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. 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) Close 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