American traditions and institutions have endured for centuries

American cultural traditions stretch back centuries, and many are still going strong today. Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621, while Fourth of July festivities began in 1777, before George Washington became president. Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania started in 1887, and pumpkin carving for Halloween was recorded as early as 1866.

Government institutions have similarly deep roots. The U.S. Customs Service began operating in 1789 and served as the federal government's main source of income for nearly 125 years. The money it collected helped fund major national projects, including the purchase of Louisiana, the acquisition of Alaska, and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. That role ended when the Federal Income Tax Act passed in 1913.