From the Macy's and Liberty State Park fireworks, to the festivals, parties and parades in Hudson County, the Jersey shore and beyond, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate our nation's birthday.
It would be hard, however, to top the Fourth of July celebrations that occurred 40 years ago in honor of America's bicentennial. Baseball, as our national game, played a big part in those 1976 festivities.
War, assassinations, riots, civil rights protests, terrorism, economic woes, oil shortages, pollution and political scandals dominated the headlines from 1966-1975. By 1976, Americans were weary and looking for some relief.