General Discussion

LT Barclay

(3,163 posts) Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:38 PM Saturday

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 Saturday OP

I got married that year. piddyprints Saturday #1

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

serious question: ret5hd Saturday #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 Sunday #38

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

We were married in August too. piddyprints Sunday #60

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I remember the wagon train. SamKnause Saturday #8

Yes, of course we remember it. NameAlreadyTaken Saturday #9

I had a Bicentennial themed Sweet Sixteen Danmel Saturday #10

Recommended. H2O Man Saturday #11

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

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

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

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

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

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

I was there too! Scrivener7 Sunday #53

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

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

Was gifted a cool Bicentennial transistor radio! hibbing Saturday #23

I joined the Navy a month later. pecosbob Saturday #24

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

Well, LilElf70 Saturday #26

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

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

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

I was working in the last building on Wall Street mokeyz Saturday #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 Sunday #39

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

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

Cute jfz9580m Saturday #34

I was only 7 LA Blue Bengal Saturday #33

My hometown had all of the fire hydrants LittleGirl Sunday #35

Barely MustLoveBeagles Sunday #36

Too young BannonsLiver Sunday #37

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

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

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

I remember my first bicentennial quarter Bristlecone Sunday #42

I seem to recall Codifer Sunday #43

I turned 11 that year. Dulcinea Sunday #44

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

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

Very much! DFW Sunday #48

I do Deminpenn Sunday #49

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lively painted fire hydrants were everywhere in 1976 Wednesdays Sunday #59

THANKS for posting those Raine Sunday #65

I was working, VGNonly Sunday #61

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

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