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.

Shiloh is celebrating Independence Day all weekend long with activities filled with both rich history and of course, cannon firings. Sunday, Shiloh is concluding its “Booming for Independence” program. The park has been busy all weekend long with visitors checking out the multiple cannon firings.