Known now as a day of patriotism and enjoying time off from work, the Fourth of July began the journey to becoming a quintessential American holiday in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

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.

Looking for fun Fourth of July plans? Check out this list of top events—from fireworks and parades to festivals and live music.

The incident occurred in the Blue Creek area on Lake Martin at around 9 p.m. local time on Friday as a large number of people had gathered to watch a fireworks show to mark the Independence Day holiday.

A Fourth of July fireworks explosion in Alabama has resulted in the hospitalization of six people. The incident involved “unpermitted fireworks” and occurred at about 9:14 p.m. local time on a part of Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County,