How Johnson County celebrated America’s Bicentennial in 1976
Check out this selection of photographs depicting how communities across Johnson County prepped for and celebrated America's 200th birthday.
A float in the Shawnee Fourth of July parade in 1976. Photo courtesy Johnson County Museum.
This weekend, Johnson Countians will celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday with fireworks, festivals and parades.
Fifty years ago, the celebration was even bigger.
The planning for the United States Bicentennial in 1976 took over two years, as Johnson County cities, schools, businesses and volunteer organizations worked together to organize events honoring the country’s history.
They found creative ways to celebrate, like through historical reenactments, theater and crafts.
Here’s a look back at how Johnson County celebrated the Bicentennial in 1976. Historical records depicted in this story came from Daily News Olathe and Johnson County Museum archives.
The Johnson County Bicentennial Committee in November 1976. Photo courtesy Johnson County Museum.Santa Fe Trail junior high students performed “Let George Do It!,” a Bicentennial musical. Photo via Daily News Olathe archive.During a weeklong Bicentennial celebration in spring 1976, Spring Hill Middle School students learned about early American crafts like a spinning wheel. Photo via Daily News Olathe archive.A “paint a plug” project had community members paint hundreds of fire hydrants to celebrate the Bicentennial. Photo courtesy Johnson County Museum.Lenexa residents stitched together a Bicentennial quilt featuring local landmarks, historic buildings and scenes from the city’s past. Photo via Daily News Olathe archive.A float in Shawnee’s bicentennial Fourth of July parade. Photo courtesy Johnson County Museum.
? Hi! I’m Kate Mays, and I cover Olathe for the Johnson County Post.
I grew up in Lenexa and graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest. I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas where I produced podcasts for 90.7 KJHK. I went on to get a master’s in journalism from New York University. Before joining the Post, I interned for the Kansas City Business Journal and KCUR and produced an investigative, true-crime podcast.
Have a story idea or a comment about our coverage you’d like to share? Email me at [email protected].
