In addition to this blog, I also keep a separate history blog - local history, of the North Central region of Pennsylvania. It stemmed from my genealogy research, when I started exploring the history around where my ancestors lived.. and it became yet another one of my too many hobbies. This year, 2026, I'm spending a good bit of time researching the Celebrations Of the Centennials. As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America, I'm curious about the celebrations that came before.
It's a bit of a long story. No surprise, since we are talking about 250 years. But essentially, the celebration was originally almost exclusively at one location. A giant worlds fair. The scale of this is mind boggling. When you look at what was built, what was created... long before all of our "modern conveniences", it is simply unbelievable. As a whole, Americans simply got a lot more done before the internet.
The 1926 Celebration was a bit of a disaster, to put it mildly. It's an interesting story, and a reminder that history repeats itself over and over. Most likely, because of that, but also because of the way our society had grown and changed, a large one location celebration was not planned for 1976. For the first time, celebrations would be held in individual communities and states. This is, from a modern viewpoint, slightly ironic. Travel was now so much "easier". Nearly everyone had a car. And now, there would be no long travels to the celebrations. The flip side of the "easier" transportation is the logistical mess. In 1876, and 1926, trains ran to specially built train stations for the celebrations. When transporting thousands of people, trains are so much more efficient than roads full of cars, which then require parking spaces.
1976 was also a mess, in some ways, but absolutely amazing in so many others. Fifty years later, with dozens more improvements to our modern conveniences, I am astounded by the amount of time and effort that went into these celebrations. Wagon trains, covered wagons enacting "history in reverse" by heading east, started out a year before July 1776. The American Freedom Train was organized, with all of those amazing artifacts traveling across the US. The floats were made of hand made flowers - families spent months making those flowers. Thousands of them. Women made quilts, and cross stitch samplers, commemorating the event. And many sewed costumes for their entire family.
I have one of these dresses, from the 1976 patterns - Butterick 4261 - in the attic, that I sewed as a teenager, on a 1940s sewing machine. It was around 1986 when I sewed it, as a 4-H project that doubled as a school project.
We still have 24 hours in a day, but we must be using them differently. Don't tell me it's because the women didn't work - it was 1976, most of them did. Also, I happen to be a housewife myself. My children are grown - although I do watch the grandchildren a lot. I still can't comprehend having the time. And yet.. when my kids were pre-teens, I DID sew an entire set of Wizard of Oz Costumes, for our entire family. And if I am honest, I could probably sew at least half of one of these dresses in the time it will take me to finish researching and writing this post.
All of that to say, here's a look at the costume patterns that were available for the 1776 Celebration:
Butterick
.webp) Butterick 4208; ©1976; Bicentennial issue costume pattern. Boys' Military & Statesman Costume circa 1776: Jacket, with or without contrast sleeve ruffle; vest, knickers, dickey, bandoleers and stock tie. This pattern was also available in Mens': Butterick 4207. |  Butterick 4209; ca. 1976; Loose fitting, shirt gathered into deep front and back yokes has pointed collar and front neckline slit, full full length sleeves gathered at caps and elasticized at wrist, and self tie belt. Straight legged knickers have elasticized waistline and lower edge. Purchased hat and powder horn. |  |
Butterick 4335; ca. 1976; Bicentennial Costume. Loose-fitting, evening length dress has elasticized scoop neckline and three-quarter length raglan sleeves with elastic forming self ruffle. Apron is gathered into waistband that extends into ties, with topstitch trim. Circular hat has elastic forming self ruffle. Triangular scarf is self-lined. | .webp) An Idea Sheet Of Authentic Fabric and Accessory Details from Butterick Patterns Included in each of these patterns. |  Butterick 4895; ca 1976; Spirit of '76. Full Color Permanent Transfers: Celebrate the Spirit of '76 with four fun Bicentennial transfers. Liven up the front of T-shirts, totes, placemats, quilts or anything made of fabric. |
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"According to the brochure, Butterick did a great deal of research into colonial Americans, so as to make the costumes as authentic as possible. They also consulted with Robert Pusilo, an antique clothing expert and Bicentennial costume consultant to get the fabric details correct. Mr Pusilo has a number of movie credits to his name (Klute and The Owl and the Pussycat among them), but also did Broadway costuming, most notably for Hello, Dolly. According to an article in the Atlanta Constitution in 1974, Mr Pusilo owned hundreds of articles of 18th century clothing, putting him in a unique position of being able to not only design for period clothing, but to handle the originals.
He felt that 18th century clothing wouldn’t lend itself to the mass marketing of the 1970’s, because the result would just be a 1970s version of the original. He had a real respect for the men’s shirts of the late 1700’s, stating that they were “truly comfortable”, in contrast to more modern shirts. Interestingly, Mr Pusilo is quoted in the article as saying that there were only a few houses in New York where appropriate fabric could be obtained for such period clothing, as the patterns used in that era were very distinct." - Vintage Fashion Librarian
Three accessories suggested were a gentleman’s can, a lady’s panier, and a lady’s sleeve ruffle. The insert gave instructions on how to make each of these accessories.
McCalls
 |  McCall's 4670; ©1975; Mens Unlined Jacket or Vest, Shirt and Ascot - "Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage". Yoked, buttoned jacket A,B or vest C has patch pockets. Jacket B has self fringe. Yoked, buttoned shirt has forward shoulder line, buttoned standing collar, sleeves gathered into buttoned duffs; shirt A,C has ascot. |  |
Simplicity
Simplicity 6739; ©1976; Boys/Teen Bicentennial Coat, Waistcoat, Shirt and Breeches: The shirt with lace or embroidered eyelet edging ruffles has back slit opening, button trimmed turn down stand up collar, long sleeves gathered with elastic casings and optional ribbon trim. The top stitched breeches with front bands have side button closings at waist and leg edges and leg bands fastened with buckles. The lined waistcoat has front button closing and self fabric flaps. The button trimmed coat with Napoleonic collar and collar band has contrasting collar, lapels, flaps, cuffs and coat facings and optional fringe trimmed shoulder tabs, braid loops and turned back button trimmed lower edge. |  Simplicity 6741; ©1974; Costumes for the Bicentennial. The shirt with lace or embroidered eyelet edging ruffles has back slit opening, buttoned trimmed turn down stand-up collar, long sleeves gathered into elastic casings and optional ribbon trim. The top-stitched breeches with front bands have side button closings at waist and leg edges and leg bands fastened with buckles. The lined waistcoat has front button closing and self-fabric flaps. The button trimmed coat with ‘Napoleonic’ collar and collar band has a contrasting collar, lapels, flaps, cuffs and coat facings and optional fringe-trimmed shoulder tabs, braid loops and turned back button trimmed lower edge. |  Simplicity 6787; ©1974; Costumes for the Bicentennial. Misses' Two-Piece Dress, Cap and Shawl: The lined bodice V. 1, 2 & 3 with contrasting front section has low round neckline, elbow length set-in sleeves, back zipper and optional boning. V. 1 & 2 bodice with contrasting neck and sleeve ruffles may be trimmed with novelty tri or with ribbon and bows. V. 3 bodice is trimmed with lace or eyelet edging and ribbon and bows. V. 1, 2 & 3 skirt gathered to waistband has back snap closing. V. 1 or 2 skirt features and overskirt off bodice fabric which can be tacked back revealing a contrasting facing. Shawl V. 1, 2 & 3 has self fabric ruffle. V. 1, 2 & 3 cap with elastic casing forming self ruffle has ribbon bow |
 Simplicity 6828; ©1974; Girls Costumes for the Bicentennial - Colonial Dresses - Two-Piece Dress, Cap and Shawl: The lined bodice V. 1, 2 & 3 with contrasting front section has low rounded neckline, elbow length set-in sleeves, back button closing and optional boning. V. 1 & 2 bodice with contrasting neck and sleeve ruffles may be trimmed with novelty trim or with ribbon and bows. V. 3 bodice is trimmed with lace or eyelet edging and ribbon and bows. V. 1, 2 & 3 gathered skirt with back snap closing has elastic encased in waistband. V. 1 or 2 skirt features an overskirt of bodice fabric which can be tacked back revealing a contrasting facing. Shawl V. 1, 2 & 3 has self fabric ruffle. V. 1, 2 & 3 cap with elastic casing forming self ruffle has ribbon bow. |  Simplicity 7776; ©1976; Child's Dress, Pinafore and Hat: Dress v. 1, 2, & 3 with skirt gathered to bodice above normal waistline has back zipper, long set in sleeves with elastic casings, contrasting collar and optional ribbon tie belt. Pinafore V.1 or 2 with back button closing has ruffles. Hat 1 or 2 has elastic casing. |  Simplicity 6916 is not a sewing pattern, but rather embroidery designs |
I don't know how patterns are numbered - but notice that only one of the patterns I have found so far is numbered 1776.
Vogue
|  Very Easy Vogue 1469; ca. 1976; Bicentennial Dresses - Misses' Vest, Blouse, Skirt and Shawl. Fitted, lined-to-edge vest has scooped neckline, cutaway armholes, shaped hemline and purchased lacing and eyelet front closing. Loose-fitting pullover blouse gas elasticized standaway ruffled neckline and purchased ribbon bow. Full, full-length raglan sleeves have elasticized wrists. Slightly flared above-ankle length skirt and ankle length under skirt gathered into waistband have side zipper closing and pre-gathered eyelet ruffle trim. Square shawl has pre-gathered eyelet trim. |  Little Vogue 1546; ca. 1976; Dolls and Clothes. Pattern includes doll body; jacket, hat, pants, shirt, vest, tie and shoes for Kris; dress, hat, apron, bloomers, and shoes for Katy; overalls, short, hat and shoes for Hiram; jumper, blouse, scarf, bloomers and shoes for Hildy; vest, jacket, shirt, pants, hat and shoes for John; dress, bloomers, and shoes for Abigail. NOTE: Pattern contains one set of non-reusable heat set transfers for embroidered doll faces. Dolls are approximately 16" tall. |
Misc:
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Mail Order 4929; ca. 1970s; Bicentennial Costume |
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READ MORE
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 1930s? Montgomery Ward Catalog |  DuBarry |  Butterick 1940s |
 McCalls 1988 Proudly We Are |  Butterick 1950s? |
Butterick 1960s |
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