AP PHOTOS: Americans celebrate the Fourth of July

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Across the United States, Americans celebrated 236 years of independence with backyard barbeques, family gatherings and, of course, fireworks.

While many celebrations have been scaled-down or canceled due to weather-related power outages and concerns of spreading wildfires amid dry, hot weather, many were still celebrating, albeit in less-than-traditional ways.

Hundreds of thousands from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic are 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.

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Here's a running photo gallery, updated throughout the day, of celebrations across the U.S.

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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

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-07-04-Photo%20Gallery-Fourth%20of%20July/id-6bff359cf51947b39b49932640e36d19

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