Hi! Welcome to the BI-CENTENNIAL WAGON TRAIN.
Within 100 years of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia in 1776, the American colonies had spread from the eastern seaboard almost 3000 miles to the Pacific.
Spurred by curiosity, ambition, wanderlust, restlessness, cheap land, and a craving for profit and adventure, a stream of men, women, and children travelled westward in covered wagons and on river barges to the fertile Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. From there trains of covered wagons struck out across the great expanse for California and Oregon, priming a westward flow that became a virtual flood by the mid-1800's.
During this Bicentennial year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is evoking the cry "Wagons, Ho!" and recalling this exciting chapter in America's history with a Wagon Train Pilgrimage East, back over the storied routes of the pioneers.
Pennsylvania is sponsoring the Pilgrimage to focus attention on the Commonwealth's key role in the birth of the nation, the American Revolution and the early movement west.
The Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania is unique among the myriad observances this year because it engages Americans of all ages, in every state, in a celebration of American ideals and invites them to rededicate themselves to those principles.
The Pilgrimage is a train of authentic covered wagons, one from each state, crossing America on the historic trails and wagon routes that teemed with westbound travellers in the early 1800's.
The Pilgrimage has provided each of the 50 states with a Conestoga Wagon or a Prairie Schooner and arranged for a teamster and horses for each wagon. The wagons were delivered early enough to give each state an opportunity to show its wagon at parades, fairs, and bicentennial events before it joined the pilgrimage.
The first wagons headed east from Blaine, Washington, in June, 1975. By fall, wagons from nine northwestern states were on the Oregon, Bozeman, Mormon and Lewis and Clark trails, headed for winter layovers in Wyoming and South Dakota.
During the winter, wagons from the southern states began rolling and by spring, wagons from all 50 states were moving in five caravans toward a July 4 rendezvous at Valley Forge, PA, the hallowed encampment of Washington's troops during the long winter of 1777 - 78.
The wagon caravans are magnetic.
Local wagon and carriage buffs, pleasure riders -- even entire horse clubs -- eagerly join the train as it crosses their county or state.
At most encampments, a troupe of performers travelling with the train puts on a sprightly, stirring musical created by the Department of Theater Arts of the Pennsylvania State University. And at each performance local singers, dancers, glee clubs or bands join in to enrich the show and bring the pilgrims and townspeople together in a festive celebration.
Not everyone is a horseman or a singer, however.
Thousands of people in quiet hamlets and bustling suburbs visit the wagon train encampments just for a look at a graceful Conestoga wagon, a real Prairie Schooner, a quaint chuck wagon. They come to see the horses -- proud Morgans, Arabians, thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, quarter horses -- which have borne this growing party East. They come to talk with the teamsters and outriders to share stories of the train and of the history of their own locale.
And spectators line up at the encampments to sign the Rededication Scrolls and affirm their commitment to the principles of freedom that are the foundation of America's growth and prosperity. These parchment scrolls are turned over to the wagonmaster at each night's encampment for delivery to Valley Forge.
I was among the priviledged few to actually see one of these TRAINS in my own hometown. The GREAT LAKES TRAIN, once it reached the western borders of Pennsylvania, broke into two trains. One half of this train took a northern route through Pennsylvania, while the other train took a more southern route. Both sections to rejoin forces south of Hazelton, PA.
And now my Friends, I would like to show you a little of what I saw on June 26, 1976, in Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., PA.
On June 27, 1976, my parents and myself went to Dallas, Luzerne Co., PA, which is located 16 miles South of Tunkhannock, and we saw the second half of the GREAT LAKES TRAIN.
This is an experience that will remain in my memory and in my heart forever.
Although this was an experience that I will never forget, what happened next is even more memorable.
On July 3, 1976, My Aunt, Mary Dimmick; My Uncle, John Cleveland, our friend, Eunice Hubbel, and myself left Tunkhannock, PA, for our summer vacation. What better way to start a summer vacation in the Bi - Centennial year, than to start at Valley Forge, PA.
We arrived in Valley Forge, PA just about 10:00 AM and checked into our hotel in Norristown shortly after. Norristown is about a 15 minute drive from Valley Forge. However, it took us 2 1/2 hours to get back to Valley Forge, as the traffic was beginning to mount, as the people came to see the Wagon Trains arrive. We finally arrived back at Valley Forge Park, and parked our car in the first spot we could find. We then walked the last mile to where the TRAINS were coming in.
The crowd that day was later estimated to be between 15,000 and 16,000 people.
As we left the fields where the Wagons had come in, we turned for one last look. It was quite a site to see all those STATE WAGONS parked side by side. The WAGONS will remain here now until September 1, when they will then be removed, back to their own states.
The tears are falling down our cheeks as we walk back to find our car. We are talking about what we have seen and realize that for all AMERICANS that this is a once in a lifetime thrill. We will never see anything that will come close to this experience ever again.
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