Across the United States, Americans celebrated 236 years of independence with backyard barbeques, family gatherings and, of course, fireworks. Many celebrations were scaled-down or canceled due to weather-related power outages and concerns of spreading wildfires amid dry, hot weather. But many more went on as planned. Hundreds of thousands from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic were spending the Fourth of July like America's founders did in 1776: Without the conveniences of electricity and air conditioning. In the nation's capital, thousands of visitors from across the country took part in Independence Day celebrations despite high temperatures and the threat of thunderstorms. _____ Here's a photo gallery from Fourth of July celebrations across the U.S. _____ Read more about the Fourth of July: http://apne.ws/O4NrL9 AP Essay: In divided era, what does July 4th mean? http://apne.ws/O4NGG3
AP PHOTOS: Americans celebrate the Fourth of July
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Fireworks light up the sky during the Freedom Over Texas annual Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool)
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The Empire State Building, illuminated with red, white and blue lights, is seen from the Queens borough of New York, backlit by fireworks over the Hudson River, during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Christ Natale enjoys a hot dog at Miller Playground after the Port Carbon Citizens Committee's annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa. Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer)
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Spectators watch the Valley Fourth fireworks show from the Turner Pavilion lawn in Harrisonburg, Va., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Daily News-Record, Justin Falls)
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American Legion Post 165 Chaplain John Schnorr of Two Rivers salutes after raising the flag during a fireworks display for Independence Day at Walsh Field on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Two Rivers. (AP Photo/Matthew Apgar, Herald Times Reporter)
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Allen Kiser of Robbinsdale, Minn., captures the fireworks over the Coquille River in Bandon, Ore. Kiser is an intern at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort for the summer. July 4, 2012 (AP Photo/Benjamin Brayfield, The World)
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People stand and watch on the small island in the Grand River as fireworks go off above Grand Rapids, Mich on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthew Busch, The Press)
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Fireworks light the sky over the U.S. Capitol, left, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, as seen from Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Maureen Pauly-Hubbard of Madison, Wisc., a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member, cools off in front of a misting fan before the Freedom Festival fireworks on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Parts of Iowa are facing moderate drought as dry, hot weather continues with high temperatures near 100 degrees. (AP Photo/The Gazette-Liz Martin)
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Fireworks light up the sky over the Philadelphia Museum of Art during an Independence Day celebration, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Fireworks light up the sky during the annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display over the Hudson River as seen from New York, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Furticella)
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Fireworks light the sky over the U.S. Capitol, left, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, as seen from Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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The Empire State Building, illuminated with red, white and blue lights, is seen from the Queens borough of New York, backlit by fireworks lighting up the sky over the Hudson River, during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Spectators watch as fireworks light up the sky over the Hudson River during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Trains run through Hudson Yard in New York as fireworks light up the sky over the Hudson River during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/CX Matiash)
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Cousins Reggie Moretz, left, and Conan Tapia, both 3, entertain themselves with flags as they await the start of the Fourth of July Kiddie Parade from inside the "USS Lady Liberty" on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, on the Sherman Avenue parade route in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. (AP Photo/Coeur d'Alene Press, Jerome A. Pollos) MANDATORY CREDIT
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From left, Harper Yondura and Jason Yondura, participate in the Port Carbon Citizens Committee's annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa. Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer)
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Spectators watch fireworks streak across the sky during the Fanfare and Fireworks celebration at the University of Florida on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/The Gainesville Sun, Matt Stamey)
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Sheila Grimes of South Berwick, Maine looks through piles of fireworks at Hilltop Fireworks, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 in Somersworth, N.H. The conventional wisdom is that Maine’s new law legalizing consumer fireworks will hurt New Hampshire fireworks stores because Mainers won’t have to travel to buy their missiles, Roman candles and exploding aerial displays. But the owners of Hilltop Fireworks in Somersworth, N.H., along the southern Maine border, say they’ve had more Maine customers in the days leading up to the Fourth of the July than in previous years.(AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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Gabi Hogg, 7, and her mother Jenny Hogg share a moment before mounting a bike for the July Fourth Parade on Highway 77 in Panama City, Fla. Wednesday July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/The News Herald, Andrew P Johnson)
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Nicolas D'Annunzio, 4, left, and Ian Strother, 5, join the parade of bikes, wagons and scooters decorated for the annual Riverside Citizens Association 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and Children's Parade in Central Riverside Park in Wichita, Kan., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Mike Hutmacher) MAGS OUT AND TV OUT
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Tim "Eater X" Janus, left, and five-time reigning champion Joey Chestnut, right, compete in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating World Championship, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Chestnut won his sixth straight Coney Island hot dog eating contest. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
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Fourth of July fireworks are set off on Lake Winnipesaukee, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 in Alton Bay, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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Harper Yondura participates in the Port Carbon Citizens Committee's annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa. Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer)
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Brianna Honis participates in the Port Carbon Citizens Committee's annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa. Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer)
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Linda Fees and daughter Emily Fees, honor the firefighters, victims, and military of 911 during the Port Carbon Citizens Committee's annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa. Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer)
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A United States flag waves next to carnival rides as fireworks burst in the air during the Fourth of July Independence Day show at State Fair Meadowlands, Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Brianna Honish, Saint Clair, Pa., decked out in patriotic peace sunglasses waits for the start of the Port Carbon Citizens Committee's annual Fourth of July Parade nicknamed the "Baby Parade" in Port Carbon, Pa. Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer)
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Vietnam veteran Tom Heitman holds the American flag in the front of the line before the Fourth of July parade along main street in West Bend on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. Heitman, a Vietnam vet, served from 1968-72. (AP Photo/The Daily News, John Ehlke)
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Margaret White, 5, waves from her porch as floats and marchers assemble for the start of the annual Fourth of July parade Wednesday, July 4, 2012 in Sausalito, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
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