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.
JUNE DEPARTURE
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.
The above info was taken from the BICENTENNIAL WAGON TRAIN PILGRIMAGE to
Pennsylvania 1975 - 1976
OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAM
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