Spirit of '76, originally titled Yankee Doodle, became an emblem of the 1976 United States Bicentennial.
Ohio artist Archibald Willard created the painting in 1875 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. It shows three Revolutionary War-era figures marching forward: a fife player, a drummer, and an older drummer. The image’s patriotic energy made it widely recognizable long before the 1976 anniversary.
The work acquired the title Spirit of '76 while it was touring in Boston. Its original tone was intended to be semi-humorous, but the death of Willard’s father, who modeled for one of the figures, influenced the painting’s more solemn and determined character.
The painting is often confused with the general phrase “Spirit of 1776,” which refers to revolutionary ideals and political sentiment. The specific artwork is a painting by Willard, and its best-known surviving display location is Abbot Hall in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Its imagery became especially prominent during the Bicentennial celebrations.