There aren't too many us who can remember our 200th anniversary in 1976.

[imanamerican63]

Last edited Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I know, actually there are a lot of people who can. But I remember the celebration well.

It was a day that the small tiny town in western Iowa where we were living came together and the biggest celebration I can remember. There was a parade that went down every the street, had carnival type ride and games.

Funny thing about that is the towns around there came to celebrate too. It was a great time. I was a 12 year old kid having the time of my life.

Looking at Trump’s disastrous events over the past couple of days. That little town in western Iowa put on a Class A celebration compared to what this administration has destroyed.

I am happy for our country’s anniversary, but at the same time, I’m saddened that we have this idiot leading us into next fifty years.

When the future look back at history fifty years from now? Our 250th will consequently have horrible memories just because of one man’s ego and incompetence.

Happy Birthday America! Oh and again thanks to the GOBers who say that they voted for this! Not! And yes you did vote this idiot back into office!

[Skittles]

1. I was enlisted

it was a great time because the celebrations were about America and not some pathetic manbaby dictator-wannabe

[Blue Owl]

2. I remember the Freedom Train coming through town

An entire train painted red white and blue, pulled by a steam locomotive and towing several museum/display cars you could walk through that told the story of America’s foundation and progress from 1776 to 1976. The whole town came out, it seemed like…

[Shambala]

35. I remember putting a bicentennial quarter

on the track so it would get flattened by the freedom train - that was the thing to do. Im not sure if everyone put a quarter down but there were probably a hundred people up and down the track. It was dark when the train finally roared through and I remember seeing the liberty bell go by. But mine and everyone’s quarters got scattered around and since it was dark I couldn’t find mine let alone any quarters. I remember some people getting lucky and finding one and boy was I envious. I even went back the next day to look around but no luck.

[oberle]

3. I remember the fireworks down on the mall in DC

and having to walk all the way back home because the busses quit at midnight. We were all drunk or stoned and didn't mind.

[SonOfNebanaube]

4. I remember it clear as day

Still have the collector plates. Watched the fire works from Anandale or rather a hilltop farm near the edge of Anandale.

[LSparkle]

5. I was at our local drive-in seeing "American Graffiti"

I was between graduating high school and heading off for college orientation (kind of like in the movie, only 14 years later). 😊

[ALBliberal]

6. I was in eighth grade in Silver City NM it will always

Be in my memory. Nothing was political. It was just all about national pride. This bicentennial memory in and of itself has me so sad because my adult kids and grandkids will never have a similar memory of national pride. The only saving grace has been rooting for our awesome USA soccer team.

Just awful Trump hijacked yet again something special and wonderful.

[ornotna]

7. I remember Operation Sail

On July 4, 1976, New York City celebrated the Bicentennial of American independence with a parade of ships that began at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and moved up the Hudson River. Officially titled “Operation Sail,” more than 200 ships gathered for the event. With more than six million spectators, it became the largest crowd in New York City’s history.

https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/operationsail-zy4la-6h6h4-tlwga-allfs-5gpbn-p8hkk-gewm2-86weg-453lp-rtg9j-b4nt8-f2n45-2s22f-kmea4-5jtmm-a2l5n-ljflg-bbjh6-82t6p-w9slx-nhf8r-egskg-7mja9-rk27k-bwgya-x8sb6-9ejss-b9tem

[irisblue]

10. The Tall Ships are coming back this weekend to NYC waters. 3 July-8 July 2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/02/nyregion/tall-ships-parade-nyc.html

Title-Heading to New York. Here’s What to Know.

snip-"George Washington once referred to the Hudson River as “the key of America,” as his Revolutionary War troops battled the formidable British Navy in its waters.

The navy’s massive sailing ships were an integral part of Britain’s efforts to fight against the American Revolution, but proved no match for the mettle of the Revolutionaries — and General Washington’s strategic acumen.

This weekend, that same river will once more be filled with tall ships, this time celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. The tall ships parade, part of the Sail4th 250 event, is one of a number of celebrations commemorating the birth of the country this weekend."


snip-"The ship event is so logistically complicated that the commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, Capt. Jonathan Andrechik, who once coordinated the rescue of 7,500 people during Hurricane Harvey in Texas, described it as “by far the most complex planned event I have ever been part of.”


more there

[NoSheep]

12. this was amazing!

[ALBliberal]

8. Gonna post again...posted above... this is a blow

to us that celebrated bicentennial at whatever age we were at. And it’s a part of the continued plan to knock us off our game. I hate them for this one especially hard. Demoralizing us. Not ok.

[madamesilverspurs]

9. Williamsburg VA

I'd just moved there a few weeks prior to July 4 1976. Hadn't planned that particular move, but thought at least it would provide an interesting view of the celebration. So it was a bit of a disappointment when there was nothing out of the ordinary. My employer explained that Colonial Williamsburg was careful to maintain its representation of pre-revolution life. Okay, I got it. But still . . .


.

[NoSheep]

11. I was in DC and learned to whistle loudly through my fingers

I was 13 and can hardly believe how grown up I was. The 70's were a great time to be alive. So much hope and optimism.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. I sure can and it was so different, everyone was proud and happy.

There were celebrations and parades and patriotic movies on television. And I was in a play where I played Martha Washington! Good times! (Unlike what's happening now).

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. I was sick in bed with a nasty virus.

I'll never forget that day.

[BigmanPigman]

15. I remember it, everything was Red, White and Blue all over the place!

Every TV show, every movie, every event was Red, White and Blue. Lunch boxes, fashions, TV commercials, etc...you couldn't get away from it for over a year. It really was EVERYWHERE!!!

I see it when I watch "old" movies from that time (like The Good Bye Girl).

I lived in Philly so it was even MORE patriotic than other cities. Philly was the center of 1976 celebrations.

The 300th birthday of Philadelphia in 1983 was also a HUGE event. Three continuous nights of fireworks. My birthday is July 3 (tomorrow) and I've been a proud "Yankee Doodle Dandee" until tRump.

Now I hate my country since most American voters have harmed everyone with their purposeful ignorance and hatred. Thanks a lot Raygun! 46 years of trickle down BS and, "god and greed are good"!!! Puke! This is NOT what I voted for and this proud patriot is pissed off and no longer proud, just 100% disgusted. It will take us 40 years to recover...and that's the most optimistic assessment I have.

[state of stupid]

16. I was 21, living in my home state (The Future State of Stupid) and it was one hell of a party.

People did not take politics like a life-or-death struggle. That was in a time before the dark times
and the age of Raygun. The weapon that turned three-dimensional thinking into two-dimensional
thinking and began the process of shallow thinking which is why we are where we are at now. The
people in charge cannot see past the end of their nose (which is much farther than their private
parts) to exercise anything that exhibits rational or intelligent thinking. I will be dead and gone
for a very long time if we are going to wait for these brain-dead mother$$ckers to pull their heads
out of their ass and realize that their nose is not covered by peanut butter.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

17. I remember it...I was 12 years old. I am so PISSED TF off that cantaloupe caligula is f*cking this up.

I survived "terminal" cancer, (flunked Home Hospice) and was looking forward to the 250 anniversary that I wasn't supposed to live long enough to see. I HATE THAT WHOLE FUCKING FAMILY & the criminals that he BOUGHT & paid for his theft of the WH! I know infants that have a better anal control than that funky asshole! GOD how I HATE that perverted sumbitch!!

[BeneteauBum]

18. Several friends and myself are boomers

We remember the 1976 party quite well. This year, we are unanimous in feeling not so patriotic due to the idiot in chief and his idea of governance.

Peace ☮️

[AdamGG]

20. America 250 with Trump makes me feel a little like this...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TLrqqMEbfY8

[AdamGG]

19. I remember Queen Elizabeth visiting

I grew up outside Boston and Queen Elizabeth went out on the balcony of the Old State House and waved to the crowd and maybe spoke. Gerald Ford came to the 200th anniversary of the battles of Lexington & Concord the year before. Dump probably didn't show up for the 250th of Concord because he knew he would have gotten booed.

I still have some commemorative coins with the liberty tree on one side and Washington on the other.

[SeattleVet]

21. There was also a multi-year runup to all of the culminating celebrations.

I remember the 'Bicentennial Minute" TV spots. I was enlisted Air Force at the time, and my ex was from Philadelphia. Definite BIG time celebrations and events for well over. year. The "Bicentennial Minute" series of TV spots ran from sometime in 1974 until the end of 1976, and were entertaining and educational.

My ex and I went from where we were stationed (Plattsburgh AFB, NY) to Philly and got to see 1776 in the round, outdoors, near the Liberty Bell. Several trips over a couoleof years, and there was a patriotic feeling all around. tRumplethinskin's shitshow appears to have had absolutely no pre-planning whatsoever.

Fire Hydrants were painted up to look like colonial soldiers.

Everyone got engaged in it, to some level.

The current slapdash poor excuse for a celebration is just sad.

Everything tRump touched turns to crap (obviously, except for E. Jean Carroll ).

[Emile]

22. July 4th 1976 - My wife, and I were still newlyweds, only 5 month's into

Last edited Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:41 AM - Edit history (1)

our 50 year marriage.

I don't remember any divisive, partisan garbage coming from the mouth of our president.

We went to Kickapoo State Park. We spread a blanket out on the ground, and watched the fireworks.

[COL Mustard]

23. I graduated from high school in 1976

I certainly remember the Bicentennial celebrations. They went on for a long time leading up to the 4th, and I was proud to be American.

I’m still proud of what my country stands for, and its ideals, but I’m sure as hell not patriotic enough to salute the President.

I hope that in the next 50 years we regain some of what we’ve lost.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[aggiesal]

24. @ 14 yo, I went to Wrigley Field for a Cubs doubleheader against the Mets, then to downtown for the fireworks.

Cubs won game 1 & lost game 2. And of course the Fireworks were great.

[DFW]

25. I was in eastern Massachusetts, not quite 1 year at my job.

I was asked if I wanted to come to an outdoor concert with Dave Mason and Elton John, and I did go. I remember the good vibes and the optimism. Four months later, I had a work assignment in Borås, Sweden, and spent election night in a small hotel there, watching the Swedish TV reporting of Jimmy Carter’s election victory. It was a good year.

[RandySF]

26. I have very faint memories.

[choie]

27. I remember the Bicentennial Minute

segments on tv. Loved those!

[bottomofthehill]

28. Summer of 76 Boston was amazing.

OpSail/ The Tall ships parade came to Boston on July 4. The USS Constitution went out (under tugboat power) to greet them. The waterfront was full of international ships. My parents took us on the Freedom Train and to see Where’s Boston. There was such excitement and pride. As someone said earlier, the bicentennial coins, bumper stickers, parades, band concerts. It was a good time and came at a great time as we were in rough shape as a country. I was hoping that the 250 would bring some of that same pride, it instead, it’s just another Trump grift.

[ColoringFool]

29. Um, What? 1976 isn't 1936.

[tavernier]

30. My parents had a cottage close to Luddington on Lake Michigan.

My children were four and five years old and we headed into town to find parking because we knew there would be a crowd on the beach. My main memories were my five year-old asking me if the fireworks were going to blow a hole in the sky, and on the way home outgoing traffic from the town was so thick that we had to stop the car for long minutes. Because of all the treats and water and juice during the day, the girls needed the bathroom and they were in tears because there was no place to pull over. On one of the stops in the middle of the highway, I got out and held up a beach towel, and they both scrambled out and peed on the pavement.. I have to laugh now as that is definitely the most outstanding memory that I have of that day. The odd thing is that it just doesn’t seem like it was 50 years ago, but of course it was because they are now grandparents.

[Bristlecone]

31. I remember my first Bicentennial quarter

I thought it was very cool.

[Raine]

32. I definitely remember (sigh) 😔 nt

[Lategame]

33. Good times!

I was 10 years old. Big backyard BBQ, family, friends, neighbors. Lighting off fireworks all day long, ice cold Coke in glass bottles. Monster fireworks show. Was a kids perfect day.

[Xavier Breath]

34. My parents were on the verge of divorcing some months later, but I didn't know it at the time.

I wish I could remember more from that time, but maybe I was sensing the discord between them and that's why I blocked out memories from that time

Back on topic, I remember the main street of our little town had a parade and booths all along the route.