American Freedom Train 1976 era
W. H. Lyons Fairgrounds
The American Freedom Train rolled from town to town leading up to the US Bicentennial in 1976.
Those of us who were around during the US Bicentennial may remember the over-abundance of red, white and blue things that pervaded life during that time. The nation was extra-patriotic for about two years starting in 1975. It was like every day was the 4th of July. As a kid at the time, I loved it. It served as fuel for US history studies in school. Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam set aside their differences to limp down the road playing the Army fife and drum marching tune “The Girl I Left Behind Me”. This piece was shown every Saturday morning on the Bugs Bunny Road Runner Hour on CBS. Over on ABC, Schoolhouse Rock leaned heavily on its America Rocks episodes, which included the Preamble and I’m Just a Bill, among others. Adding to this patriotic fervor was the American Freedom Train, which was opened to the viewing public on Sunday September 7, 1975 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.
The American Freedom Train was a 25-car train that toured the country for 21 months, traveling over 17,000 miles to promote the Bicentennial. The train stopped in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. Sioux Falls was the traveling museum’s 32nd stop.
In advance of the train’s arrival, the Sioux Falls Bicentennial committee spent $2000 to upgrade overpasses and bridges that would carry the train to the fairground. The train’s engine was expected to weigh 450 tons, 900,000 pounds, and these lines hadn’t seen anything that heavy in a long time.
In advance of the train’s arrival, the Sioux Falls Bicentennial committee spent $2000 to upgrade overpasses and bridges that would carry the train to the fairground. The train’s engine was expected to weigh 450 tons, 900,000 pounds, and these lines hadn’t seen anything that heavy in a long time.
The opening ceremonies started at 2 p.m. with the posting of colors by the El Riad Shrine Fife and Drum Corps. The American Legion Chorus sang the national anthem, accompanied by the Sioux Falls Municipal Band. There was an invocation by Monsignor Sullivan of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, followed by welcoming remarks by Mayor Rick Knobe. After the opening ceremonies, the band continued playing patriotic music for the enjoyment of the nearly 11,000 visitors to the train that day.
The American Freedom Train had 11 display cars containing memorabilia of varied subjects, from the founding of the country, to exploration and innovation. Each car represented a different subject. Documents on the train included Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten draft of the Articles of the Confederation, a 1776 edition of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the original manuscript of Julia Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic, and others.
There were two showcase cars, which were converted baggage cars with windows on both sides, big enough to display the items within. The first one included a model of the B&O Railroad's Arabian steam locomotive, the Friendship Fire Engine from George Washington’s fire company, and a 1904 Oldsmobile. The second showcase car contained the American Freedom Bell, a replica of the Liberty Bell, sans crack, which was 2x as big as the original, a lighted map of the Freedom Train’s journey though the US, and a Lunar Rover like the one used on the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 moon missions.
The American Freedom Train’s visit was not without some drama. A group called the People’s Bicentennial Commission, or PBC had representatives present handing out pamphlets protesting the commercial aspects of the Bicentennial fervor. The PBC representatives, who were mostly young people, did not cause a scene, but got their point across peacefully.
The American Freedom Train had 11 display cars containing memorabilia of varied subjects, from the founding of the country, to exploration and innovation. Each car represented a different subject. Documents on the train included Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten draft of the Articles of the Confederation, a 1776 edition of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the original manuscript of Julia Ward Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic, and others.
There were two showcase cars, which were converted baggage cars with windows on both sides, big enough to display the items within. The first one included a model of the B&O Railroad's Arabian steam locomotive, the Friendship Fire Engine from George Washington’s fire company, and a 1904 Oldsmobile. The second showcase car contained the American Freedom Bell, a replica of the Liberty Bell, sans crack, which was 2x as big as the original, a lighted map of the Freedom Train’s journey though the US, and a Lunar Rover like the one used on the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 moon missions.
The American Freedom Train’s visit was not without some drama. A group called the People’s Bicentennial Commission, or PBC had representatives present handing out pamphlets protesting the commercial aspects of the Bicentennial fervor. The PBC representatives, who were mostly young people, did not cause a scene, but got their point across peacefully.
Images courtesy of the National Archives
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