Ungoogleable

[fclake]

I remember in grade school we went to see the Declaration Of Independence or maybe the Constitution. I remember really digging the tank/car that is used to transport it. It was a specially designed, one of a kind completely badass ride.

Now I cant find ANYTHING about it. I have googled my ass off looking. Alas I turn to the blab. Please help.

[Tennessee Jed]

I understand it is stored in a vacuum, which seems more like a metaphor than a practical preservation tactic.

[TennesseeValuesAuthority]

I believe you are thinking of The Freedom Train which toured the country in 1975-1976. I visited it during its Knoxville stop (which I learned through Wikipedia was on June 4, 1976).

I was a true Bicentennial geek boy with a star-spangled lunchbox that year in school and a continuing fascination with all things related to American history. I also had an ongoing fascination with steam locomotives (I was 7, by the way), so the arrival of the Freedom Train was probably the perfect storm for me. My older brother and younger sister? Eh, not so much.

I remember climbing aboard and feeling great anticipation about seeing the moon rock that would be on board. My third great love at 7? Astronauts. In my fantasy future, I would grow up to be an engineer on steam trains, be promoted to an astronaut at NASA and use the resulting popularity to be elected America's first astronaut president.

I fear that my brother, while cleaning out my mother's house several years ago, threw out my Freedom Train souvenirs-- including my commemorative photo book and probably an engineer's cap. Sigh.

Among the documents carried by the train were George Washington's copy of the Constitution and the treaty for the Louisiana Purchase. The Smithsonian also included items like Judy Garland's costume from the Wizard of Oz, Joe DiMaggio's baseball bat, and other pop culture items.

The 1975-76 Freedom Train was a sequel. The first Freedom Train crossed the country 1947-49.

Anyway, here's a link of two for you fclake:
Wikipedia
American Freedom Train fan site, also this section of the site includes info and links relating to both trains and includes news about crew reunions, "This Day in Freedom Train" history, etc.
1975 Time magazine article about the train's financial troubles

For what it's worth, I knew what you were talking about but couldn't remember the exact name of the train. I began my search with the Google search terms: constitution documents train tour. That led me to the Wikipedia entry which helped confirm the name for me.

From there, I re-googled with variations on the theme using the train's name and other terms including "constitution," "1976," "moon rock," etc.

I hope that's helpful.

[tardisrider]

Heh. Anybody here ever flown "Hawaii Air"? Or have I already said too much?

[gypsy]

I was a true Bicentennial geek boy with a star-spangled lunchbox that year in school and a continuing fascination with all things related to American history.

i turned 7 that year too. the freedom train didn't come to our town, but i definitely developed a big 1776 fixation. i was totally fascinated with the revolutionary war and the whole idea of establishing a nation. (i discovered baseball around the same time, and i think the whole colonial/revolutionary boston thing was part of what fed my red sox fandom.) i think whatever sense of american idealism has survived my adult cynicism is partly attributable to growing up with that bicentennial hype.

[Georgia]

Yeah, add me on as a Bicentennial geek girl.

A friend from up the street passed on an antiquated set of encyclopedias that summer and I read them cover to cover. I came across Patrick Henry in the H's and I was very impressed with Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech. I decided to express this adoration at our annual fourth of July picnic with the neighbors and got laughed at by the other kids.

Thinking back, I also had a red, white and blue swimsuit that year...a maxi dress that had little Betsy Ross' stitching flags on it and Momma redid the kitchen to include wallpaper with eagles holding arrows in their talons.

[Randall]

I remember the bicentennial fervor of 1976. It was like a national "yay for us!" party. Good times and goofy outfits.

[pages]

It was the first time I voted for president.

[Ian]

I believe you are thinking of The Freedom Train which toured the country in 1975-1976.

I saw it in Chicago when I was a kid. I think that whole '76 bicentennial had a powerful effect on you if you were between the ages of, say, six and twelve.

I remember looking up at the moon and thinking it belonged to us, like it was pretty much the 51st state, except nobody lived there, but they would soon.

[Hayduke]

'Nuther bicentenial geek here. I had this crazy idea that I wanted wallpaper that was like all the old ads on the tables at Wendy's restaurants, but red, white & blue with U. S. history stuff instead of ads. Amazingly enough, such a thing existed and that's what my room was decorated in.