On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, proclaiming that the thirteen American colonies were now united, free, and independent states.
Since our founding almost 177 years ago, the Smithsonian has proudly served the United States as a place to learn from our past, explore our present, and shape our future — and there are thousands of objects in the Smithsonian collections that help tell the story of America’s independence!
More than $2.5 million in grants has been awarded to fund projects ranging from exposing little kids to nature, the link between movement and emotional wellbeing and building a robotic telescope. Continue reading 2025 Together we Thrive
