President’ s Message
News & Notes
President’ s Message
By Pamela Baird MVHA President
This newsletter is published four times a year by the MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION P. O. Box 252, Mountain View, CA 94042 www. mountainviewhistorical. org
MVHA Board of Directors
President: Pamela Baird Vice-President: Robert Cox Secretary: Jamil Shaikh Treasurer: Anthea Chung Past President: Nicholas Perry
Historical Data: David Salinero Membership: Position Open Newsletter: John Cortez Director-at-Large: Carol Donahue
Director-at-Large: IdaRose Sylvester Director-at-Large: Melanie Kaye
Newsletter Design & Layout by Nicholas Perry, Melanie Kaye and Pamela Baird
MVHA Board of Directors Email: info @ mountainviewhistorical. org
Upcoming Walking tours of Downtown Mountain View
http:// mvhistory. eventbrite. com /
Pamela Baird
This year the national, state and local celebrations and commemorations recognizing 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence have been modest or insignificant.
This started me wondering about other milestone
1926
1876
anniversaries- 1826, 1876, 1926 and 1976.
In 1826, about 11 million people lived in 24 states, almost all east of the Mississippi river. The 50th anniversary, or jubilee, was marked with many small local events, including speeches and bonfires. A celebration was held in Washington DC on July 4, primarily marked by a special program in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Listeners were encouraged to look to the past and to the future of our country. In an odd coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, original signers of the Declaration, died on July 4, 1826.
The centennial anniversary in 1876 was marked with nationwide celebrations. The population had grown to about 45 million people living in 38 states.
The centerpiece of the 100th anniversary celebrations was the Centennial Exposition( May 10- November 10), in Philadelphia, where the original signing occurred. It was attended by an estimated 10 million visitors from the US and abroad. Proudly displayed was new technology, including the typewriter and telephone. Those attending were introduced to novelties such as root beer, popcorn, and bananas.
After a ceremonial reading of the Declaration of Independence, Elizabeth Cady Stanton pushed forward to present the Declaration to Acting Vice-President Thomas W. Ferry on the Rights of Women. She was not authorized to speak at the Exposition. Women distributed printed copies of their declaration to those attending.
In 1926 the Sesquicentennial of the signing was observed. Again, an Exposition was held in Philadelphia. One the of the most impressive attractions was the gateway entrance to the Exposition – an 80-foot replica of the Liberty Bell that people, cars, and trucks passed under to enter.
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