The Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the founding of the United States is upon us tomorrow! As we approach a quarter millenia of the USA, my mind drifted to childhood memories of the Bicentennial and what a big deal it seemed to me as a burgeoning citizen of six years old. I’ve often wondered if my imagination filled in the size and scope of the event.
I’ve touched on this event in a recent article or two, and the lines seemed to be filling in my memory as accurate, but I still didn’t have all the facts.
Enter the East Tennessee History Center, McClung Historical Collection and the Denbo Center for Humanities & the Arts at the University of Tennessee who discovered a treasure trove of information and put together the exhibit 1976: Knoxville Celebrates the American Bicentennial to allow us to reflect on the USA’s big birthday 50 years ago and how it affected Knoxville as a city.
The History Center is hosting an array of other events around the anniversary of America’s founding, which I will cover here as well.
Eric Dawson, Manager of the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, and I met to preview the new display at the East Tennessee History Center. He told me, “Dr. Katie Burnett from UT Denbo’s Center contacted me about collaborating on a project that would make use of the McClung Collection’s Greater Knoxville American Revolution Bicentennial Collection. A lot of that material is administrative records and planning committee notes, but there were also some souvenir items, pamphlets, booklets and, most interestingly, photographs from the various events that took place to celebrate the 1976 Bicentennial in Knoxville. So we settled on a small display of items with an accompanying slideshow of photographs.”
Dr. Burnett is the Associate Director of Transdisciplinary Programs at the Denbo Center. The display was born of a conversation between Burnett and her director, Dr. Amy Elias. They noted the lack of reflection back on America’s 200th birthday, and the project started to take form. After some research, Burnett discovered a collection of Bicentennial scrapbooks, notes and other ephemera discovered in the Calvin McClung collection.
Burnett previously worked with Dawson on a Cormac McCarthy research study, and asked, “Has anybody ever looked at this collection? And he was like, in fact, I don’t think anyone has opened it since 1976. So I was like, okay, well, let’s do it. And so that’s really how it came about.” Dawson and archivist Joanna Bouldin helped her to sort through the materials.
The archive was created by Barbara Ayres, who Inside of Knoxville previously interviewed about her time at the Carousel Theatre and as chair of the Knoxville Bicentennial Committee. Photos captured a spectrum of dignitaries to everyday people, including pictures of local Boy Scout troops raising the flag at Chilhowee Park, a favorite of Burnett’s.
I wanted to cover some of the exhibit in this article without giving away everything. The exhibit is well worth visiting.
1976: Knoxville Celebrates the American Bicentennial Exhibit
The Bicentennial in Knoxville, coordinated with the national committee, had a high level of civic engagement with our city creating several local events as well. The celebration also left a mark on Knoxville that lasts until this day.
Burnett reflected on the difference between the celebration of the Bicentennial and the Semiquincentennial, saying “the biggest difference that I’m noticing between now and the Bicentennial is how the Bicentennial was so multi-layered in the levels of engagement.” Pictures in the archive scale from large events to very local and small and features national celebrities to individual Knoxvillians whose names have been lost to time.
Parades, Concerts and Other Events
Burnett remarked that the parades were “something as simple as the marching band at Doyle High School, all the way up to this massive TVA caravan that went on for several months where they were showcasing the history of the United States.” The TVA & I Fair (I still call it that name today) opened the 1975 Fair with a parade named “The Star Spangled-A-Fair,” complete with Uncle Sam on stilts.
The 1976 version of the Pride of the Southland Band featured a special halftime show to mark the moment. Elements of this show were still in place when I marched with the Pride in the late 80s and early 90s.
The Veterans Day parade heavily featured Revolutionary War depictions and the afore-mentioned photo of the Doyle Pioneer Band. The Dogwood Arts parade featured actress Anita Bryant on a float. And, of course, several photos from the main Bicentennial parade are included in the display.
Concerts from local choirs, including the All-City High School Choir, the Sweet Adelines, and the Junior League Choral Group. Reenactments from around Knoxville are featured, including a series of fantastic photos from Marble Springs Historic Site Colonial Days.
Commemorations and Memorabilia
Commemorations are shown throughout, including a certificate of recognition to the Beck Cultural Center with Mayor Randy Tyree, Margaret Gaiter, Dr. Arthur Ford and Barbara Ayres.
A collection of memorabilia available to Knoxville’s residents is included in the video with a couple of examples in the collection space.
Burnett also noted the educational materials sent out by the National Committee. She said, “Some of the pieces in the collection are the general materials that were sent out to all of the different regional coordinating committees from the national committee of things that could be used for K-12 education.”
The Bicentennial Wagon Train Rides through Knoxville
I’ve previously written about the Wagon Train coming through Knoxville, an essential part of Barbara Swineford’s story, and had a chance to see some additional photos from this event. The year-long trip was a reverse pathway from the American West to Pennsylvania and passed through Knoxville as part of the Bicentennial in 1976.
A Legacy of Civic Infrastructure
The Bicentennial left its mark on modern day Knoxville as well. The bandstand at Chilhowee Park was built in 1910 but had a full renovation in 1976 to commemorate the Bicentennial. Photos of children dancing “the Bump” are featured in the display.
The exhibit also shows the commissioning of Knoxville’s riverfront Bicentennial Park. Never heard of it? We call it Volunteer Landing. Jack Neely has just released a fascinating narrative about the pathway that led straight through the Bicentennial resulting in the north riverfront we have today. I could not add to the subject. Go check it out on the Knoxville History Project.
Reflections on Engagement
Burnett concluded, “One of the joys of going through the Bicentennial collection of just seeing the way in which it was so thoughtfully put together, how there were so many different elements at play, and how people were just all in.”
Dawson reflected on the events: “This year is the United States Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary), and it’s been surprising that I’ve seen little mention of the 1976 Bicentennial, because it was such a major event nationwide. So it was great that Katie reached out wanting to use those materials in some way, to jog people’s memories a bit if they remember that time, or give an idea to younger folks who didn’t live through it, or immigrants who didn’t live here yet.”
As I’ve researched the events and scale of the Knoxville’s 1976 celebrations, I feel reasonably confident in saying that the Bicentennial’s local engagement shifted the attitudes of Knoxvillians in terms of what was possible. I would argue you don’t get 1982 and the World’s Fair (which blew my mind as a kid) without 1976. You can extrapolate the sequence of events that led to modern day Knoxville (especially downtown) from there.
Go visit the Knoxville Bicentennial Exhibit through July 17. Remember that admission to the East Tennessee History Center is free through February 14, 2027 through a generous donation by Marvin House. The center is closed today, Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 but will reopen on Sunday, July 5
Not only is the exhibit available, but several events are either presently running or are upcoming at the center. Here are some highlights that Dawson shared with me.
Touring American Revolution Experience
The Samuel Frazier chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is hosting the American Revolution Experience, but you only have through July 7 to view this free national touring exhibit. The experience features banners with information about the founding of America, a beautifully-produced video about the war and an interactive station to explore maps.
The brochure provided by the DAR notes that the exhibit is family-friendly and a great chance to learn about the Revolutionary War. The exhibit is free.
Lines Were Drawn Exhibit
I visited this new exhibit, available through Feb. 14, 2027, that covers the events of the Treaty of the Holston that led to the founding of Knoxville in 1791 as part of their Semiquincentennial observations. Pick up a pack of wooden tokens at the main desk to express your thoughts about issues of the time and how you would react today. Before you go, read Paul James’ article from yesterday, The Treaty of Holston: 235 Years Ago, a Pivotal Event Led to the Founding of Knoxville as a primer. It’s a fantastic overview of the period immediately following the founding of America and the impact on our collective memories.
Declaration: I am Tennessee Event
Poet Laureate Linda Parsons has assembled 30 selected writers discussing how Tennessee has shaped them, including personal essays, poetry and more. The launch will be Declaration: I am Tennessee, connected to the United States’ 250th Anniversary. Working with the Knoxville Writers Guild and the East Tennessee Historical Society, seven readers, including Mary Pom Claiborne, Jan Loveday Dickens, Donna Doyle, Bethany Lemons, R.B. Morris, Nancy Brennan Strange (with songs), Todd Steed and Parsons will present at the East Tennessee History Center on Thursday, July 16th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is unticketed and free.
East Tennessee History Fair with Remix the Past Film Contest
The History Center will host the East Tennessee History Fair on Aug. 15, 2026 with a Semiquincentennial theme. According to the center’s website, “This day-long celebration will take place in and around the East Tennessee History Center in downtown Knoxville and will include regional historic/cultural organizations, living history demonstrations, live music, crafts, film screenings, children’s activities, and more!”
Dawson noted an associated event this year called Remix the Past in association with the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS). Registrants pay a $25 entry fee to receive archival footage from TAMIS that they can remix with a theme of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Creators can colorize, change speed, add sound, and overlay dialogue and music. Two categories will exist: 30 seconds to 1 minute and 1 minute to 3 minutes. No video can exceed 3 minutes, credits included. A panel of judges will select the best in each category with 1-3 minutes receiving $500 and 30 seconds to 1 minute awarded $150.
Selected submissions will also be screened at the Tennessee Theatre during the History Fair. A digital poll of attendees will determine a third winner in the People’s Choice Award with the filmmaker receiving $250. All submissions are due July 15. More information can be found at the Knox County Library contest page.
Again, the East Tennessee History Center is free through February 14, 2027. Individuals and families visiting downtown have a great opportunity to take in world-class exhibits. I joined the center for a nominal fee to support their ongoing work to preserve the memory of Knoxville and East Tennessee. Ask about a membership at the front desk!
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