only John Hancock (President of the Congress) and Charles Thomson (Secretary) likely signed a draft that day.
  • August 2, 1776:
    Most of the 56 signers signed the official parchment copy on this date.
  • Later Dates (1776–1781):
    A few signed even later due to being elected after August or returning from duties.

🧾 List of the 56 Signers by State

🗽 Delaware

  • George Read
  • Caesar Rodney
  • Thomas McKean (signed later, probably in 1781)

 Pennsylvania

  • George Clymer
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Robert Morris
  • John Morton
  • Benjamin Rush
  • James Smith
  • George Taylor
  • James Wilson
  • George Ross

🗽 Massachusetts

  • John Hancock

 New Hampshire

  • Josiah Bartlett
  • William Whipple
  • Matthew Thornton (signed later, in November 1776)

🗽 Rhode Island

  • Stephen Hopkins
  • William Ellery

 New York

  • William Floyd
  • Philip Livingston
  • Francis Lewis
  • Lewis Morris

🗽 New Jersey

  • Richard Stockton
  • John Witherspoon
  • Francis Hopkinson
  • John Hart
  • Abraham Clark

 Virginia

  • George Wythe
  • Richard Henry Lee (absent on August 2; signed later)
  • Thomas Jefferson
  • Benjamin Harrison
  • Thomas Nelson, Jr.
  • Francis Lightfoot Lee
  • Carter Braxton

🗽 North Carolina

  • William Hooper
  • Joseph Hewes
  • John Penn

 South Carolina

  • Edward Rutledge
  • Thomas Heyward, Jr.
  • Thomas Lynch, Jr.
  • Arthur Middleton

🗽 Georgia

  • Button Gwinnett
  • Lyman Hall
  • George Walton

Maryland

  • Samuel Chase
  • William Paca
  • Thomas Stone
  • Charles Carroll of Carrollton

❌ Who Didn’t Sign the Declaration (but were part of the process)?

  • John Dickinson (Pennsylvania):
    Opposed independence and abstained. He refused to sign but remained a respected patriot.
  • Robert R. Livingston (New York):
    Was part of the drafting committee (alongside Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Sherman), but was called away before signing.
  • Charles Thomson (Secretary of Congress):
    He attested and helped prepare the document, but did not sign it.
  • Others: Some delegates arrived later or had resigned before the signing occurred, so they weren’t listed as signers even if they supported the resolution.
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Declaration of Independence

An original signed document resides at the National Archives. The copy below is made from a stone engraving, it’s an exact replica of the original.

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🔥 Key Dates Leading Up to and Around July 4, 1776

DateEventSignificance
March 5, 1770Boston MassacreBritish soldiers killed five colonists, fueling anti-British sentiment.
December 16, 1773Boston Tea PartyColonists protested British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor.
September 5 – October 26, 1774First Continental CongressColonies united to discuss British oppression.
April 19, 1775Battles of Lexington and ConcordFirst military engagements of the Revolutionary War.
May 10, 1775The Articles of Confederation were adoptedBegins to act as a national government.
June 14, 1775Continental Army establishedGeorge Washington is named Commander-in-Chief.
July 6, 1775Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up ArmsExplained why colonies had taken up arms.
January 10, 1776The Articles of Confederation were adoptedInfluenced public opinion toward independence.
June 7, 1776Lee Resolution introducedRichard Henry Lee formally proposes independence.
June 11–28, 1776Drafting of the Declaration of IndependenceFinal wording approved, marking the official birth of the U.S.
July 2, 1776The Continental Congress votes for independenceThis was the actual vote to separate from Britain.
July 4, 1776The Articles of Confederation adoptedThe majority of signers put pen to parchment.
July 8, 1776First public reading of the DeclarationProclaimed in Philadelphia’s Independence Square.
August 2, 1776Most delegates sign the DeclarationFirst U.S. Constitution; ratified in 1781.
November 15, 1777Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and others drafted the document.The Second Continental Congress convenes
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FAQ

1. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?
A total of 56 delegates from the 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence.
2. Did all members of the Continental Congress sign the Declaration?
No. Not all members signed. Some were absent, others opposed it, or resigned before the final parchment copy was ready.
3. Which member of Congress refused to sign the Declaration?
John Dickinson of Pennsylvania refused to sign. He believed independence was premature but remained active in the war effort.
4. What date was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
The Declaration was officially adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776.
5. What date did most signers actually sign the document?
Most of the 56 signers signed the official parchment on August 2, 1776.
6. What date did the last signer add his name?
Thomas McKean likely signed as late as 1781 due to delays in representation and military service.
7. Who was the first to sign the Declaration?
John Hancock was the first to sign. His large, bold signature became a lasting symbol of American independence.
8. Were any signers captured or killed by the British?
None were killed for signing, but some like Richard Stockton and Thomas Heyward Jr. were captured and imprisoned. Many lost property and faced persecution.
9. Did any signers move to England after the war?
No signer is known to have renounced their support or moved to England permanently, though some had Loyalist family who did.
10. Who was the oldest signer?
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 70 years old.
11. Who was the youngest signer?
Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest, signing at age 26.
12. Which signer lived the longest?
Charles Carroll of Carrollton lived to be 95 years old and was the last surviving signer, passing in 1832.
13. Were all 13 colonies represented by signers?
Yes. Each of the 13 original colonies had at least one delegate who signed the Declaration.
14. Did any signers later serve as President?
Yes. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers, later became Presidents of the United States.
15. Where is the original Declaration of Independence kept today?
It is preserved at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., inside the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
16. Did people celebrate July 4 or July 8? Which is actually the birthdate of the United States?
The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776 — now celebrated as America’s birthday. However, the first public reading and celebration occurred on July 8. July 4 has since remained the nation’s official Independence Day.

Visit our July 4, 2025, Article about events this year on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Click the button below:

Click on our “Authoritative Sources” list below to see where we received our information, and click on websites you wish to explore. Be sure to return to RetireCoast.

📚 Authoritative Sources Used by RetireCoast

As we prepare for America’s 250th birthday, it’s important to rely on authoritative sources that provide historically accurate, thoughtfully curated information about our nation’s founding. At RetireCoast, we regularly consult official agencies and national institutions to uncover nuggets of historical insight that we believe will both educate and inspire our readers.

We begin with America250.org, the official site of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which offers a wealth of information about events and participation across the country. The Mississippi Semiquincentennial Commission is coordinating events statewide, including along the Gulf Coast.

The National Park Service showcases Revolutionary War-era sites and interpretive programming. The National Archives houses the original Declaration of Independence. The Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institution provide exhibits, manuscripts, and educational content under their “America at 250” initiatives.

Locally, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) offers valuable context on the Gulf Coast’s place in early American and British colonial history — helping us connect national milestones to local stories. The National Constitution Center and U.S. Army Band provide civic education and patriotic performances for the Semiquincentennial.

These trusted sources enrich everything we publish on RetireCoast. Whether we’re tracing the life of a founding father or highlighting reenactments across Mississippi towns, we aim to give our readers well-grounded insights into America’s 250th anniversary and the journey of American independence.