Belgrade’s Bicentennial Covered Wagon
By Dianne Dowd
With 2026 being the 250th anniversary of America, it is a good time to reflect on America’s Bicentennial of 1976. Many of us remember the great celebrations that took place that year.
One of the most ambitious celebrations was the 1976 Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania. Starting as early as 1972, the Bicentennial Commission of Pennsylvania developed a program that would include five covered wagons trains that would cross the country, following as closely as possible to historical wagon trails and going through every state. A reproduction covered wagon was delivered to each state prior to the start of the national Wagon Train, and each wagon would leave from the individual state capitals. The trains would all arrive at Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania by July 3, 1976. In addition, the wagons would collect scrolls from each state signed by the citizens rededicating themselves to the principles of the founding fathers. Eventually a half a million scrolls, bearing twenty-two million signatures of Americans were brought by wagon to Valley Forge.
After responding to an article about the wagon train in a Boston newspaper, Lyle Strickland of Belgrade was chosen as State of Maine Teamster and assistant wagon master. The plan called for Lyle to drive a prairie schooner pulled by his 13-year-old matched Percheron geldings Duke and Don from Maine south to Valley Forge, PA. Along the way, he would be joined with wagons from the other New England states. On May 11, 1976, the Maine wagon left Augusta and traveled south on Route 202 toward Rochester, New Hampshire. The Maine wagon was on the road for 7 weeks with 53 nightly stops. Although the wagon did not follow the most direct route, it covered 1,130 miles in total and made stops at schools and institutions to recreate part of this country’s heritage.
Dianne Dowd is a member of the Belgrade Historical Society.
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