In 1976, the United States marked 200 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence—but it wasn’t just about fireworks and parades. On a national level, the Bicentennial celebrated famous leaders and events from 1776. As the country grappled with foreign and domestic issues, citizens reflected on what freedom meant. People in communities throughout North Carolina used the Bicentennial to share their own stories. Join America 250 NC Educator Alana Gomez, Correspondence Assistant Annabeth Poe, podcast intern Emily Johnson, and host John Horan as they reflect on the 1976 Bicentennial and this year's 250th commemoration of the United States of America.
Learn more at https://www.america250.nc.gov/.
Primary Sources:
North Carolina American Revolution Bicentennial Committee Record Group, SR.60: Series 3, Committee Minutes File, 1969-1976; Series 10, North Carolina Bicentennial Committee Project File, 1968-1976; Series 18: Publications File, 1971-1976 .
News and Observer Negative File, Tuscarora Protest Photos, 1973. NO.8Apr1973.2, News and Observer Negative Collection, State Archives of N.C., https://appx.archives.ncdcr.gov/findingaids/PHC_NEWSOBSERVER_News_and_Obser_.html. Copyrighted by the N&O.
External Primary Sources:
Daly, Christopher B. “The Peoples Bicentennial Commission: Slouching Towards the Economic Revolution.” The Harvard Crimson, 28 April 1975, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1975/4/28/the-peoples-bicentennial-commission-pif-you/.
Sluder, Rick. “All-American Bicentennial Home Oozes with Patriotism,” News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), 12 January 1976, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=rick%20sluder%20oozes&docref=image/v2%3A142AF7DDEFE5AB9C%40EANX-NB-15747E95EE882247%402442790-1570AB882C395BDE%409-1570AB882C395BDE%40.
Wood, Ernie. “Blacks Protest at Halifax Event,” News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), 13 April 1976, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=EANX-NB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=blacks%20protest%20event%20at%20halifax&docref=image/v2%3A142AF7DDEFE5AB9C%40EANX-NB-1570DF18349B57A9%402442882-156DFB9DC8404844%401-156DFB9DC8404844%40.
Secondary Sources:
Gordon, Tammy. The Spirit of 1976 Commerce, Community, and the Politics of Commemoration, 2013. University of Massachusetts Press, https://www.umasspress.com/9781625340436/the-spirit-of-1976/.
NC listings in the National Register of Historic Places, N.C. State Historic Preservation Office, https://www.hpo.nc.gov/survey-and-national-register/national-register-historic-places/nc-listings-national-register-historic-places.
“Spirit of ‘76 in North Carolina.” America 250 NC, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/083aedd5fb824e4bacc0289867930269.
Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, North Carolina Museum of History, Tar Heel Junior Historian, Fall 1976, v.16: no.1, North Carolina Digital State Publications Collection, Library of North Carolina, https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/tar-heel-junior-historian-1976-fall-v.16-no.1/3704586?item=4498450.
Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, North Carolina Museum of History, Tar Heel Junior Historian, February 1975, v.14: no.3, North Carolina Digital State Publications Collection, Library of North Carolina, https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/tar-heel-junior-historian-1975-february-v.14-no.3/3704570?item=4498368.
Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, North Carolina Museum of History, Tar Heel Junior Historian, Fall 1975, v.15: no.1, North Carolina Digital State Publications Collection, Library of North Carolina, https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/tar-heel-junior-historian-1975-fall-v.15-no.1/3704583?item=4498540.
Wines, Larry. “The Story of the 1975 – 1976 American Freedom Train.” (n.d.), https://www.freedomtrain.org/american-freedom-train-home.htm .
Wolford, Taylor. “Tuscarora Protest of 1973.” News, NC State University Libraries, North Carolina State University, 2023, April 17, https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/news/special-collections/tuscarora-protest-1973.
Special thank you to those who shared their Bicentennial memories with us, including:
Kevin Brice
Elizabeth Hayden
Michael Sagar
Karen Thornton
Steve Tracey
Katharine Kennedy
