Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This 16mm film contains the short “Bicentennial U.S.A.” produced by the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. It describes the various activities and events that were planned throughout the United States for the Bicentennial in 1976. The film discusses the small, grassroots committees that were formed throughout the country to organize local events and commemorations. It also summarizes the three themes of the Bicentennial: Heritage 76 (focusing on the past), Festival U.S.A. (focusing on the present), and Horizon 76 (focusing on the future).
Throughout the film, the narrator discusses various activities undertaken to celebrate the Bicentennial, including reenactments, displays of sailing ships, remembrances of important figures such as Frederick Douglass, and the restoration of historic buildings. He also mentions the ways music, the arts, and theater were used to celebrate, as well as the importance of historical dramatization, oral histories, and cultural displays by minority and ethnic groups, including Native Americans. The short piece concludes by emphasizing the importance of setting goals for America's future and the significance of the Bicentennial to individuals.
After this, there is a brief segment featuring John Warner, the administrator of the nation's Bicentennial. He is filmed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and discusses the importance of the historical documents present there.
If you enjoyed the video, please make sure to give it a like as it lets us know what kind of content everyone wants to see. For more videos like this, explore our YouTube channel. We post historical footage from the Archives every week so if you’re interested be sure to subscribe.
Resource Identifier: 1922-000-004_03mp
FOLLOW:
Website - archives.delaware.gov
Subscribe - youtube.com/channel/UC7_WXMeC-vpYdJmxBIJR7uQ
Instagram - instagram.com/DEPublicArchives
Facebook - facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives
Twitter - twitter.com/DEPublicArchive
#explore #history
This 16mm film contains the short “Bicentennial U.S.A.” produced by the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. It describes the various activities and events that were planned throughout the United States for the Bicentennial in 1976. The film discusses the small, grassroots committees that were formed throughout the country to organize local events and commemorations. It also summarizes the three themes of the Bicentennial: Heritage 76 (focusing on the past), Festival U.S.A. (focusing on the present), and Horizon 76 (focusing on the future).
Throughout the film, the narrator discusses various activities undertaken to celebrate the Bicentennial, including reenactments, displays of sailing ships, remembrances of important figures such as Frederick Douglass, and the restoration of historic buildings. He also mentions the ways music, the arts, and theater were used to celebrate, as well as the importance of historical dramatization, oral histories, and cultural displays by minority and ethnic groups, including Native Americans. The short piece concludes by emphasizing the importance of setting goals for America's future and the significance of the Bicentennial to individuals.
After this, there is a brief segment featuring John Warner, the administrator of the nation's Bicentennial. He is filmed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and discusses the importance of the historical documents present there.
If you enjoyed the video, please make sure to give it a like as it lets us know what kind of content everyone wants to see. For more videos like this, explore our YouTube channel. We post historical footage from the Archives every week so if you’re interested be sure to subscribe.
Resource Identifier: 1922-000-004_03mp
FOLLOW:
Website - archives.delaware.gov
Subscribe - youtube.com/channel/UC7_WXMeC-vpYdJmxBIJR7uQ
Instagram - instagram.com/DEPublicArchives
Facebook - facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives
Twitter - twitter.com/DEPublicArchive
#explore #history
