Independence Day is always filled with festivities, and one of the many 4th of July traditions that always hold true is fireworks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Fourth of July is about all things American: parades, cookouts, cold beer and of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making. Massive fireworks lit up the skyline of multiple American cities, marking festivities across the country.

The Fourth of July has been celebrated across the nation since 1776. But when — and how — did Americans across the country agree to commemorate the holiday with a fireworks celebration?