American history chapters · 1976 & memories across generations
The Bicentennial
& American Memories.
The parade you remember. The treat you shared. The stories someone told. Explore America’s two-hundredth birthday and the memories, traditions and questions carried into the next generation.
1776–2026 · Six moments around the Bicentennial
A birthday. A memory. A continuing story.
Select a moment to explore its story.
The Bicentennial · Celebrations & journeys
America Celebrates: 1976.
Explore anniversary gatherings and selected stops on the 1975–1976 American Freedom Train journey. Choose a place, read its story, and start a conversation about what your family remembers.
Modern state outlines and approximate locations. The dashed gold line connects six selected train stops in date order; it is not the railway route. Many intervening stops and detours are omitted. The full exhibition toured during 1975–1976.
History on the shelves
Familiar favorites. Continuing traditions.
Read each connection: earlier product or maker roots, a current version of a historic game, or a living tradition today. These are current products, not original 1976 commemorative stock. Maker and mill dates describe their roots; current flavors and packages may be newer. Games appear as modern versions with their historic connections explained.
65 products in this chapter
The candy counter
The candy counter
Good & Plenty
Good & Plenty has documented product introduction in 1893, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.70
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The candy counter
Milk Duds
Milk Duds has documented product introduction in 1928, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.68
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The candy counter
Mounds
Mounds has documented product introduction in 1920, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.25
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The candy counter
Charleston Chew
Charleston Chew has documented product introduction in 1922, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$1.75
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The candy counter
Necco Wafers
NECCO Wafers has documented product introduction in 1847, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.00
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The candy counter
Zagnut
Zagnut has documented product introduction in 1930, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.25
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The candy counter
M&Ms
M&M’s — original milk chocolate has documented product introduction in 1941, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.41
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The candy counter
5th Avenue
5th Avenue has documented product introduction in 1936, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.31
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The candy counter
Boyer Mallo Cups
Boyer Mallo Cups has documented product introduction in 1936, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.54
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The candy counter
PayDay
PayDay has documented product introduction in 1932, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.25
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The candy counter
Zero Bar
Zero Bar has documented product introduction in 1920, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.25
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The candy counter
Baby Ruth
Baby Ruth has documented product introduction in 1921, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.00
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The candy counter
Abba-Zaba
Abba-Zaba has documented product introduction in 1922, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.25
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The candy counter
Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews
Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews has documented product introduction in 1917, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$1.97
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The candy counter
Fralinger's Saltwater Taffy
Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy has documented product introduction in 1885, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$9.50
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The candy counter
Bonomo Turkish Taffy
Bonomo Turkish Taffy has documented product introduction in 1912, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.00
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The candy counter
Owhyee Butter Toffee
Owyhee Butter Toffee has documented product introduction in 1925, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$8.99
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The candy counter
Cherry Cocktail Bar
Cherry Cocktail Bar has documented product introduction in 1926, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$1.99
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The candy counter
Reed's Butterscotch Candy
Reed’s Butterscotch Candy has documented product introduction in 1893, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$1.35
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The candy counter
Wrigley’s Doublemint Chewing Gum
Wrigley’s Doublemint has documented product introduction in 1914, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.14
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The candy counter
Goo Goo Cluster
Goo Goo Cluster — original has documented product introduction in 1912, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The candy counter
Circus Peanuts
Spangler — Circus Peanuts maker has documented maker roots in 1906, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$4.75
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The candy counter
Boston Baked Beans
Boston Baked Beans — Ferrara maker has documented maker roots in 1908, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$0.50
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The candy counter
Charms Assorted Squares
Charms Assorted Squares has documented product introduction in 1912, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.25
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The candy counter
Clark Cups
Clark Cups — earlier Clark brand roots has documented earlier brand roots in 1917, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$1.75
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The candy counter
Cracker Jack
Cracker Jack — brand history has documented earlier brand roots in 1896, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$1.00
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The candy counter
Claeys Horehound Candy
Horehound Candy — Claeys maker has documented maker roots in 1919, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.25
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The candy counter
Life Savers Original
Life Savers — original brand history has documented earlier brand roots in 1912, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.19
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The candy counter
Slo Poke
Slo Poke has documented product introduction in 1926, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$2.00
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The candy counter
Sno-Caps
Sno-Caps has documented product introduction in 1927, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$3.37
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Coffee & gathering places
Coffee & gathering places
Horn & Hardart Coffee
Horn & Hardart has documented maker roots in 1888, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
Price range: $15.00 through $16.00
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Coffee & gathering places
Horn & Hardart Coffee Decaf
Horn & Hardart has documented maker roots in 1888, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$17.00
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Coffee & gathering places
Cafe Du Monde Beignet Mix
Café du Monde has documented maker roots in 1862, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$5.49
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Coffee & gathering places
Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chicory Decaf
Café du Monde has documented maker roots in 1862, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$10.50
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Coffee & gathering places
Café du Monde Coffee & Chicory
Café du Monde has documented maker roots in 1862, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$9.95
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Coffee & gathering places
Café du Monde French Roast Coffee
Café du Monde has documented maker roots in 1862, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$11.00
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The pantry shelves
The pantry shelves
Bauman’s Blended Fruit Butters
Bauman’s has documented maker roots in 1892, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Bauman’s Classic Fruit Butters
Bauman’s has documented maker roots in 1892, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Bauman’s Sweet Tomato Butter
Bauman’s has documented maker roots in 1892, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$6.00
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The pantry shelves
Reading Soda Works Birch Beers
Reading Soda Works has documented maker roots in 1921, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Reading Soda Works Cream Sodas
Reading Soda Works has documented maker roots in 1921, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Reading Soda Works Fruit Sodas
Reading Soda Works has documented maker roots in 1921, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Reading Soda Works Ginger & Orchard Sodas
Reading Soda Works has documented maker roots in 1921, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Reading Soda Works Root Beers & Classics
Reading Soda Works has documented maker roots in 1921, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Otterbein's Cookies
Otterbein’s has documented maker roots in 1881, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Cook's Vanilla Extracts
Cook’s Vanilla has documented maker roots in 1918, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Cook’s Classic Baking Flavors
Cook’s Vanilla has documented maker roots in 1918, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Cook’s Dessert & Spirits Flavors
Cook’s Vanilla has documented maker roots in 1918, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
Add to a history box
The pantry shelves
Cook’s Fruit Flavorings
Cook’s Vanilla has documented maker roots in 1918, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
Add to a history box
The pantry shelves
Fisher's Popcorn
Fisher’s Popcorn has documented maker roots in 1937, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
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The pantry shelves
Virginia Diner Chocolate Nuts
Virginia Diner has documented maker roots in 1929, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
Price range: $13.99 through $30.68
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The pantry shelves
Virginia Diner Flavored Peanuts
Virginia Diner has documented maker roots in 1929, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
Price range: $9.50 through $10.99
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The pantry shelves
Virginia Diner Red Skin Peanuts
Virginia Diner has documented maker roots in 1929, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$15.99
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The pantry shelves
Virginia Diner Salted Peanuts
Virginia Diner has documented maker roots in 1929, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$9.30
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The pantry shelves
New Hope Mills Old Fashioned Buckwheat Pancake Mix
New Hope Mills — Buckwheat Pancake Mix has documented historic mill roots in 1823, before the Bicentennial. This current listing offers a connection to familiar American food history. It is not claimed to be a 1976 commemorative edition, an unchanged recipe or an item sold at a particular Bicentennial event.
$8.50
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Games we remember
Games we remember
Jacobs Ladder
Charles Dickens described a wooden Jacob’s Ladder in A Christmas Tree in 1850. This current tumbling-block toy connects to nineteenth-century play. That British account establishes the toy’s existence, not its popularity on the American frontier.
$7.75
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Games we remember
Roy Toy Log Cabin Canvas Bag
Roy Toy traces its wooden log-building heritage to 1930, before the postwar years. This current set connects to a continuing building-play tradition; the maker date is separate from the introduction of today’s particular set.
$19.95
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Games we remember
Roy Toy Farm Canvas Bag
Roy Toy traces its wooden log-building heritage to 1930, before the postwar years. This current set connects to a continuing building-play tradition; the maker date is separate from the introduction of today’s particular set.
$19.95
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Games we remember
Roy Toy Log Farm in a Box
Roy Toy traces its wooden log-building heritage to 1930, before the postwar years. This current set connects to a continuing building-play tradition; the maker date is separate from the introduction of today’s particular set.
$11.95
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Games we remember
Roy Toy Log Camp in a Box
Roy Toy traces its wooden log-building heritage to 1930, before the postwar years. This current set connects to a continuing building-play tradition; the maker date is separate from the introduction of today’s particular set.
$11.95
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Games we remember
Roy Toy Fort Canvas Bag
Roy Toy traces its wooden log-building heritage to 1930, before the postwar years. This current set connects to a continuing building-play tradition; the maker date is separate from the introduction of today’s particular set.
$19.95
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Games we remember
Roy Toy Log Fort in a Box
Roy Toy traces its wooden log-building heritage to 1930, before the postwar years. This current set connects to a continuing building-play tradition; the maker date is separate from the introduction of today’s particular set.
$11.95
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The story continues · Native-owned foods
The story continues · Native-owned foods
Navajo Fry Bread
A current product from Navajo Mike’s, a Native-owned Diné business. It belongs to the continuing American story through living food traditions and contemporary Southwest creativity. No 1976 availability or ancient recipe is claimed.
$13.99
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The story continues · Native-owned foods
Navajo Blue Cornmeal Mix
A current product from Navajo Mike’s, a Native-owned Diné business. It belongs to the continuing American story through living food traditions and contemporary Southwest creativity. No 1976 availability or ancient recipe is claimed.
$13.99
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The story continues · Native-owned foods
Navajo Hickory Smoked Prickly Pear BBQ Sauce
A current product from Navajo Mike’s, a Native-owned Diné business. It belongs to the continuing American story through living food traditions and contemporary Southwest creativity. No 1976 availability or ancient recipe is claimed.
$14.99
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Celebration and reflection
What do we choose to remember?
A milestone across the country
The Bicentennial brought commemorations, performances and keepsakes into public places and family homes. Museum collections preserve evidence of how people marked the anniversary.
Explore the collections ↗Living traditions, many voices
The 1976 Folklife Festival placed cultural traditions and their practitioners at the center of the celebration. Heritage is something people continue to practice and reshape, not only something held in a display case.
Explore the festival ↗A keepsake is a starting point
A photograph, program or souvenir may begin a story. Ask who made it, who kept it and what it meant. Personal memories are valuable alongside historical records, and they may remember different parts of the same occasion.
Whose memories are included?
Celebration and reflection can share the same space. Invite experiences from different generations and communities, including people whose stories have received less attention. A familiar food is a conversation starter, not proof of a shared experience.
Around the table
Start with one remembered detail.
Open a prompt and ask someone you know. These are conversation starters; no answers are collected or posted here.
The celebration
Do you remember 1976, or have a family photograph from that year? Where were you, what did you see, and who was with you? If you were born later, ask someone who remembers.
The familiar treat
What candy, snack or cup of coffee brings back a place or a person? Did the wrapper, flavor or way you shared it change over time?
The road and the game
Which stop on a family trip—or which game after supper—do you remember best? What would you want the next generation to know about that day?
The story still being told
Which tradition does your family or community practice today? Who taught it to you, and how has it changed?
Give a little American history
A story worth sharing.
Share eligible pantry favorites, familiar candy or modern games in an Americana gift box, carrying their maker and product stories forward. Review the available products and packing limits in the builder.
Build an Americana gift box →