America 250: Siouxland went all out for nation's Bicentennial celebration
From the America 250: Stories from Iowa's history and how they've shaped the country series
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Abu Bekr Shrine members march south on Pierce Street, between Ninth and 10th streets, during a Bicentennial parade in downtown Sioux City in 1976.
Hello America! Beating the Bicentennial drums for the Ladies Association of Morningside Country Club stagette are Mrs. William (Connie) Crook, left, and Mrs. Keith Welcher, general chairman, in September 1975.
Western Iowa Tech Community College shop class students show off a cannon they made to commemorate the nation's Bicentennial. From left: Tom Mohing, Tom Schmitz, Les Schuldt, Charles Dent and David Schulte. The students fired off the cannon during a bicentennial celebratation at the Sioux City campus in April 1976.
Old-fashioned Laura Ingalls Wilder-style cotton dresses were a hot commodity in 1976.
Horse-drawn buggies -- or, in this case, a stagecoach -- were a frequent sight during the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976. In this photo, 99-year-old Leah Irvine (at left, holding the buggy whip) rides Al Palmer's stagecoach on June 29, 1976. Irvine, who was born July 4, 1876, played a prominent role in Sioux City's Bicentennial observations.
Three women with a large tissue paper bell decoration are shown in June 1976 at what is believed to be the Sioux City Boat Club.
Two young lads mount the steps on their way to inspect the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad’s Bicentennial American Eagle locomotive which visited Sioux City in August 1975. The engine was decorated in a symbolic American flag motif with cab and nose painted as head and beak of an American eagle. Numbered “1776”, the engine had 2,000 horsepower and a maximum speed of 76 m.p.h.
Mrs. Jack (Dolores) Vogt, left, and her daughter Carol of Bancroft, Neb., display a Bicentennial quilt they made as their own special project for the Bicentennial. Carol, a freelance artist, designed freehand drawing patterns for each quilt block depicting the state seal of each of the 50 U.S. states.
Washington Elementary School students march in commemoration of the Bicentennial Veterans Day on November 1975. They're reenacting the famous scene from Archibald Willard's iconic 1875 painting, "The Spirit of '76."
Arts and crafts played a prominent role in the Bicentennial commemorations. Here, samplers are shown in May 1976.
Schoolchildren show off their Bicentennial models depicting the White House, Mount Vernon and Monticello, May 1976.
Costumed reenactments were a big part of the Bicentennial in 1976, including in Sioux City.
Hunt Elementary students perform at a bicentennial program in Sioux City in 1976.
Bicentennial dolls were a special project of Mrs. Barbara Burnside’s class at Cooper School for American Education Week in November 1976. Students are, from left, Mark Gettner, Jamie Davis, Lillian Bracy, Dave Sorgdrager and Jenifer Foulk. Each school in the city was encouraged to promote American Education Week with some Bicentennial project.
Efforts were made in 1975 and 1976 to get kids involved in the Bicentennial celebrations.
An American flag painted on the side of a shed during the Bicentennial in June 1976.
Tricorn hats, cannons and powderhorns were back in style in a big way in 1976.
Washington School’s first graders carry small American flags and do some high stepping to Sousa’s Washington Post March during their Bicentennial Veterans’ Day ceremony in November 1975. The Morningside school’s 75 first graders practiced their formations for more than a month before their downtown debut.
Longfellow School fourth graders display large cookie sculptures portraying historic events at their Bicentennial program for parents and friends in November 1975. In pioneer costumes, from left, are Todd Ohl, Kevin Stieneke, Jeff Sales, Melody Bowen, Pam Lee, Stephenie Palmer and Vicki Kirchner. Their program was a narration of the history of Sioux City illustrated with murals. Their teachers were Mrs. Dorothy Shrader and Mrs. Ruth Hantla.
George Cole and John VanDyke show off a Bicentennial flag outside the old Sioux City Journal offices, October 1974.
Mrs. Dale Dicus, center and Mrs. Robert Batcheller sell a PTA membership to Mayor George Cole for use at Hunt School. The mayor chose Hunt since his wife teaches there and is also a new PTA member there. The 1975 PTA membership drive is Bicentennial themed, with each school using its own ideas for individual contests. While the nation celebrates its 200th birthday, the PTA is celebrating its 75th birthday. The PTA Council will be giving awards to all schools who have increased their membership over the past year when the drive closes. Mrs. Dicus and Mrs. Batcheller are the council membership chairmen.
Bicentennial celebrations at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, April 1976.
