Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day

.

For me, memories of Independence Day will forever carry the odor of discharged fireworks. I close my eyes and hear a boom with a flash of sparkling pyrotechnics overhead. I still tear up when I hear God Bless the U.S.A. [Proud to be an American] (by Lee Greenwood) over the loudspeakers during a firework show.

Memories are a beautiful blend of Ice cream, Popsicles, 100-degree weather, sunburns, dunking tanks, parades, 5K races, hotdog vendors, ice-cold Coke, and family cookouts. My hometown even had a parking lot dance after the fireworks.

.

Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day

.

Victorian America celebrated Independence Day in numerous ways, many we still enjoy today. Much patriotism and celebration of the holiday remains unchanged since the Civil War. I’ve curated newspaper articles from the nineteenth century United States. Together, they inform how the holiday was viewed, celebrated, honored, and cherished.

.

"Pyrotechnics" was in use from the mid 19-century on. Who knew?

Pyrotechnics” was in moderate (to high) use from the mid 19-century on. Who knew?

.

Decorations & Fireworks (for at-home use)

Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. The Petroleum Centre Daily Record of Cornplanter, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1869.

The Petroleum Centre Daily Record of Cornplanter, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1869.

.

The Gettysburg Address

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Lincoln's dedication of Gettysburg. Part 1. Monument up 1869. Harrisburg Telegraph of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1869

Lincoln’s dedication of Gettysburg. Part 1. Monument dedicated in 1869. Harrisburg Telegraph of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 1869.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Lincoln's dedication of Gettysburg. Part 2. Monument up 1869. Harrisburg Telegraph of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1869

Lincoln’s dedication of Gettysburg. Part 2. Monument dedicated in 1869. Harrisburg Telegraph of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 1869.

.

Note the prophetic last paragraph of the Gettysburg dedication (immediately above):

.

The Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776, and the speech of President Lincoln, July 4th, 1864, will go down to future generation as worthy to be read by freemen in all coming time.

.

~ Harrisburg Telegraph of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1869 (5 years after the Gettysburg address on July 4, 1864)

.

I memorized the Gettysburg Address in 8th grade history class, a required assignment I’ve yet to begrudge my teacher. But I’d forgotten President Lincoln’s address was given on July 4th (1864).

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Artist's rendiction of a 3-D American Flag ripping in the breeze.

Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day

.

Hometown Events

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. The Great Bend Weekly Tribune of Great Bend, Kansas, on June 21, 1895

“General Illuminated Parade.” (A lighted parade?, Lighted floats?) The Great Bend Weekly Tribune of Great Bend, Kansas, on June 21, 1895

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Indpendence Day. Bicycle Racers on July 4th. St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri, On July 2, 1899.

Bicycle Racers on July 4th. St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri, On July 2, 1899.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Red Cloud Grand Celebration. Part 1. The Red Cloud Chief of Red Cloud, Nebraska, on Jun 1, 1883.

Red Cloud Grand Celebration. Part 1. The Red Cloud Chief of Red Cloud, Nebraska, on Jun 1, 1883.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Red Cloud Grand Celebration. Part 2. The Red Cloud Chief of Red Cloud, Nebraska, on Jun 1, 1883.

Red Cloud Grand Celebration. Part 2. The Red Cloud Chief of Red Cloud, Nebraska, on Jun 1, 1883.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Old-Time Celebration. Part 1. The Philipsburg Mail of Philipsburg Montana on June 13, 1889.

Old-Time Celebration. Part 1. The Philipsburg Mail of Philipsburg, Montana, on June 13, 1889.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Old-Time Celebration. Part 2. The Philipsburg Mail of Philipsburg Montana on June 13, 1889.

Old-Time Celebration. Part 2. The Philipsburg Mail of Philipsburg, Montana, on June 13, 1889.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. 4th of July at Merriam Park. Fort Sccott Daily Monitor of Fort Scott, Kansas, of 23 Jun 1889.

4th of July at Merriam Park. Fort Scott Daily Monitor of Fort Scott, Kansas, on June 23, 1889.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Grand Celebration. Part 1. The Emporia Weekly News of Emporia Kansas on June 25, 1869.

Grand Celebration. Part 1. The Emporia Weekly News of Emporia, Kansas on June 25, 1869.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Grand Celebration. Part 2. The Emporia Weekly News of Emporia Kansas on June 25, 1869.

Grand Celebration. Part 2. The Emporia Weekly News of Emporia, Kansas on June 25, 1869.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. The Oskaloosa Independent of Oskaloosa, Kansas, on 24 June, 24, 1898.

The Oskaloosa Independent of Oskaloosa, Kansas, on 24 June, 24, 1898.

.

United States Flag

.

An Excuse to Have a Ball

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Union Ball. Cedar Falls Gazette of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on June 13, 1862

Union Ball. Cedar Falls Gazette of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on June 13, 1862.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Indepencende Day. Independence Ball. Janesville Daily Gazette of Janesville, Wisconsin, on June 13, 1862.

Independence Ball. Janesville Daily Gazette of Janesville, Wisconsin, on June 13, 1862.

.

Grand Ball. Mexico Weekly Ledger of Mexico, Missour, on June 20, 1889,

Grand Ball. Mexico Weekly Ledger of Mexico, Missouri, on June 20, 1889.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Artist's 3D rendition of a flowing flag of the United States of America.

.

Pleasure Excursions

.

Kristin Holt | Victorians at the Seashore

Kristin Holt | Victorian Summer Resorts

.

Seaside resorts have long been popular. Temperatures fall near the water, making summertime’s oppressive heat less dreadful. Numerous “pleasure cruises” were offered in the Great Lakes region in the 19th century. Expeditions also used the grand rivers of the United States (such as the Mississippi) and along its shores.

Because the newspaper clipping didn’t scan well from the historic original, I’ve included a transcription of the body of the article, which follows:

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian Americans Celebrate Independence Day. Pleasure excursion. Detroit Free Press of Detroit, Michigan, on July 2, 1862.

Pleasure excursion. Detroit Free Press of Detroit, Michigan, on July 2, 1862.

.

A transcription of the above article body:

.

THE magnificent upper cabin steamboat

.

“CITY OF CLEVELAND,”

.

CAPT. GEORGE H RYDER, will leave the dock foot of Woodward avenue for Lake Huron on Friday, July 4th at 8 1/2 o’clock A.M., returning at 8 o’clock P.M. same day, affording the Excursionist the rare chance of a trip to Lake Huron and return, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, passing each way through Lake and river St. Clair affording a view of the towns and villages on the banks of the beautiful St. Clair River, making the entire trip in one day.

.

The Steamer will have on board good music.

.

Refreshments sold on board the boat.

.

Tickets for the round trip, 50 cents each. For sale on board the boat, or by

S.P. BRADY & CO.,

Foot of Woodward ave.

and JNO. HUTCHINGS & CO.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Indpendence Day. St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri, on July 2, 1899.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri, on July 2, 1899.

.

United States Flag

.

MILITARY REENACTMENT

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Battle reenactment. Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New YOrk, on June 22, 1898.

Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, New York, on June 22, 1898.

.

BASKET DINNERS, PICNICS, & CHURCH SUPPERS

.

Marion County Herald of Palmyra, Missouri on June 13, 1895,

Marion County Herald of Palmyra, Missouri on June 13, 1895.

.

Union Basket Meeting. The Empoira Weekly News of Emporia Kansas on June 25, 1869.

The Empoira Weekly News of Emporia, Kansas on June 25, 1869.

.

Sioux Valley News of Correctionville, Iowa, on June 13, 1889.

Sioux Valley News of Correctionville, Iowa, on June 13, 1889.

.

Note: the source of my newspaper research (and clippings) is newspapers.com.

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Image: Artist's 3D rendering of the flag of the United States of America.

.

July 4th: a Book Setting

.

As you might anticipate, my characters attended their community’s Independence Day festivities. Their town, Mountain Home, put on many of the same social events you’ll find in this article.

.

Kristin Holt Book Description: The Gunsmith's Bride, related to Victorian Americans Celebrate Independence Day

.

.

Invitation

.

What do you think about all this?

What do you love most about Independence Day Celebrations?

Did any of these newspaper clippings surprise you?

.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day. Image: Artist's 3D rendering of the flag of the United States of America.

.

Related Articles

.

Kristin Holt | Victorians Race: on foot, on bicycles, in wheelbarrows. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Shooting Contests in Victorian America. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America's Fried Chicken. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | New at the Soda Fountain: Coca-Cola!

Kristin Holt | Ice Cream: Comfort Food, Then and Now

Kristin Holt | Shave Ice & Milk Shakes in the Old West?

.

Articles about Victorian Observation of Holidays

.

Kristin Holt | Happy Birthday, United States! Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | May Day Oddities in the Victorian United States, related to Victorian America Celebrtates Independence Day

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Observes Mother's Day, related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Arbor Day. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Easter

Kristin Holt | Victorian America and Easter Eggs. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America & April Fool's Day

Kristin Holt | Victorian Americans and Mardi Gras, related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates St. Patrick's Day

Kristin Holt | Victorian Americans Observed Groundhog Day? Related to Victorian Americans Celebrate Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian Leap Year Traditions, Part 1

Kristin Holt | Victorian Leap Year Traditions, Part 2

Kristin Holt | Sweet Americana Sweethearts Leap into Love countodwn day 9, Kristin Holt

With origins of Leap Year and lots of fun with Leap Year Greeting Cards, this article also contains a Leap Year Proposal Card (a greeting card).

Kristin Holt | Victorian Era Valentine's Day

Kristin Holt | A Victorian Menu for New Year's Day, 1892

Kristin Holt | Victorian New Year Celebrations

Kristin Holt - "American Victorian Era Christmas Celebrations" by USA Today Bestselling Author Kristin Holt.

Kristin Holt | Victorian Letters to Santa, related to Victorian Americans Celebrate Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian Era Thanksgiving Celebrations

Kristin Holt | A Victorian American Halloween (and short story: The Witching Eve)

Kristin holt | Victorian America Celebrates Halloween. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian Americans Celebrate Oktoberfest. Related to Victorian Americans Celebrate Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Celebrates Labor Day. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Pioneer day: Utah's Victorian History. Related to Victorian Americans Celebrate Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Observes Flag Day. Related to Victorian America Celebrates Independence Day.

Kristin Holt | Victorian America Observes Memorial Day

.

Updated July 2019
Copyright © 2016 Kristin Holt LC