On July 4, 2026 the United States of America celebrated its 250th birthday. The semiquincentennial. Many of you remember celebrating the bicentennial in 1976. So let’s turn on the “way-back” machine and see how the 250th compared to the 200th.

Gerald Ford was the president and The American Freedom Train, a private, non-political , and non-commercial train hit the rails. The train was inspired by the original Freedom Train that ran from 1947 through 1949. The train consisted of 26 cars spanning 1/2 mile, traveling through all 48 contiguous states from April 1975 through December 1976. This rolling, patriotically painted train carried over 500 artifacts from our nation that included George Washington’s copy of The Constitution of the United States, Judy Garland’s dress from The Wizard of Oz, a rock from the moon, Joe Frazier’s boxing shorts, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s pulpit and robes.

Cities and towns across the states celebrated with parades, cookouts, New York Harbor had a whopping 6 million spectators looking at 200 tall ships. School House Rock! taught us about American history, civics and of course a hit song, “I’m Just a Bill” that taught us how a bill becomes a law. Let’s not forget Queen Elizabeth II paid us a visit during that spectacular week! Her Majesty toured several states and had an official state dinner in Philadelphia. And as customary, she brought the U.S. a gift, a Bicentennial bell! The celebrations also brought a multitude of commemorative gifts and keepsakes from blankets to Christmas tree ornaments to a special quarter marked with 1776-1976. It was indeed a time of change and rebirth in 1776 and 1976 was one of the most patriotic times to be a part of.

Fast forward 50 years to the Semiquncentennial celebration. It was a magnificent display of 250 tall ships, surpassing the 1976 event and gave us the largest amount of these majestic vessels in one place, ever. Our friends from 20 different nations, including Peru, Germany, Italy, Ecuador, France, and Columbia, to name a few. Unfortunately the Freedom Train had to cancel in April due to financial and logistical reasons, however there was a surge in steam train enthusiasm. Union Pacific’s Big Boy has been traveling and made a visit to the Chicago area on June 4th traveling from West Chicago to South Holland. It will make another run through the area on July 16th from Fort Wayne to South Holland and again on July 17 from South Holland to Bloomington.

Not to be outdone by our 1976 predecessors, America celebrated with tradition. Events all over the country included parades, cookouts, Revolutionary War re-enactments, and fireworks. Lots and lots of big, beautiful, loud fireworks! Though we didn’t have British royalty come visit during our birthday week, we did and still are the host a little competition amongst the nations with The World Cup.

So happy birthday to the greatest country in the world! We kept up and surpassed the 200th, even if just a little and in a different way. Maybe the next milestone birthday will be even bigger!