As America marked its 250th birthday, you likely heard plenty about the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers, and the birth of a nation. But what was everyday life like for ordinary Americans? 

Throughout the week, we explored what the country looked, sounded, tasted, and felt like in 1776 — a world very different from our own. In case you missed our special anniversary series, here’s a look back at what life was really like in the year the United States was born. 

What Americans Ate in 1776 

In 1776, the newly declared independent United States didn’t have a national cuisine. In fact, it barely had a national identity. What Americans did have was a diet shaped by a remarkable mix of influences.

How Americans Dressed in 1776 

The year 1776 was one of the most consequential in American history, marking the birth of a new nation. Yet amid the debates and battles, everyday life continued — and with it, the business of deciding what to wear. 

Why America Doesn’t Use the Metric System

America’s relationship with measurement is not exactly as straight as a ruler — indeed, the current measurement mix is far from metric-free. So how did we get here?

Did Colonial Americans Sound British? 

Did the likes of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Abigail Adams sound like King George III, William Wordsworth, and Jane Austen?

What America Looked Like in 1776, in 5 Images 

These centuries-old images provide a visual record that helps bring the world of 1776 into focus, painting a picture of city streets, family kitchens, Indigenous diplomacy, and a society on the cusp of becoming something entirely new.

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