The Fourth of July is about all things American: parades, cookouts, cold beer and, of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making. Massive fireworks lit up the skyline of multiple American cities, marking festivities across the country.

Did you catch the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular? Here’s a view of the fireworks as they ignited the sky over the Charles River on July Fourth.

Fireworks to celebrate Independence Day are seen inside the stadium before a quarterfinal match of the FIFA Club World Cup between Chelsea and Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field

July 4, also known as Independence Day, marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the 13 North American colonies officially separated from Great Britain. As the Fourth of July draws nearer, here's a brief rundown of what happened that day in 1776, approximately 249 years ago.

How old is America in 2025? Here's what to know about United States Independence Day and the meaning behind Fourth of July.