General Discussion

LT Barclay

(3,165 posts) Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:38 PM Dec 6

Anyone else remember the Bicentennial? [View all]

Do you remember the excitement, the national celebrations and memorials that seemed to last all year?

I remember the Freedom train https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Train#1975%E2%80%9376_American_Freedom_Train

I remember how my mother converted an old suit into an admittedly tacky and inaccurate Revolutionary War costume and my sisters were in dresses and bonnets going to the 4th of July celebration on the St. Louis riverfront.

I remember knickknacks, doodads, and kitsch galore celebrating the ideals and events that had brought us forward.

I remember that despite internal conflict over racism and segregation, unfettered pollution, etc. for most of us it appeared that the tide was turning.

Has anyone noticed the mood is not the same now?

67 replies

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Anyone else remember the Bicentennial? [View all] LT Barclay Dec 6 OP

I got married that year. piddyprints Dec 6 #1

It doesn't seem that anyone does, not even MAGA and they are getting their way. LT Barclay Dec 6 #2

serious question: ret5hd Dec 6 #19

Right wingers don't care. For me it is a personal thing of not wanting to create conflict in a place of worship. LT Barclay Dec 7 #38

I did too. In August. It was a nice summer that year. dameatball Dec 7 #54

We were married in August too. piddyprints Dec 7 #60

We did too! Spent part of our honeymoon in Philadelphia Maeve Dec 7 #62

CBS featured the segment, "Bicentennial Minute." Charlton Heston presented the first one. He spoke about the Minute Men. John1956PA Dec 6 #3

Who can forget all the 'Bicentennial Minutes' on tv for 2 years prior to chicoescuela Dec 6 #4

I was very involved. I was stationed at the Army's ocean terminal in upper NY harbor GP6971 Dec 6 #5

I forgot the tall ships parade!! That was awesome even just on TV in the Midwest!! LT Barclay Dec 6 #14

Watched some of Op Sail from under the GW Bridge. It was great! electric_blue68 Dec 6 #16

Op sail was spectacular! We did a lot of behind the scenes work... GP6971 Dec 6 #21

Thanks for helping to make it a great event! electric_blue68 Dec 6 #31

Yeah, I remember. Sadly, where I lived nothing Ilsa Dec 6 #6

We were very excited about celebrating the bicentennial. Irish_Dem Dec 6 #7

I remember the wagon train. SamKnause Dec 6 #8

Yes, of course we remember it. NameAlreadyTaken Dec 6 #9

I had a Bicentennial themed Sweet Sixteen Danmel Dec 6 #10

Recommended. H2O Man Dec 6 #11

I spent July 4, 1976 at Tampa Stadium seeing the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. ms liberty Dec 6 #12

honestly i cannot fathom celebrating the 250th. feels more like a funeral than a birthday Takket Dec 6 #13

Absolutely! As a NYC'r we had a blast!... electric_blue68 Dec 6 #15

I was 14 and living in Phila so EVERYTHING for about BigmanPigman Dec 6 #17

I was in dental school and it was exciting. PCIntern Dec 7 #51

The tall ships on the Hudson, the fireworks over Lady Liberty Jersey Devil Dec 6 #18

I was there too! Scrivener7 Dec 7 #53

I remember it well. I worked in DC at the time, and lived in nearby brer cat Dec 6 #20

I remember thinking the whole thing seemed a little... progressoid Dec 6 #22

Was gifted a cool Bicentennial transistor radio! hibbing Dec 6 #23

I joined the Navy a month later. pecosbob Dec 6 #24

I remember it very well. We watched a Battle of Gettysburg reenactment then went to the Fort Worth (FL) waterfront to artemisia1 Dec 6 #25

Well, LilElf70 Dec 6 #26

"They ask me did I like Arsenio Prairie Gates Dec 6 #27

The semiquincentennial is going to be a flop- the mojo is totally gone Blues Heron Dec 6 #28

I was thinking that also. Not that we didn't have many of the serious problems we always had and still have, chia Dec 9 #67

I was working in the last building on Wall Street mokeyz Dec 6 #29

My friend had a friend who worked on the 20th or so of the World Trade Center. We got to see the Parade of Sails 3Hotdogs Dec 7 #39

I had strep, but I remember it well. greatauntoftriplets Dec 6 #30

I remember during high school, my friend's mother putting up a poster of a buffalo calimary Dec 6 #32

Cute jfz9580m Dec 6 #34

I was only 7 LA Blue Bengal Dec 6 #33

My hometown had all of the fire hydrants LittleGirl Dec 7 #35

Barely MustLoveBeagles Dec 7 #36

Too young BannonsLiver Dec 7 #37

I wonder too if we would be better off. Haggard Celine Dec 7 #46

I was teaching and remember how much fun it was taking my class to see the "Freedom Train" with all the KitFox Dec 7 #40

I was in high school. We did all kinda shit that year. Iggo Dec 7 #41

I remember my first bicentennial quarter Bristlecone Dec 7 #42

I seem to recall Codifer Dec 7 #43

I turned 11 that year. Dulcinea Dec 7 #44

I went to a double-header baseball games at Wrigley Field ... aggiesal Dec 7 #45

I remember the Bicentennial Minutes and all the fire hydrants Raine Dec 7 #47

Very much! DFW Dec 7 #48

I do Deminpenn Dec 7 #49

As a native Philadelphian, it is a landmark in my existence. PCIntern Dec 7 #50

I remember the "And that's what happened, 200 years ago today" commercials! Gore1FL Dec 7 #52

It's difficult to muster up any enthusiasm in the midst of a long national nightmare. Harker Dec 7 #55

The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder was on all night long. Simeon Salus Dec 7 #56

Nice to remember Harry. He was taken from us much too soon. Ziggysmom Dec 7 #63

Yes. Your question sent me rifling through old photographs. Here's the sinkingfeeling Dec 7 #57

I was in 6th grade, our elementary school did a bicentennial musical Pizza slice Dec 7 #58

Lively painted fire hydrants were everywhere in 1976 Wednesdays Dec 7 #59

THANKS for posting those Raine Dec 7 #65

I was working, VGNonly Dec 7 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author senseandsensibility Dec 7 #64

My parents were both working or looking after their parents. I don't remember which. hunter Dec 7 #66