| United States Bicentennial | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | July 4, 1976 |
| Location | United States of America |
| Previous event | Sesquicentennial (1926) |
| Next event | Semiquincentennial (2026) |
| Activity | 200th anniversary of the adoption of theDeclaration of Independence |
| President | Gerald Ford |
| Organized by | American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (1966–73) American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (1973–76) |
TheUnited States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic. It was a central event in the memory of theAmerican Revolution. The Bicentennial culminated on Sunday, July 4, 1976, with the 200th anniversary of the adoption of theDeclaration of Independence by theFounding Fathers in theSecond Continental Congress.
The nation had always commemorated the founding as a gesture of patriotism and sometimes as an argument in political battles. Historian Jonathan Crider points out that in the 1850s, editors and orators both North and South claimed their region was the true custodian of the legacy of 1776, as they used the Revolution symbolically in their rhetoric.[1]
The plans for the Bicentennial began whenCongress created theAmerican Revolution Bicentennial Commission on July 4, 1966.[2][3][4][5] Initially, the Bicentennial celebration was planned as a single city exposition (titled Expo '76) that would be staged in eitherPhiladelphia orBoston.[6] After 6½ years of tumultuous debate, the Commission recommended that there should not be a single event, and Congress dissolved it on December 11, 1973, and created theAmerican Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA), which was charged with encouraging and coordinating locally sponsored events.[7][8][9][10] David Ryan, a professor atUniversity College Cork, notes that the Bicentennial was celebrated only a year after theFall of Saigon in 1975 and that theFord administration stressed the themes of renewal and rebirth based on a restoration of traditional values, giving a nostalgic and exclusive reading of the American past.[11]
Bruce N. Blackburn, co-designer of the modernizedNASA insignia, designed the logo.[12][13] The logo consisted of a white five-point star inside a stylized star of red, white and blue. It was encircled by the inscriptionAmerican Revolution Bicentennial 1776–1976 inHelvetica Regular. An early use of the logo was on a 1971 US postage stamp. The logo became a flag that flew at many government facilities throughout the United States and appeared on many other souvenirs and postage stamps issued by thePostal Service. NASA painted the logo on theVehicle Assembly Building at theKennedy Space Center in 1976 where it remained until 1998 when the agency replaced it with its own emblem as part of 40th anniversary celebrations.[14]
In 1973, on the shores of Boston Harbor, activists and history enthusiasts recreated theBoston Tea Party. Participants and spectators boasted signs and effigies in an effort to promote "environmental protection, racial justice, an end to corporate profiteering, and the impeachment of Richard Nixon."[15] Several people threw packages and oil barrels labeled "Gulf Oil" and "Exxon" intoBoston Harbor in symbolic opposition to corporate power, in the style of the Boston Tea Party.[16] This reenactment later was termed as the "Boston Oil Party", and roughly 10,000 people witnessed the dumping of oil conglomerates, as well as the hanging of an effigy of President Nixon.[17]
The official Bicentennial events began April 1, 1975, when theAmerican Freedom Train launched inWilmington, Delaware to start its 21-month, 25,388-mile (40,858 km) tour of the 48 contiguous states.[18]
On April 18, 1975, PresidentGerald Ford traveled toBoston to light a third lantern at the historicOld North Church, symbolizing America's third century.[19] The following day, April 19, he delivered a major address inConcord, Massachusetts at theOld North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired, commemorating the 200th anniversary of theBattles of Lexington and Concord which began the military aspect of the American Revolution.[20] According to theNew York Times "more than 2,000 spectators were on hand" as cannons were fired and a Paul Revere reenactor rode through announcing the arrival of British regulars.[21]
On December 31, 1975, the eve of the Bicentennial Year, Ford recorded a statement to address theAmerican people by means of radio and television broadcasts.[22] Presidential Proclamation 4411 was signed as an affirmation to the Founding Fathers of the United States principles ofdignity,equality,government by representation, andliberty.[23]
1976 festivities included elaboratefireworks in the skies above major US cities. President Ford presided over the display in Washington, D.C., which was televised nationally. Celebrations in cities and towns across the nation opened into full effect including celebrations such asOperation Sail (Op Sail), a large international fleet parade of tall-mastedsailing ships gathering first in New York City onIndependence Day and then in Boston about one week later. Other large scale events such as reenactments, parades, and booms in commercialized commemoration spread across the nation as the year went on.
In addition to the presence of the 'tall ships', navies of many nations sent warships to New York harbor for anInternational Naval Review held the morning of July 4. President Ford sailed down theHudson River into New York harbor aboard theguided missile cruiserUSS Wainwright to review the international fleet and receive salutes from each visiting ship, ending with a salute from theRoyal Navy guided-missile destroyerHMS London. The review ended just aboveLiberty Island at around 10:30 am.
Johnny Cash served as the Grand Marshal of the US Bicentennial parade.[24]
The event was attended byQueen Elizabeth II andPrince Philip. The royal couple made astate visit to the United States, toured the country, and attended other Bicentennial functions with President and Mrs. Ford. Their visit aboard the British royal yachtHMYBritannia included stops in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
TheSmithsonian Institution opened a long-term exhibition in itsArts and Industries Building replicating the look and feel of the 1876Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, including artifacts from earlier exposition. The BicentennialFestival of American Folklife, a collaboration of the Smithsonian with thousands of national and international scholars, folk artisans, and performers, hosted programs in the western part of the National Mall five days a week for twelve weeks in the summer of 1976.[25] The Smithsonian also opened the new home of theNational Air and Space Museum on July 1, 1976.[26]
George Washington was posthumously appointed to the grade ofGeneral of the Armies of the United States by the congressional joint resolutionPublic Law 94-479 passed January 19, 1976, with an effective appointment date of July 4, 1976.[27] This restored Washington's position as thehighest-ranking military officer in US history.[Note 1]
NASA commemorated the Bicentennial by staging a science and technology exhibit housed in a series of geodesic domes in the parking lot of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) calledThird Century America. An American flag and the Bicentennial emblem were also painted on the side of the VAB; the emblem remained until 1998, when it was painted over with the NASA insignia. NASA planned forViking 1 to land on Mars on July 4, but the landing was delayed to July 20, the anniversary of theApollo 11 lunar landing. On the anniversary of thesigning of the Constitution, NASA held the rollout ceremony of thefirst Space Shuttle (which NASA had planned to nameConstitution but was, instead, named "Enterprise" in honor ofits fictional namesake on the television seriesStar Trek[28]).
On November 20 and 21 of 1976, participants immersed themselves in the era by donning period-accurate uniforms and equipping themselves with the tools and weaponry characteristic of that Christmas night over two centuries prior.[29] The reenactment unfolded as a grand spectacle, featuring a flotilla of boats navigating the icy currents of the Delaware River.
Since then, theCrossing the Delaware reenactment has occurred every year to relive and recognize this moment.[30]
While in Philadelphia on July 6, 1976, Queen Elizabeth presented the Bicentennial Bell on behalf of the British people. The bell is a replica of the Liberty Bell, cast at the same foundry—Whitechapel Bell Foundry—and bearing the inscription "For the People of the United States of America from the People of Britain 4 July 1976 LET FREEDOM RING."[31]
Disneyland and theMagic Kingdom atWalt Disney World presentedAmerica on Parade, an elaborate parade celebrating American history and culture, and featured theSherman Brothers' song "The Glorious Fourth". The parade featured nightly fireworks and ran twice daily from June 1975 to September 1976.
Los Angeles observances included the Bicentennial Parade of 1976 on Wilshire Boulevard,[32][33][34] and the Los Angeles City Schools Bicentennial Pageant atLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, broadcast as part ofHappy Birthday, America (NBC), hosted byPaul Anka,[35][36][37][38]Pacific 21, a bicentennial exhibition and conference center,[39] and Knott's Berry Farm bicentennial celebration.[40]
The overall theme of the entertainment ofSuper Bowl X, held January 18, was to celebrate the Bicentennial. Players on both teams, thePittsburgh Steelers and theDallas Cowboys, wore a special patch with the Bicentennial Logo on their jerseys; the Cowboys also added red, white, and blue striping to their helmets throughout the 1976 NFL season. The halftime show, featuring the performance groupUp with People, was entitled "200 Years and Just a Baby: A Tribute to America's Bicentennial".
TheUnited States Olympic Committee (USOC) initiated bids to host both the 1976 Summer and Winter Olympic Games in celebration of the Bicentennial. Los Angeles bid for the1976 Summer Olympics but lost toMontreal.Denver was awarded the1976 Winter Olympics in 1970, but concern over costs ledColorado voters to reject a referendum to fund the games and theInternational Olympic Committee awarded the games toInnsbruck, Austria, the 1964 host.[41] As a result, there was no Olympics in the United States in 1976 despite a last minute offer fromSalt Lake City to host. However,Lake Placid would host the1980 Winter Olympics, Los Angeles would eventually be awarded the1984 Summer Olympics, and Salt Lake City would also eventually be awarded the2002 Winter Olympics.
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As site of theContinental Congress and signing of the Declaration of Independence,Philadelphia served as host for the1976 NBA All-Star Game, the1976 National Hockey League All-Star Game, the1976 NCAA Final Four, and the1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at which President Ford threw out the first pitch.[42] The1976 Pro Bowl was an exception and was played in New Orleans, likely due to weather concerns.
Local observances included painting mailboxes and fire hydrants red, white, and blue. A wave of patriotism and nostalgia swept the nation and there was a general feeling that the irate era of thecivil rights movement, theVietnam War, and theWatergate constitutional crisis of 1974 had finally come to an end.
In the summer of 1976, the city ofSouth Bend, Indiana, embarked on a unique project to commemorate the United States Bicentennial: painting its fire hydrants in vibrant colors and patriotic designs. Over four decades later, many of South Bend's painted fire hydrants still stand as reminders of America's Bicentennial celebration.[43]
Bell Telephone Company commissionedStanley Meltzoff to create a cover for its 1976 directory to commemorate both the Bicentennial and the centennial of the invention of thetelephone. Based onNorman Rockwell'sThe Gossips, Meltzoff depicted America's great historic and iconic figures using the telephone. It became the biggest selling directory in Bell's history.[44]
Many national railroads andshortlines painted locomotives or rolling stock in patriotic color schemes, typically numbered 1776 or 1976, and model railroad manufacturers quickly released bicentennial locomotives which were popular among children and adults. Many military units marked aircraft with special designs in honor of the Bicentennial.John Warner served as ARBA director.[45]
TheNew Jersey Lottery operated a special "Bicentennial Lottery" in which the winner received $1,776 per week (before taxes) for 20 years (a total of $1,847,040).
The Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage began a journey fromBlaine, Washington on June 8, 1975, concluding atValley Forge, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1976.[46][47] Thewagon train pilgrimage traced the originalcovered wagon trade and transportation routes across the United States.[48][49] TheConestoga wagon overland pilgrimage encompassed theBozeman Trail,California Trail,Gila Trail,Great Wagon Road,Mormon Trail,Natchez Trace Trail,Old Post Road,Old Spanish Trail,Oregon Trail,Overland Trail,Santa Fe Trail, andWilderness Road.[50][51]
Karen Steele was the first baby born on July 4, 1976, 12 seconds after midnight, and was referred to as the "Bicentennial Baby". She was featured onThe Today Show andGood Morning America, and received commemorations from President Ford, New Jersey GovernorBrendan Byrne, and a host of other notables.
Many commercial products, including sports, apparel and collectibles, appeared in red, white, and blue packages in an attempt to tie them to the Bicentennial. Liberty, a brand of Spanish olives, sold their product in glass jars replicating the Liberty Bell during that time. Products were only permitted to display the trademarked Bicentennial logo by paying a license fee to ARBA.
The US government also commemorated the Bicentennial through the creation of new designs on national currency. The creation of the ceremonial coinage was both a way to get the American public involved in celebrating the bicentennial, and a way to encourage Americans to collect and purchase more bicentennial memorabilia.
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![Reverse of the Bicentennial dollar (Type 1), minted 1975–1976[52]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a1976S_Type1_Eisenhower_Reverse.jpg)
TheBicentennial Minute was a series of short vignettes aired on CBS from 1974 through the end of 1976 to mark the occasion.
In the months approaching the Bicentennial,Schoolhouse Rock!, a series of educational cartoon shorts running on ABC between programs on Saturday mornings, created a sub-series called "History Rock", although the official name was "America Rock". The ten segments covered various aspects of American history and government. Several of the segments, most notably "I'm Just a Bill" (discussing the legislative process) and "The Preamble" (which features a variant of the preamble of the Constitution put to music), have become some ofSchoolhouse Rock's most popular segments.
In 1974, CBS aired a new animatedArchie series on Saturday mornings calledThe U.S. of Archie; 16 episodes were made and were shown in reruns until September 1976.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Bicentennial City (June 7, 2020) onVimeo |
For the Bicentennial celebration, Hollywood filmmakerJohn Huston directed a short movie—Independence (1976)—for the USNational Park Service which continues to screen atIndependence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.[55][56]
The 1976 filmRocky cited the Bicentennial in several scenes, mostly duringApollo Creed's entering;Carl Weathers dressed first asGeorge Washington and then asUncle Sam.[57]
The oversized vehicle in the 1976 filmThe Big Bus had a scene in its Bicentennial Dining Room.
A number of nations gave gifts to the US as a token of friendship.
The United Kingdom loaned one of the four existing copies ofMagna Carta for display in theUS Capitol. The document was displayed in a case designed by artistLouis Osman consisting of gold, stainless steel, rubies, pearls, sapphires, diamonds, and white enamel. This was on a base ofpegmatite and Yorkshiresandstone. The document was displayed atop a gold replica from June 3, 1976, until June 13, 1977, when it was returned. The case and gold replica remain on display in the Capitol.[58]
Canada through theNational Film Board of Canada produced the bookBetween Friends/Entre Amis which was a photographic essay of life along the US-Canada border. The book was given to libraries across the US and special editions were presented to President Ford and other officials.[59][60]
The government of France andMusée du Louvre assembled an exhibit of paintings in cooperation with theDetroit Institute of Arts and theMetropolitan Museum of Art that traveled toDetroit and New York City after being shown in Paris. The exhibit, entitledFrench Painting 1774–1830: The Age of Revolution, included the work of 94 French artists from that period. Many of the 149 works in the exhibit had never been seen outside France and includedLiberty Leading the People byEugène Delacroix,Jupiter and Thetis byJean Auguste Dominique Ingres and a portrait ofMaximilien Robespierre byAdélaïde Labille-Guiard.[61]
Japan's government constructed and furnished the 513-seat Terrace Theatre ofKennedy Center in Washington. Many of the original furnishings were removed when the theater was renovated between 2015 and 2019.[62] Fifty-threebonsai trees from the Nippon Bonsai Association were donated to theUS National Arboretum.[63]
King Juan Carlos I andQueen Sofía of Spain presented sculptures ofBernardo de Gálvez, a hero of theAmerican Revolutionary War period and laterViceroy of New Spain; andDon Quixote,Cervantes' fictional hero, on June 3, 1976, on behalf of their nation. The Gálvez sculpture is in a park at Virginia Avenue at 21st Street NW, which has been named Galvez Park.[64] The Don Quixote sculpture was installed nearby on the grounds of The Kennedy Center. Spain's gift also included an exhibit at theNational Gallery of Art of eightGoya masterpieces from the collection ofMuseo del Prado.[65][66]
King of NorwayOlav V, Prime Minister of NorwayOdvar Nordli, and the Norwegian government established the Vinland National Health Sports Center inLoretto, Minnesota.[67]
![Sybil Ludington is said to have ridden through the night to advise minutemen that British forces were raiding Danbury, Connecticut; these accounts, originating from the Ludington family, are questioned by modern scholars.[68][69][70]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSybil_Ludington_stamp.jpg)
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner photographLos Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection
