As the United States gears up for the Semiquincentennial in 2026, LebTown looks back on how Lebanon County celebrated the nation’s 200th anniversary nearly 50 years ago.
1976 was an exciting year for Lebanon County residents, with events ranging from parades and reenactments to a bicentennial ball. The local art, music, and theater scenes also celebrated the nation’s birth.
For the nation’s 50th birthday, a bicentennial wagon train made a trek through all 50 states. The train went through Lebanon County, stopping for a break at Quentin Riding Club.
The train’s reception garnered at least 30,000 attendees, the Lebanon Daily News reported in August 1976.
Patriotic parades throughout the county
While Lebanon holds parades annually, 1976 was an especially busy-year for parade-goers.
From a Bicentennial parade in Fredericksburg to a Jaycees parade in South Lebanon to Memorial Day parades in the City of Lebanon and Newmanstown, patriotic spirits were high.
Student creatives celebrate the Bicentennial
Cedar Crest High School then-senior Lindsay Lape spent fall of 1976 painting a mural of 21 scenes from American history on the wall of a school classroom.
The mural was mostly brown, with a red, white and blue American flag and Bicentennial symbol.
Schaefferstown Elementary School fourth-grade students starred in a Bicentennial-themed radio program.
Their repertoire ranged from colonial hymns originating before the American Revolution to patriotic songs like “Yankee Doodle.”
A chance to sign the Constitution, buried in a time capsule
One unique opportunity was for residents to sign a copy of the U.S. Constitution, complete with a local rededication clause, which was to be displayed in downtown Lebanon throughout April and May.
As part of the festivities, a time capsule was buried at the base of a new liberty pole in Coleman Park during a community activities day on June 9, 1976. This 18-inch deep, 8-inch diameter capsule was designed to contain signatures of local residents, a new set of Lebanon Resolves drafted after a city meeting, and other commemorative items.
The Bicentennial Committee arranged for the capsule to be sealed with a combination lock and covered with a temporary plaque, to be replaced by a permanent one in 1977.
In a nod to future generations, the committee stipulated that the capsule should be unearthed in 50 years and then reburied for another half-century, ensuring that Lebanon’s bicentennial celebration would resonate well into the future.
The time capsule will be opened in 2026 – assuming the city can find the combination.
Read More: Lebanon wants to open time capsule on America’s 250th – if it can figure out how
Remembering the birth of a nation
On July 8, 1976, the Rev. Harry Richwine read the Declaration of Independence to hundreds gathered by Old Salem Church.
A copy of the Declaration was brought to Richwine by a rider on horseback, accompanied by a police color guard and the Hanover Rifle Company.
The event was a reenactment of the day word first reached Lebanon of the rising American Revolution.
Lebanon Daily News, Dec. 31 1976.
Semiquincentennial plans in the works
The Lebanon County Committee of America250 is actively planning for the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.
The committee recently approached county commissioners with two funding requests: $10,000 for immediate needs through 2024, and additional funding for events leading up to July 4, 2026.
The group aims to educate local residents about the upcoming semiquincentennial, as public awareness is currently low. Proposed ideas include creating a county-specific historic mosaic, an expanded fireworks display, and a community-wide picnic. The committee is also considering producing a replica of the Liberty Bell, as requested by state officials.
Visit Lebanon Valley, the county’s tourism agency, has committed $45,000 over three years for marketing the celebration.
The committee is working on involving local nonprofits, city officials, and tourism initiatives in the planning process, with a focus on highlighting Lebanon County’s history and instilling pride in the community.
Read More: Lebanon County officials get funding requests for nation’s birthday celebration
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