50 Fun 4th of July Facts We Bet You Didn't Know
Share this fun Independence Day trivia at your upcoming holiday BBQ.
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Most people in America are familiar with the concept of eating hot dogs and potato salad on the 4th of July in addition to wearing red, white and blue clothes and accessories to show their patriotism. And we can't forget to mention the firework displays both locally and nationally — we're looking at you, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show.
That said, there is a lot more to this national holiday than delicious food and entertainment although those are some of the best parts. There's actually quite a good amount of 4th of July trivia and history pertinent to this special day that people have been celebrating since the late 1700s which is not very well known.
Ahead, we've gathered some information about the 4th of July from its history to current-day celebrations that you might find fascinating and can even use to quiz your family members and friends at those outdoor barbecues and pool parties.
The first public 4th of July event at the White House took place in 1801.
Thomas Jefferson was president, and, according to the White House Association, the day was filled with music, food and even horse racing.
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Francis Hopkins designed the American flag.
Or, more specifically, he claimed his did, but this claim has not been officially verified with evidence.
When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, few colonists wanted complete independence from Great Britain.
Those who did were viewed as radicals.
It was Dwight D. Eisenhower who added "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.
The change happened in 1954, according to the Reagan Foundation.
Federal regulations specify that an American flag can only be flown from sunrise to sunset…
And technically, you're not supposed to wear American flags, either.
The flag code states that "the flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery."
You can always catch a ball game on the 4th of July.
And this year, all 30 MLB teams will play on Independence Day.
The population of the U.S. was about 2.5 million in 1776.
Compare that population with about 340 million Americans today.
The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was just 26 years old.
It was Edward Rutledge, who is a Founding Father and former governor of South Carolina.
Fireworks are a huge business...
...to the tune of about $600 million in fireworks imports to the U.S. each year.
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In the early years of the republic, Independence Day was commemorated with speeches, parades, and other festivities.
These events gave rise to the federal political party system, with formalized venues and occasions for leaders and constituents to discuss issues.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first of the American Revolution.
These confirmed the majority of the colonists' alienation from England and set the stage for the colonies' guerrilla warfare defense against the British.
The Seige of Yorktown ended military operations in the American Revolution.
This joint France-America effort trapped a major British army on a peninsula at Yorktown, Virginia, forcing it to surrender.
The Safe and Sane 4th of July movement came about in the late 19th and early 20th century.
It was a response to the heavy drinking and injuries that had risen along with the holiday traditions.
Americans spend close to $10 billion on 4th of July food...
...according to WalletHub.
The Star Spangled Banner became the national anthem in 1931.
President Herbert Hoover signed the congressional resolution making it so.
About 50 million Americans travel more than 50 miles from home...
...during the holiday weekend, according to WalletHub data from 2023. That's a new record.
The oldest continuously running 4th of July parade is in Bristol, Rhode Island.
It dates all the way back to 1785, according to the town's site.
But the longest one is in Alameda, California.
According to the town's website, the route spans 3.3 miles. It takes folks about two hours to complete.
Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs per year.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY, and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
Yaa Bofah is an editorial fellow at Good Housekeeping. She is a freelance illustrator and created original cover art for The Fashion Bomb Daily’s first e-book series. She enjoys supporting philanthropic endeavors and being an advocate for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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