How past presidents celebrated milestone U.S. independence anniversaries

As the United States gets ready to celebrate a milestone anniversary this summer, here’s how past presidents marked the nation鈥檚 biggest birthdays.

For the 1976 Bicentennial, then-President Gerald Ford attended a tall ships celebration and a massive July 4th fireworks display in New York, and welcomed Great Britain鈥檚 Queen Elizabeth II.

“Ford, of course, was locked in a tight race with former California Governor Ronald Reagan for the Republican (presidential) nomination, so he effectively used the bicentennial trappings to drape himself in patriotism,” presidential historian Craig Shirley said.

It was a big bash. But just 50 years earlier, at the nation鈥檚 150th anniversary, President Calvin Coolidge wanted fewer parades and less pomp.

鈥淚t really wasn鈥檛 his style,鈥� Shirley said. 鈥淎 coin was cast in Coolidge鈥檚 image on it, but it didn’t have the expansive nature that the 200 or 250th anniversary had. By comparison 鈥� it was pretty tame.鈥�

Shirley, who has written several books about the presidents, said today’s Americans appreciate a more festive celebration.

鈥淲e like it as a big event because it鈥檚 grown on us,鈥� he said.

The United States’ 100th Independence Day, in 1876, arrived as the nation was recovering from the Civil War. But Ulysses S. Grant鈥檚 presidency managed to mark the occasion with a day of Thanksgiving.

鈥�There was a Civil War cast to it 鈥� with听a lot of Civil War veterans marching and parades in Washington, and of course, fireworks听and things like that, and barbecues, and banquets,鈥� he said. “The White House was opened up to听people to come and greet the president, and it was significant, but it didn’t again have the momentous events that we associate today听with the 250th anniversary.”

Presidential parties were not always about celebrating the nation’s independence. Shirley said one of the most memorable White House events happened during the Andrew Jackson administration.

Jackson was gifted with a 1,400-pound cheddar cheese wheel by New York farmers. In 1837, he opened the people鈥檚 house on George Washington’s birthday and served it to everyone.

鈥淥f course, it spilled all over the floor, and the White House actually reeked for months thereafter,鈥� Shirley said.

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