How many people visited the American Freedom Train during its 1975–1976 Bicentennial tour?

More than 7 million people visited the American Freedom Train during its 1975–1976 Bicentennial tour.

The train was a 26-car traveling exhibition created to bring American history and culture directly to communities. Its displays included important documents, artifacts, artworks, and objects connected with the nation’s past. The tour began in Wilmington, Delaware, on April 1, 1975, and ended on December 31, 1976.

The route covered all 48 contiguous states. Three restored steam locomotives hauled the train in different regions, although diesel locomotives were used on portions of the route because of railroad conditions and operational requirements.

The attendance figure shows why the train became one of the most visible Bicentennial projects. It was not a single parade or museum exhibition in one city; it was a nationwide traveling attraction. Millions more people also watched the train pass through their communities without entering the exhibition.