Celebration

The Declaration of Independence and the Fourth of July have intrigued and inspired throughout American history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt described this spirit in 1941 when he said,

“The Fourth of July has always been a happy festival, a day of joy and exaltation in which all Americans have caught something of the spirit of liberty which the Fathers of the Republic proclaimed to all the world on that midsummer day in Philadelphia in 1776.”

President Ulysses S. Grant signed this proclamation to call for a special observance of July 4, 1876. He invited “the good people of the United States” to gather for public thanksgiving and religious services and to recognize “the blessings which have been bestowed upon us as a nation during the century of our existence.”

On July 4, 1918, Americans celebrated with some of the largest Independence Day events ever held in Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA; and New York, NY. The outcome of World War I was still in the balance. With American troops fighting in Europe, the parades aimed to boost homefront morale by highlighting support for the allies.

In June 1975, President Ford invited Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to visit the United States during the Bicentennial celebrations. The Queen accepted the invitation. Beginning in July 1976 in Philadelphia, the royal couple visited several cities, including Boston, MA; Charlottesville, VA; New Haven, CT; New York, NY; Providence, RI; and Washington, DC. At a White House State Dinner in her honor, the Queen danced with the President. 

Another highlight of the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration was the Freedom Train. Three newly restored steam engines pulled 10 cars to 307 cities. More than 7 million people got to see Thomas Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence, a preliminary manuscript of the Emancipation Proclamation, and one of Lincoln's handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address. Other national treasures aboard the Freedom Train included a moon rock and the original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

Family gatherings, patriotic outfits, picnics, BBQs, parades, and fireworks all have been a part of the July 4 celebrations for the past 250 years.