The Centennial Bash of 1876
A committee of Seattle’s power brokers prepares for a city-wide celebration of the nation’s 100th birthday.
The citizens of Seattle have determined to celebrate the Centennial anniversary of American Independence on the coming 4th of July, and will spare no effort in making the day in keeping with the dignity of the occasion. The citizens have extended an invitation to all parts of the Washington Territory to join them in honoring the day in fitting manner. The Committee of Arrangements, appointed March 11, 1876, includes: B. Gatzert (Chairman), Judge J.J. McGilvra, A.A. Denny, H.L. Yesler, and J.R. Robbins.
“The citizens of Seattle have determined to celebrate the Centennial anniversary of American Independence... and will spare no effort in making the day in keeping with the dignity of the occasion.”
The Centennial celebration in 1876 helped cement Seattle's status as a burgeoning Pacific Northwest hub. Today, while the specific names of these committees have faded from public memory, the tradition of city-funded, high-profile civic festivals remains a central fixture of Seattle's cultural identity.
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