This is how the Independence Day Fireworks works:

It begins in July, when we'll send you the book of instructions and the giant Rand McNally Road Atlas, upon which the course wends its way southward the length of North America (in even-numbered years it's northward).

(We accept new entries continually during July, with all materials mailed immediately, until the entry deadline, July 31.)

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Note: Entries closed at the end of July for the 2009 Independence Day Fireworks.  Our next map rally will be the 2010 St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Before then, note our Almaniac trivia contest, running from Halloween to mid-December.

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By following the instructions, on your porch, the kitchen table, or wherever is cooler, spending an hour (or however long the orange juice lasts) at a time, you travel on a continuous half-regular-St.-Valentine's-Day-Massacre-length course, from page to page in the Atlas.

Each year we explore an odd-numbered U.S. highway.

This summer it was southbound U.S. 59, from northwest Minnesota to Laredo, Texas, through such fine cities as St. Joseph, Atchison, Texarkana, and Houston. And down to finish in the uplands of Honduras.

In 2005 it was southbound U.S. 93, from the Canadian border to Missoula, Twin Falls, Ely, Las Vegas, and Wickenburg. From there it was onward to Central America.

In 2006 it was northbound along U.S. 11, from Lake Pontchartrain all the way up to Québec, through Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Then the final leg was up to the Canadian Arctic.

In 2007 it was southbound U.S. 87, from northern Montana to the Gulf of Mexico, through such fine towns as Roundup and Masterson, Happy and Smiley. Then the final leg was to Central America.

In 2008 it was northbound U.S. 23, from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Straits of Mackinac, through Athens, Ashland, and Ann Arbor. And then up to the Canadian Arctic.

Along the way, we ask questions to see if you are on the correct course. Here are two instructions in Iowa on this summer's event, and the question between them.

[Seeing something means that it must be within 1/4 map inch of the course that you're traveling upon.]

You have until August 10 to send in your answers.

Following scoring, custom-designed awards go to the top competitors, and local champion certificates to the best of them from each state, province, and country.

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To receive a Fireworks brochure in the mail next June, in advance of the 2010 Independence Day Fireworks, just send The Old Maltese an e-mail request mentioning the Fireworks, with your street mailing address, or mail a note to us at: