What train began the official United States Bicentennial events in Wilmington, Delaware, on April 1, 1975?

The American Freedom Train began the official United States Bicentennial events in Wilmington, Delaware, on April 1, 1975.

The train was a traveling exhibition created for the nation’s 200th anniversary. Its cars carried historic objects connected with American history, culture, government, science, and popular life. Rather than concentrating the celebration in one city, the train brought the exhibition to communities across the country.

Its tour lasted 21 months and covered the 48 contiguous United States. The train displayed objects ranging from important documents and artifacts to cultural items representing everyday American experiences. Large crowds visited it during stops along its route.

The American Freedom Train is sometimes confused with the Freedom Train of 1947–1949, an earlier nationwide exhibition. The later train was specifically created for the Bicentennial and began its tour in 1975, before the anniversary year reached its climax on July 4, 1976.