Anaheim High’s Class of 1976 graduates had a Colonist connection to America’s Bicentennial, making their senior year even more special.
The 1976 yearbook, Vintage ’76, was designed to commemorate the nation’s 200th birthday with a rich gold cover embossed with the Great Seal of the United States and the iconic second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence boxed in red, white and blue.
The Class of ’76 could not resist painting its class year in red, white and blue on the athletic field stadium, which was a first time blue and gold wasn’t the color scheme for this long-time tradition.
Among the many activities and observances centered on the Bicentennial was the arrival of the 1976 Freedom Train that stopped at Angels Stadium between January 9 to13.
The American Freedom Train was a 26-car train pulled by three steam engines that toured the United States from 1975 to 1976 as a centerpiece of the country’s Bicentennial celebration. Pulled by three restored steam locomotives, it carried hundreds of artifacts and documents representing American history and culture, with over 7 million people visiting its exhibits.
Tens of millions of Americans saw the train as it made its way across the United States, including Anaheim High students. As documented in the Feb. 6, 1976 Anoranco, the school newspaper, 300 students boarded buses to visit the museum on wheels on January 12th.
The article gave a good description of the experience:
“American’s Bicentennial has started full steam ahead at Anaheim High School with the arrival and departure of the American Freedom Train. . .
Over 100,000 people in the waited in lines up to six hours long to get a glimpse of some of America’s past history.
The train was divided into individual sections covering different aspects of America’s life and growth. The sections enjoyed most by students were the entertainment and sports sections.
The students had the opportunity to see Lincoln’s theater chair that he was assassinated in, Babe Ruth’s bat, artifacts from colonial times and hundreds of more interesting items.
The complaint of many was the short amount of time they spent looking at the displays in the train. They were taken through the train on a moving belt and were not able to spend much time looking over the displays. The 6-hour waiting line seemed a high price to pay for the 20-minute tour. Many booths were set up for people to keep occupied in the waiting process, but this seemed to slower the line down.
The event proved to be educational and entertaining for the many students and teachers that participated.”
One memory on Facebook stated that Anaheim High’s Drill Team, the High Steppers, performed at the Anaheim Stadium train stop to entertain those waiting in line.
In 1976, the AHS Drill Team and Band performed at the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) Annual Spectacular that celebrated the Bicentennial with special musical arrangements, hundreds of students carrying banners and flags, and more than 1,000 senior high school musicians performing “Sounds of Freedom,” a Bicentennial salute to our nation’s musical heritage.
Were you one of the students who participated in Bicentennial activities and celebrations? Please share your memories by clicking on the Comments Icon at the top of the post.
