• Opening the Vault: Celebrating Centennials

    Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, discover how Americans celebrated our nation's centennials.

    Washington, DC: Crowd Covers Grounds of the Washington Monument Prior to July 4 Fireworks, 1976

  • Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the United States of America celebrated the centennial and bicentennial anniversaries across our nation. In this exhibit as part of "Opening the Vault," visitors can see examples from these celebrations in 1876 and 1976.

    Washington, DC: Crowd Covers Grounds of the Washington Monument Prior to July 4 Fireworks, 1976

    Photograph of the Crowd on the Grounds of the Washington Monument Prior to the July 4th Fireworks in 1976. Records of the U.S. Information Agency...Read more

    Photograph of the Crowd on the Grounds of the Washington Monument Prior to the July 4th Fireworks in 1976. Records of the U.S. Information Agency

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    View in the National Archives Catalog

  • 1876 Grandeur

    The 1876 Centennial Exposition, held in Philadelphia, was a world’s fair celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It took place 10 years after the Civil War, when the U.S. was emerging as an industrial powerhouse. Nearly 10 million people visited the 285-acre fairgrounds to see the international arts, cultures, and technologies on display.

    The Centennial Exposition had important cultural and technological impacts. The Statue of Liberty’s torch was displayed, and Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated his new telephone. The fair also featured a Women’s Pavilion, which highlighted the scientific and artistic achievements of women in the era of the growing suffrage movement.

    Illustration from Frank Leslie's Historical Register of the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876

    Illustration from Frank Leslie's Historical Register of the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876. Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

  • A Massive Scale

    Crews constructed more than 200 buildings for the centennial fair. Above is the design for the U.S. Government Building, which highlights institutions such as the Navy and the Post Office. Julius Bien, the lithographer who made this print, included details, like a cannon and a ship propeller, to bring this rendering to life.

    U.S. Government Building, International Exhibition, 1876

    U.S. Government Building, International Exhibition, 1876. National Archives, General Records of the Department of the Treasury

  • Art from Around the World

    Arts and cultures from 37 countries were on display at the fair. A popular bronze sculpture was Italian artist Francesco Pezzicar’s “The Abolition of Slavery,” which depicted a man holding the Emancipation Proclamation and breaking free of chains. American artists also received significant attention, including Edmonia Lewis and her marble sculpture of Cleopatra.

    Photograph of Edmonia Lewis by Henry Rocher, c.1870

    Photograph of Edmonia Lewis by Henry Rocher, c.1870. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

  • Centennial Suffragists

    On July 4th, suffragists including Susan B. Anthony disrupted an official ceremony to present a “Declaration of Rights” for women to Acting Vice President Thomas Ferry. The suffragists’ work would not be realized until 1920 when the 19th Amendment was passed, granting women the right to vote.

    Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States, July 4, 1876

    Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States,  July 4, 1876. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress

  • 1976 Grassroots

    The 1976 Bicentennial marked the 200th anniversary of American independence. Beyond the pageantry of ceremonial celebrations, the bicentennial was defined by a major grassroots movement of local communities hosting more than 66,000 projects and events nationwide.

    This milestone coincided with a peak in American civic engagement. Influenced by the momentum of the Civil Rights movement, the 1960s and 70s saw a surge in advocacy across the country. This cultural shift ensured that the bicentennial was not just a look back at history, but a reflection of the era's push for community-driven change.

    President Gerald Ford Delivering Remarks at Valley Forge State Park, 1976

    President Gerald Ford Delivering Remarks at Valley Forge State Park, 1976. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

    View in the National Archives Catalog

  • To mark the country's 200th anniversary, many Americans organized locally to reflect their communities’ spirit. Among the thousands of events were tree plantings in New Jersey, beach cleanups in Puerto Rico, a piñata festival in New Mexico, and historic reenactments across the country, including the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. 

    Uncle Sam Float in the American Bicentennial Grand Parade, 1976

    Uncle Sam Float in the American Bicentennial Grand Parade, 1976. National Archives, Records of the U.S. Information Agency

    View in the National Archives Catalog

  • A Full Schedule

    During the bicentennial planning, the federal government supported and coordinated the thousands of events. This calendar shows a sample of what was happening in July 1976. NASA’s history-making Viking spacecraft was scheduled to land on Mars on July 4. To ensure a safer landing, it was delayed until July 20. 

    July Calendar of Events, 1976

    July Calendar of Events, 1976. National Archives, Records of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration

    View in the National Archives Catalog

  • “Get into America”

    Young Americans led many bicentennial programs. Student theater groups toured, interns interviewed community elders, high schoolers cleaned Revolutionary War graves, and Girl Scouts wrote family histories. This brochure was handed out to motivate young people to join the variety of bicentennial projects in motion.

    "Get Into America" Youth Brochure, 1976

    Youth Brochure, 1976. National Archives, Records of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration

    View in the National Archives Catalog

  • July 4, 1976

    On July 4, 1976, a variety of marches, gatherings, and demonstrations took place. President Gerald Ford spoke at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where pioneer wagons had completed a 17,000-mile pilgrimage. The Trail of Self-Determination was another cross-country journey that departed from Yakima Nation in Washington State and arrived at the White House on July 4 to voice Native rights. 

    Photograph of the Trail of Self-Determination, 1976

    Photograph of the Trail of Self-Determination, 1976. Provided with permission of the DC Public Library, Star Collection © Washington Post

  • Washington, DC: Crowd Covers Grounds of the Washington Monument Prior to July 4 Fireworks, 1976
    • Washington, DC: Crowd Covers Grounds of the Washington Monument Prior to July 4 Fireworks, 1976
    Illustration from Frank Leslie's Historical Register of the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876
    U.S. Government Building, International Exhibition, 1876
    Photograph of Edmonia Lewis by Henry Rocher, c.1870
    Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States, July 4, 1876
    President Gerald Ford Delivering Remarks at Valley Forge State Park, 1976
    Uncle Sam Float in the American Bicentennial Grand Parade, 1976
    July Calendar of Events, 1976
    "Get Into America" Youth Brochure, 1976
    Photograph of the Trail of Self-Determination, 1976
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