Who designed the official red, white, and blue logo of the 1976 United States bicentennial?

Bruce Blackburn designed the official red, white, and blue logo of the 1976 United States bicentennial.

The emblem featured a white five-point star inside a stylized red, white, and blue star. It was surrounded by the words “American Revolution Bicentennial 1776–1976,” set in Helvetica. The design became one of the most recognizable visual symbols of the anniversary.

Blackburn was a graphic designer who later co-designed NASA’s modernized insignia. The bicentennial emblem appeared on government flags, postage stamps, souvenirs, and many public displays throughout the United States.

An early use of the logo appeared on a 1971 U.S. postage stamp, several years before the anniversary itself. Its widespread use illustrates how national commemorations rely not only on ceremonies and historical exhibitions but also on consistent public branding.