Mountain Lake PBS Celebrates Lake Placid and the Winter Games

The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances held during the mid-1970s to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was a major commemoration of the American Revolution. Official Bicentennial events began in April 1975 and culminated on July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration's adoption by the Second Continental Congress. Planning began in 1966, when the United States Congress established the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. The Commission initially proposed a single exposition in either Philadelphia or Boston, but Congress later replaced it with the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, which coordinated a decentralized national program of commemorations. Between March 1975 and December 1976, tens of thousands of events and projects were held in the United States and abroad. Major observances included the American Freedom Train, commemorations of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Operation Sail, and thousands of locally sponsored events, including parades, historical reenactments, and fireworks displays. The Bicentennial inspired numerous commemorative works, including television programs and films such as the Bicentennial Minutes, the Schoolhouse Rock! series "America Rock", and John Huston's short film Independence. It was also commemorated through redesigned coinage, postage stamps, exhibitions, sporting events, and commercial products. Other major Bicentennial observances included the Festival of American Folklife, the opening of the new National Air and Space Museum building, international participation in Operation Sail, state visits, and gifts from foreign governments. Its official symbol was a widely used red, white, and blue star logo designed by Bruce Blackburn.