The Fourth of July is fast approaching, and celebration plans are underway to include patriotic decoration, fireworks, concerts, barbecues, parades and of course - Old Glory! Here are a few fun facts you may want to share at your celebration + our Independence Day Spotify playlist...
Thirteen Fun Independence Day Facts
- Independence Day celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, not the signing of it. The initial signatures were made on July 2 and the remaining signatures were obtained on August 2.
- Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock’s signature is the largest among them. This is why "John Hancock" has, in the American lexicon, become synonymous with "signature."
- Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence when he was 33 years old. Only about 75% of the text from his draft made it to the final document.
- The first (public) Independence Day celebration at the White House was in 1801, during Jefferson's presidency.
- Independence Day was not observed as a Federal Holiday until 1870.
- The 4th of July became a paid holiday for federal employees in 1938 (and all of Washington D.C. in 1941).
BONUS FACT — On the back of the American two-dollar bill is a portion of John Trumbill's painting, Declaration of Independence. The painting is commonly misconstrued as the signing of the Declaration of Independence when, in fact, it is actually a depiction of the drafting committee presenting the Declaration of Independence to Congress.
 John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence |
 Backside of American Two-Dollar Bill |
- Since Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with such excitement, other countries, such as Denmark, Sweden, and Portugal also celebrate our Independence Day to attract American tourists.
- According to legend at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, four Americans decided to settle a dispute over who was the most patriotic with a hot dog eating contest. That contest of legend is the inspiration for the popular annual contests that take place around Independence Day each year. Today, the Coney Island hot dog eating contest is one of the most well-known eating competitions.
- According to recent estimates, hot dog consumption in the U.S. around the 4th of July has surpassed 150,000,000.
- Calvin Coolidge is the only American President born on the Fourth of July. Every year, his hometown of Plymouth, Vermont holds a birthday celebration in his honor.
- Three former U.S. Presidents have died on July 4th. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day in 1826. James Monroe died in 1831.
- On July 8, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud publicly for the first time in Philadelphia; the audience was summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.
- Every Independence Day, descendants of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence gather in Philadelphia for a ceremony wherein they tap the Liberty Bell 13 times (in honor of the original 13 colonies). The Liberty Bell hasn’t been truly rung since Washington's birthday in February of 1846 in order to keep from worsening the crack in the bell.
- The first firework display in celebration of Independence Day took place in Philadelphia in 1777. This night also featured bonfires and public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Since then, the number of fireworks displays across the country has grown to more than 15,000!
New York City's fireworks display has been the crown jewel of them all for many years - launching more that 50,000 pounds of fireworks from barges in either the Hudson River or the East River.
Nashville has been making strides in recent years to match or surpass that feat, already crossing the 40,000 pound threshold. Keep an eye out here -- each year we share the top fireworks shows in a separate article...
Of course, one of the best ways to celebrate the Fourth of July is by displaying Patriotic Decorations and proudly flying your American Flag. Get Independence Day ready by checking out Liberty Flags’ great selection of decorations and American-Made American Flags from hand-held to giant-sized.
Looking for Patriotic Music?
Check out our Independence Day Spotify playlist!
Independence Day and the Evolution of Fireworks
Ever wonder how fireworks became such an integral part of our Independence Day festivities?
We may have the answer...
Share Your Celebration!
Send us your pictures of Independence Day decor, American flags, flagpoles, ropes, or other accessories! We would be honored to feature your photography in our blog or on Facebook. Remember, photos of damaged flags and accessories are valuable, too.
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Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.
