Comparing America’s 250th with its 200th

President Gerald Ford and Queen Elizabeth dance at the White House. COURTESY OF GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY. PHOTO BY RICARDO THOMAS.

By Linda Cicoira

Fifty years ago, when the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the rest of the country celebrated the 200th birthday of our nation, there seemed to be more excitement in the air.

It was the Spirit of ’76, after all. A birthday that ended with two zeroes. There were celebrations, fireworks, and other events happening that were similar to this, the 250th. But somehow, there was a more magical feeling in the air. Or we were just captivated children back then.

Maybe it was because Virginia was, as printed in a state magazine, “at the epicenter of the U.S. Bicentennial. The commonwealth experienced a year marked by a historic royal visit to Virginia from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on July 10, 1976. An estimated 18,000 lined the lawn at the University of Virginia to watch her stroll, and Gov. Mills E. Godwin hosted a luncheon in the Dome Room of the Rotunda for the occasion.

The queen presented Godwin with the Letters Patent dated June 3, 1976, which devised arms, crest and supporters for Virginia. Because the design included the royal crown and quarterings of the royal arms, the Queen had to approve the design, which was used by the Virginia Merchants and the Colony of Virginia from about 1620 until 1776.

Unfortunately, about a week later, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Washington, D.C., things didn’t go as well. A White House dinner was being held and Pres. Gerald Ford asked the queen to dance just as the U.S. Marine Band launched into the song “The Lady Is a Tramp.”

Colonial Williamsburg also got lots of national attention back then and served as a living time capsule for tourists exploring the 18th century.

There were other milestones in the country that year. The Apple Computer Company was established on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. The National Air and Space Museum opened on July 1, 1976. Two Viking Landers were launched in 1975 and touched down on the surface of Mars in 1976.

The supersonic Concorde officially began its first commercial passenger flights, changing transatlantic travel that year. Following an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976, a mysterious outbreak of a severe form of pneumonia occurred and was later named Legionnaires’ disease. And, baseball legend Hank Aaron hit the 755th and final home run of his career, a record that stood for 31 years.

President Gerald Ford and Queen Elizabeth dance at the White House.

COURTESY OF GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY. PHOTO BY RICARDO THOMAS.