In Photos: America Celebrates Independence Day

By Mariah Tyler
July 05, 2016
Photo by Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
On Monday, millions of Americans donned the red, white, and blue — along with some good old stars and stripes — to celebrate the 240th birthday of the United States.

Airports and train terminals were as crowded as the highways, as the masses rushed to celebrate the holiday, attending annual parades and family cookouts before gawking at that most patriotic tradition: fireworks.

From rural towns to big cities, Americans always end the festivities with rockets of red glare and sounds of bombs bursting in air. The country spends roughtly a billion dollars on fireworks every year — and it shows. Get a glimpse of Independence Day in the U.S. this year in these photos from around the country.
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Weekend Travelers at Penn Station in New York City

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Passengers gather near the departures board at Penn Station, July 1, 2016 in New York City. Officials from the American Automobile Association (AAA) are predicting 44 million people will travel by roads, airports, buses, and train this holiday weekend.

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New Yorkers Enjoy The Fourth Of July Weekend

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People row boats in Central Park on July 3, 2016 in New York City. The New York area experienced warm, summer weather for the holiday weekend.

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Fireworks Megastore Opens For The July 4th Holiday

Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A worker returns shopping carts outside of the Fireworks Supermarket store in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

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California - Huntington Beach Parade

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A marching band performs at the 112th Annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on July 4, 2016 in Huntington Beach, California.

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Mount Vernon Reenactment

Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post via Getty Images

A reenactor walks behind American flags during Fourth of July festivities at Georg Washington's Mount Vernon on Monday July 04, 2016 in Mount Vernon, VA.

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Bike Parade in Maryland

Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Kensongton, Maryland's patriotic themed bike parade led by a Kensington Volunteer Fire Department truck, where hundreds of locals took part in the 21st Annual Fourth of July Bike Parade through the streets of Kensington.

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New Yorkers Wait For Fireworks In The Rain

Photo by Volkan Furuncu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

People wait under the rain before the 40th annual Macy's 4th of July fireworks in New York City, on July 04, 2016. 4th of July celebrations mark the United States' 240th Independence Day.

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National Pride At The Parade

Photo by Tara Ziemba/Getty Images

A parade attendee carries a flag at the 112th Annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on July 4, 2016 in Huntington Beach, California.

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Patriotic Pony

Photo by Michael Reaves/The Denver Post via Getty Images

A patriotic horse is led through the seventh annual Park Hill Fourth of July Parade in Colorado on July 4, 2016.

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Pageantry Parade Float

Photo by Michael Reaves/The Denver Post via Getty Images

A woman on the Miss Colorado float waves to parade watchers during the seventh annual Park Hill Fourth of July Parade on July 4, 2016.

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Hot Dog Consumption

Andy Katz/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Contest MC George Shea hefts tray of hot dogs in buns in preparation of Nathan's Famous centennial contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.

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Sunset Bike Rides Down Santa Monica Pier

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Cyclists ride past a lit up Santa Monica pier in Santa Monica, California on June 30, 2016, as a Summer night falls on the last day of June ahead of the Fourth of July 4th holiday weekend across America.

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Capital Celebration Crowd

Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post via Getty Images

A crowd gathers to watch fireworks from POV at W Washington, DC Hotel during the annual Fourth of July celebration on Monday July 04, 2016 in Washington, DC.

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Celebrations in Chicago

Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Fireworks illuminate the sky over Navy Pier shores of Lake Michigan during 4th of July celebrations in Chicago on July 04, 2016.

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Fireworks Over Niagara Falls

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Fireworks set off from the Canadian side light up the sky over Niagara Falls late July 3, 2016, part of the July 4th Independence Day celebrations, in Niagara Falls, New York

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Denver Colorado Fireworks Display

Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Fourth of July fireworks explode over the City and County building during the Fourth of July celebrations at Civic Center Park on July 3, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.

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Boston Celebration Concert

Photo by Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

A girl cheers as confetti falls as the end of the Independence Day celebrations near the Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell along the Charles River Esplanade in Boston on July 4, 2016.

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By Mariah Tyler