1976 Bicentennial in Indiana

2026 marks the 250th anniversary--also known as the Semiquincentennial-- of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an observation recognized in fifty-year intervals in the United States since 1876.

As we commemorate the Semiquincentennial, this tour takes a look back at how Indiana remembered the American Revolutionary era fifty years ago in 1976 during the nation's Bicentennial.

The U.S. Government created the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (ARBC) in 1966. The ARBC conceptualized the commemoration as a way to bring people together by promoting a common national narrative and wanted to hold a central celebration in Philadelphia. The American people pushed back, advocating for more localized observances and the freedom to interpret the milestone's meaning.

In 1973, the ARBC was replaced by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA), which provided funding to the states for state-wide and local Bicentennial events. This allowed for more local control and increased attempts to include more diverse voices. As seen in this tour, while some efforts were met with success, others relied on inaccurate and sometimes harmful stereotypes, typically caused by lack of representation in planning.

Some stops on this tour show how the federal government’s role evolved over the course of planning the Bicentennial, while others show the event’s commercialization. One tour stop discusses how activists focused on reviving what they saw as America’s Revolutionary spirit, rather than on commercially-driven “sellabrations.” Grassroots festivities also occurred, with communities holding events like celebratory pageants and painting fire hydrants.

As you explore this tour, consider what lessons about the American Revolution people participating in these events in 1976 might have learned. What lessons will people be learning in 2026 during the nation's Semiquincentennial?