Today on Celebrate the Bible:
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In April of 1975, a giant steam locomotive powered out of Wilmington, Delaware. It was a colorful reminder from America’s golden age of railroads. The engine pulled 22 glistening red, white, and blue cars filled with the history of America.
It was called the American Freedom Train. It contained two historic Christian Holy Bibles from American history. One was one of 50 remaining copies of the first Bible printed in America. It also contained Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Bible.
I should mention that I have not yet identified the “first Bible printed in America.” This Bible is referred to in the texts of the 1976 Freedom Train. I’ve seen it also officially called the “Revolutionary War Bible.” This makes me believe that it was the John Aitken Bible of 1782. However, the Aitken bible was not the first Bible printed in America. That distinction belongs to the John Eliot Algonquin American Indian bible of 1663. The Aitken Bible of 1782 was the first English language bible printed in America. Both the Aitken and Eliot bibles are exceedingly rare. It could have been a copy of either. Most likely, it was the Aitken bible.
The 1976 Bicentennial celebration was just getting underway. Today, we are preparing for our Semiquincentennial celebration in 2026.
I am including various memorabilia from both the 1976 as well as the 1946 Freedom Trains. These items are from my own American Bible History collection. If you are listening to this as a podcast, and you would like to view the photos, please visit celebratethebible250.com
The red-white-and-blue train was powered by a steam locomotive. This locomotive was a symbol of America’s past. The train made its journey through cities, towns, and villages in each of the 48 lower states.
At each stop along its route, in more than 70 cities, it would open for public viewing.
Moving walkways carried visitors through the exhibit cars. They moved at a rate of up to 1,800 people per hour during each 14-hour display day. Each visitor carried a transistorized sound unit which played a running narration coordinated with exhibits.
In addition, specially constructed outside showcase windows in the exhibit cars displayed selected objects. People could view the train as it passed through their communities at reduced speeds.
I should mention a few well-known people that served as part of the Freedom Train advisory board. They include Hank Aaron, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, Mr. & Mrs. David Eisenhower, Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower, Ella Fitzgerald, Mrs. Gerald Ford, Billy Graham, Bob Hope, Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Arnold Palmer, James Stewart, Danny Thomas, and John Wayne.
When the nation-wide journey was over, more than ten million Americans had boarded the train and experienced its magnificent displays.
It had traveled more than 17,000 miles through thousands of American communities. Along the way, 40 to 50 million Americans viewed it. It made stops in more than 76 cities. During its journey it was on display within a one-hour driving distance of 90 percent of the nation’s population.
When the 2026 Semiquincentennial arrives, it will mark the 250th birthday of the founding of the United States of America. At that time, the 1976 Freedom Train will be celebrating its golden 50th anniversary.
In 1947 there was an earlier version of the American Freedom Train sponsored by the American Heritage Foundation. It logged 37,160 miles in its travels across the country, stopping in every one of the then 48 states.
It was an enormous success, playing host to more than 3,500,000 visitors during its 16 month tour. The train had seven cars. Three of these housed exhibits. It was painted gleaming white with bands of red and blue. The train was powered by a 2,000 h.p. diesel engine.
That train, called the Spirit of ’47’, accommodated only 640 people an hour. As a result, the wait to board was often long and discouraging. On the stopover in New York City, for example, people waited four abreast. The line stretched 15 blocks long.
I would like to end and close out with a reading from a post card. This card was offered for sale during the 1947 Freedom Train tour. It contains what was called “The Freedom Pledge”.
As follows:
The Freedom Pledge:
I am an American. A free American.
Free to speak without fear
Free to worship God in my own way
Free to stand for what I think is right
Free to oppose what I believe is wrong
Free to choose those who govern my country
This heritage of Freedom I pledge to uphold
For myself and all mankind
Good advice then … even better advice today.
So, until we meet again, and for Celebrate the Bible 250 this is Francis Douglas. If you’re interested in learning more about the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America, please subscribe now.
America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration 