As mentioned a few weeks ago, this year, the United States will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary (the “Semiquincentennial” of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to share the whole history of our nation. 50 years ago, the United States held the Bicentennial celebration.

The United States Bicentennial in 1976 was a series of events in celebration of the nation’s 200th birthday. The American Freedom Train, carrying artifacts, documents, and artwork for public view, began its 21 month tour of the 48 contiguous states on April 1, 1975. Official Bicentennial events culminated on July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

According to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum website, “On this day, President Ford and his daughter Susan first traveled to Pennsylvania where President Ford spoke at Valley Forge to honor the conclusion of the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage. They then proceeded to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where President Ford signed the Bicentennial Day Declaration, which reaffirmed a commitment to the principles of liberty, justice, and freedom that were first laid out in the Declaration of Independence. Following that, the two flew to New York Harbor where First Lady Betty Ford also joined them to celebrate Operation Sail, an international naval review of ships sent by the navies of numerous countries. The day ended in DC, where President and Mrs. Ford watched fireworks from the White House Balcony.”

The Bicentennial was celebrated only a year after the last U.S. troops left South Vietnam during the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. President Ford’s administration stressed the themes of healing and rebirth, as well as nostalgia for the nation’s founding. The nation was in a period of healing, and the Bicentennial celebrations at the local and regional levels offered a sense of patriotism and nostalgia.

The photograph featured this week show an image of a personal planner in the Lyon County Museum’s collection. The planner has the American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976 logo on the front cover. The planner includes a calendar, advertisements for local businesses, a list of fraternal organizations that meet locally, demographic information about Marshall, a list of Marshall area churches, a list of emergency phone numbers, a birthday/anniversary page, first aid information, measurement conversions, and note pages. This planner was compiled by Job’s Daughters of Marshall. The organization, Job’s Daughters is a Masonic-affiliated youth organization for young women.

In addition to the planner, we have two display cases on the main floor of the Lyon County Museum with collection items related to the Bicentennial. Items include calendars, flags, magazines, and souvenirs to name a few.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.