July 4, also known as Independence Day, marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the 13 North American colonies officially separated from Great Britain. As the Fourth of July draws nearer, here's a brief rundown of what happened that day in 1776, approximately 249 years ago.

The Fourth of July holiday, also known as Independence Day, celebrates the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. A year later, according to the Library of Congress,

Storms, extreme heat, and wildfire risks are disrupting record-breaking Fourth of July travel, causing flight delays, road congestion, and safety warnings.

With the Fourth of July falling on a Friday, Americans are taking advantage of the long weekend. AAA estimates 72 million people are traveling at least 50 miles for the holiday, which is 1.7 million more than last year.