250th Anniversary of the United States
LA County celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States. Access information and resources from county departments below.
Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures
The Department Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures unveiled a U.S. Semiquincentennial seal, pictured below, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. A limited number of seals have been produced and will be placed on commercial scales and fuel pumps that have passed inspection. They will be used instead of our regular seals for this year only.
The commemorative seal, designed by Deputy Director Khoa Lam,
celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
The new seals retain the distinctive yellow background, light blue center, and the markings of our existing seal. But the anniversary seals have the following differences:
- A bold red border
- A smaller blue border with
- Six stars on the left side and seven stars on the right side – the stars are a tribute to the original 13 colonies of the United States of America.
- The phrase “U.S. Semiquincentennial” at the top of the border.
- The phrase “250th Anniversary – 1776 to 2026” at the bottom of the border.
The seals mark a vital role that our Department and programs have in Los Angeles County and in American society: honesty, accuracy, fairness, and integrity.
Around the time of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, the enforcement of weights and measures played a vital role in the American struggle for self-government. While the Declaration is remembered for its soaring language about liberty and natural rights, everyday economic fairness—grounded in honest measurement—was a practical foundation of those ideals.
In the colonial era, weights and measures governed nearly every transaction. Farmers sold grain by the bushel, merchants traded cloth by the yard, and goods were taxed by weight or volume. There is an implied faith that the goods are exchanged on a uniform scale or measurement regardless of the seller, buyer, location, or product. When standards were inconsistent or poorly enforced, ordinary people bore the cost. British imperial administration allowed wide variation in measures across colonies and ports, enabling fraud, favoritism, and arbitrary taxation. These practices fed colonial resentment, as they symbolized a distant authority manipulating local commerce without accountability.
Local enforcement of fair measures became an expression of self-rule. Colonial assemblies and town governments appointed inspectors to verify scales, weights, and measures, protecting consumers and honest traders alike. This enforcement was more than technical; it reflected a belief that government and the rule of law existed to secure fairness in daily life. Economic justice, in this sense, was inseparable from political liberty.
The importance of standardized measurement also shaped the new nation after independence. The founders understood that a republic had to function differently than a monarchy, where the arbitrary decisions of one person affected everyone. A just society with a fair system of commerce could not function with fragmented or corrupt systems of trade. The U.S. Constitution later explicitly granted Congress the power “to fix the Standard of Weights and Measures.” Uniform enforcement would promote trust across states, enable interstate commerce, and prevent the abuses that colonists associated with imperial rule.
Thus, during the era of independence, weights and measures enforcement mattered because it translated revolutionary ideals into lived reality. Fair measurement upheld equality as the law, restrained abuses of power, and helped transform independence from a declaration on paper into a functioning, just society. Here at ACWM, we honor the Semiquincentennial by creating a commemorative seal which will used on commercial scales and fuel pumps after they have passed inspection.
Arts and Culture
July 4th Benefit Show at the LA Memorial Coliseum | July 4, 2026 – Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in Los Angeles with Chris Stapleton and The Smashing Pumpkins in “America’s Block Party benefiting Giving 4th,” hosted by Queen Latifah — live at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Learn more here.
The Department of Arts and Culture features select programs and events exploring 250th Anniversary of the United States
Autry Museum | America 250: The View From Here | Autry Museum of the American West (Exhibition) May 30, 2026 – January 31, 2027 | Explore the meanings behind some of the most powerful words in the Declaration of Independence from the Autry’s signature perspective: “The View From Here.” Los Angeles, from its beginnings, has been a place of competing claims to life, liberty, and happiness. This exhibition shares the stories of diverse Angelenos and how their ideas of life, liberty, and happiness inspired the city’s growth and amplified the opportunities and contradictions expressed in the nation’s founding principles. Historical and contemporary objects, media, and art combine with community collaborations to bring this history to life. Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles invites you to step into a conversation that has been shaping Los Angeles for more than two hundred years and to see the United States—its past and its future—in a new way.
Skirball | Tank and the Bangas: Live at the Skirball | Skirball Cultural Center | Thursday, July 2, 2026 Kick off Fourth of July festivities with the electrifying sounds of New Orleans collective Tank and the Bangas, making their Skirball debut. DJ set by Tosstones.
Patriotic crafts at LA County Acton-Agua Dulce Library | Happy 250th Birthday USA – LA County Library
The Huntington | “THIS LAND IS…” (Exhibition) June 14, 2026–Jan. 11, 2027 huntington.org/this-land-is | In dialogue with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibition brings together diverse perspectives on the relationship between nature and nation, and how the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are intertwined with place.
Rare archives at USC for 250th | Rare national archives are on public display at USC for America’s 250th anniversary – Los Angeles Times
Port of Los Angeles – Cars and Stripes Forever | Friday, June 26, 2026 Free, family-friendly, and open to all ages, this classic car show takes place in a NEW location in front of Battleship USS IOWA at 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro. https://portoflosangeles.org/community/events/cars-and-stripes-forever
Visit the Battleship IOWA at the San Pedro Waterfront | Experience Surface Navy Life of a Sailor aboard Battleship IOWA and discover your Maritime connection as they celebrate America’s 250th birthday! https://pacificbattleship.com/
We The People: An exhibit at the intersection of art, memory, and movement. We The People — An Art Exhibition | Los Angeles, July 2–19, 2026
Produced by Community Coalition and Sankofa.org.
We The People is an exhibit that centers the voices, stories, and creative expressions of the people who have too often been left out of the American narrative. As we approach the 250th anniversary of this nation, we ask, who gets to tell the story of America?
This exhibit explores the past, present, and future of our democracy through the lens of grassroots organizing, art, culture, and community power. From South Los Angeles to movements across the country, We The People reminds us that history is not only written by those in power. It is shaped every day by ordinary people fighting for justice, dignity, and freedom.
Join us from July 2-19 as we reclaim our stories and reimagine our future together.
Thu & Fri 1pm–9pm · Sat 11am–9pm · Sun 11am–7pm · Closed Sat July 4th
5955 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047
Beaches and Harbors
Marina del Rey Fourth of July Fireworks Show – The 4th of July Fireworks Show returns to Marina del Rey! Celebrate the holiday with a 20-minute fireworks display over the water starting at 9 PM. For more info (FAQ, parking, street closures, etc.), visit beaches.lacounty.gov/4thofjuly.
Board of Supervisors – Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell
This Fourth of July weekend, LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell is bringing the magic of the World Cup to South LA by providing an unmatched experience. Join neighbors and visitors from across the globe at LA County Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park for a two-day FREE World Cup watch party that includes live music, food trucks, a community marketplace, resources, and fun activities for the whole family. Whether you’re a die-hard soccer fan or just want to enjoy an exciting day at the park, this is the place to be on match day.
South LA embodies the heart, hustle, and love of the unifying game of soccer. This event is a celebration of that spirit, the diverse cultures, the community, and the people who make our unincorporated Willowbrook neighborhood one of the most vibrant in Los Angeles. Soak in the energy of the most-watched sporting event on the planet, right in the heart of South Los Angeles!
For more information and to get tickets, click here.
Gloria Molina Grand Park
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party – The biggest free Fourth of July celebration on the West Coast is back! Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party is taking over DTLA right here in our own backyard. The weather will be perfect, and the neighborhood will be outside. This is how we do summer in L.A.!
LA County Fire Department
Fireworks Safety: The County of Los Angeles Fire Department encourages families to attend a public fireworks show conducted by State-licensed pyrotechnicians.
For fireworks safety tips and a listing of professional fireworks shows across Los Angeles County, please click here.
LA County Library
Explore LA County Library’s curated booklists, library programs, and digital resources to local and national histories, engage in meaningful conversations, and imagine the future we hope to build for generations to come.