Happy Birthday USA!

Happy Birthday USA!

Star-Spangled Banner, by Dane Penland, 1983, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 83-7221.

Star-Spangled Banner in West Wing of Smithsonian Institution Building, 1914, Record Unit 95, Box 31A, Folder: 25, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. MAH-27462.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8171-26.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8180-15.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8181-30A.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8212-32.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8216-11.

John Rusk as the National Museum of American History's Uncle Sam during their July 4th activities, by Richard K. Hofmeister, 1977, Record Unit 371, Box 2, Folder: August 1977, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 77-8840-17A.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8216-22.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8218-20.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8330-05.

Bicentennial Celebration, 1976, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 76-8330-14.

Fireworks over Castle for the 150th Smithsonian Institution Birthday Celebration, by Beth Lasko, 1996, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 96-25560.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. . .

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 (Courtesy of the National Archives)

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