How long ago
Time since July 4, 1776
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. Measure the nation’s age in years/months/days and connect to modern July 4 countdowns.
Time elapsed
…
Anchor date: Thursday, July 4, 1776
Declaration of Independence was 250 years, 0 months, and 29 days ago (91,339 total days) as of today — anchor Thursday, July 4, 1776.
Quick facts
- Date
- July 4, 1776
- City
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Primary author
- Thomas Jefferson (committee draft)
- Signing
- Most signatures followed later that summer
- National holiday today
- Independence Day (July 4)
How we calculate
Elapsed time is the difference between now and the anchor date below, broken into calendar years, months, and days, plus a live hours/minutes/seconds clock.
Anchor ISO: 1776-07-04 · day-level anchors use a noon local interpretation to avoid DST edge flips.
Timeline
- 1775 Revolutionary War fighting begins.
- 1776-07-04 Declaration adopted.
- 1783 Treaty of Paris ends the war.
- 1788–1789 Constitution ratified; new federal government begins.
Related dates
Places on US5
Tools & time
FAQ
Was everything signed on July 4?
Adoption is dated July 4, 1776. Many delegates signed the engrossed parchment later. Popular memory still treats July 4 as Independence Day.
How old is the United States?
This clock measures from July 4, 1776. For “days until next July 4,” use the Independence Day countdown page.
Where can I visit related sites?
Independence Hall is in Philadelphia. Open Pennsylvania and Philadelphia-area pages on US5 for ZIP and city navigation.
How does this relate to Thanksgiving countdown?
Both are civic calendar anchors. Past events live under How long ago; recurring holidays live under Countdown.