US Independence Day 2023 highlights: Elon Musk sends a 'ROCKETY' wish

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which declared the thirteen American colonies as a new nation, the United States of America, free from British control. This declaration marked a pivotal moment in the American Revolutionary War and the birth of a new nation

Joey Chestnut won at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2023. He ate 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes!

New York Police Department has heightened security measures in New York ahead of Macy's fireworks to be held tonight.

Thousands of cops have been deployed in the city to monitor any security threats. Items like alcohol, backpacks, umbrellas and lounge chairs are prohibited at venues to watch the fireworks show.

“We will deploy plain clothes teams, heavy weapons teams, bomb squad response teams, drone detection and interdiction teams and radiation detection equipment,” said NYPD Chief of Counterterrorism Judy Harrison.

Manhattan:

1st Ave. & E. 42nd Street

1st Ave. & E. 34th Street

1st Ave. & E. 20th Street

Queens: Gantry Plaza State Park

Brooklyn:

Newtown Barge Park

Transmitter Park

Marsha P. Johnson State Park

On the occasion of Fourth of July, US cities will celebrate with drone shows and fireworks. In some cities, fireworks will be replaced by drone shows this year as the latter are less harmful to the environment.

Chicago

Guaranteed Rate Field is set to host fireworks. The lakefront fireworks will be also  available on July 5 in case you miss the event. The fireworks will be available over the lake every Wednesday at 9pm and every Saturday at 10pm till Labor Day.

Reason behind folding the National Flag of United States in the shape of a triangle

The National Flag of United States is folded in the shape of a triangle to replicate the iconic "tri-cornered" hat that soldiers wore in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and other documents were secretly stored at Fort Knox after the attack on Pearl Harbour during World War II

The attack on Pearl Harbour by Japan on December 7, 1941, during World War II, was a major event in US' history. While it raised grave questions about national security, Secret Service Agent Harry Neal was given the responsibility of moving "priceless historical documents" to a secure facility away from USA's capital Washington, D.C. In consultation with librarian Archibald MacLeish at the Library of Congress, Neal got important documents including The Declaration of Independence, transported to Fort Knox, which is near Louisville, Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, the Gutenberg Bible and the Articles of Confederation were also moved to Fort Knox. The Declaration of Independence was returned to Washington, D.C., in 1944.

Considered New York's most impressive pyrotechnic show, fireworks will happen in the East River centered around Midtown Manhattan between E. 26th and E. 40th Streets on Tuesday, July 4, beginning at 9:25pm. 

Over 60,000 shells (2,400 per minute) are expected to be launched off five different barges along the East River.

Bristol has been hosting the Fourth of July Parade for the longest time

Bristol, Rhode Island has been conducting Fourth of July Parade annually since 1785. It is considered to be the oldest annual 4th of July celebration to date.