4th of July
This year, Fourth of July celebrations will look very different. Instead of parades, large family reunions, and concerts, there will be more low-key celebrations given the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. But there are still plenty of safe ways to commemorate America’s birthday. Here are a few:
Take a virtual tour of national landmarks
In this time of both crisis and celebration, we have a great opportunity to learn about American history. While doing it in person isn’t advisable at the moment, the internet has plenty of resources. The website Architect’s Virtual Capitol is an immersive look at the heart of the federal government. Choose from several videos about the history of the National Capitol, a virtual walking tour of its campus or an interactive map of other key sites in Washington. Or visit Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, home to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the Benjamin Franklin Museum, through educational videos, photo galleries and more on the National Park Service’s website.
While there’s nothing quite like getting an up-close-and-personal look at the Statue of Liberty, an interactive virtual tour by the National Park Service comes close. It offers panoramic views of the statue’s exterior and interior, saving you the strenuous climb. You can also take a virtual tour of St. John’s Church in Richmond, Va., through its website, or watch educational videos about the Second Virginia Convention, the weeklong meeting in 1775 where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech to more than 100 delegates who had gathered to discuss the future of the colonies.
The Founding Fathers certainly excluded many from their vision, so consider exploring key moments in the fight against slavery by clicking through “The Struggle for African American Freedom,” an online exhibition on Google’s Arts & Culture platform from the Henry Ford museum complex in Dearborn, Mich. And, while not a national landmark, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in Manhattan also has a virtual exhibition on Google’s platform titled “African-Americans in the U.S. Military,” detailing African-Americans’ roles in American conflicts, starting with the Revolution.
Watch a movie about the country’s founding
If you prefer a dose of drama with your history lesson, settle in for a movie night. And if you have a backyard and a projector, you can set up an outdoor theater and catch the fireworks as an intermission. A live recording of “Hamilton,” the acclaimed Broadway musical from the writer and its star Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the director Thomas Kail, arrives on Disney Plus today. Or “1776,” a 1972 movie that is also based on a musical, follows the debates at the Second Continental Congress that led to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Mr. Miranda has said that “1776” paved the way for “Hamilton”). You can stream it free on Pluto TV, or rent/buy it on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu or YouTube. It will also air on July 4 on TCM at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
For some fun: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest will go on this year—without an audience
The Coney Island spectacle typically attracts more than 20,000 people watching competitive eaters downing hot dogs during the 10-minute contest with an even larger audience tuning in on national television. While the championship will continue on despite the current crisis, there will be one missing component: a live audience.
Last year’s champions, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, each stuffed themselves with 74 and 41 hot dogs, respectively and will return to defend their titles. There were 15 entrants each in the male and female divisions in past years, but this year’s event is slated for just five contestants in each group.
For the first time, this year’s contest will take place in an indoor arena in Brooklyn at noon. Tune in then on ESPN to watch!
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
This year, Macy’s annual 4th of July Fireworks display was split up into a series of five-minute shows which began on Monday at locations across the five boroughs in order to discourage large crowds from gathering. The finale will occur tomorrow at the Empire State Building with a telecast featuring performances by John Legend, Lady A, the Black Eyed Peas and others. Tune in tomorrow on NBC from 8-10pm ET/PT or 7pm-9pm CT/MT.
