Lectures on Tap - "History of July 4th: How America Invented Its Birthday"

Lectures on Tap

We all know the story: July 4, 1776—the day the Declaration of Independence was signed and America was born. Fireworks, flags, freedom. Simple, right?

Well… not exactly.

In this engaging lecture, historian and educator Dr. John J Murphy unpacks how America actually invented its own birthday. Independence was voted on July 2nd, the Declaration wasn’t fully signed until August, and it took decades before July 4th became the nation’s symbolic starting point.

From the first cannon blasts in 1777 to the myth-making celebrations of 1826, from the industrial spectacle of the Centennial to the uneasy patriotism of the Bicentennial, Dr. Murphy will trace how each generation has used the Fourth of July to tell a story about what America is—and what it wants to be.

Dr. John J. Murphy currently works for Teach For America and has served as a school administrator in Chicago and as a history professor at multiple City Colleges of Chicago.

The Den Theatre and comedy club is pleased to host Lectures on Tap on June 29 , 2026 at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

Tickets are currently available at thedentheatre.com or by calling (773) 697-3830.