Historic 'American Freedom Train' may be back for America's 250th Birthday celebration in 2026

The historic "American Freedom Train" which went across the country in 1976 to celebrate America's 200th anniversary may be making a return for America's 250th birthday celebration. 

Train engineer Ross Rowland Jr. and Hollywood legend John Wayne were behind the idea of the rolling museum, which would carry historic American symbols to other states, so that citizens could see historic pieces of American history. Rowland said he worked with Wayne to form a 501c3 and was able to fund the train going from state to state. 

Some of the artifacts on the train included George Washington's copy of the Constitution, the original Louisiana Purchase, Judy Garland's dress from The Wizard of Oz and Martin Luther King Jr.'s pulpit. That train made its 1976 debut in Santa Barbara, California.

"We were blessed to get five great American companies: General Motors, Kraft Foods, Prudential, Pepsi and Atlantic Richfield Energy to become co-sponsors," Rowland said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "Their sponsorship fees paid for half of the $60 million budget and the other $30 million came from the seven million tickets that we sold to the American people."

He said that the sponsorship from these companies paid for half the $60 million budget for the 1976 route. "The other 30 million came from the seven million tickets that we sold to the American people to go through the exhibit," Rowland said. "And we went on a 21-month, 48-state trip where 7.6 million people bought a ticket in 138 cities to see the display, all pulled by steam."

He said that then-President Richard Nixon was very helpful in getting artifacts from the National Archives and the Library of Congress to use on the train. 

Bringing the train back this time with the Liberty Bell

Rowland said his goal is to bring back the train for America's 250th birthday celebration, and he believes it can be done with the help of President Donald Trump. "With President Trump's help, we're confident we can do it," he said. "And this time, we want to carry the Liberty Bell on loan from Philadelphia."

Shortly after Trump got into office for his second term, he announced that there would be a big celebration in 2026 for America's 250th birthday. 

"It is the policy of the United States, and a purpose of this order, to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026," Trump wrote in a statement. "It is also the purpose of this order to take other actions to honor the history of our great Nation."

Rowland said that revenue from the purchased tickets will go to help homeless veterans. "The ticket revenues can all be entirely devoted to addressing the homeless veteran situation, which President Trump has said that he wants to address," Rowland said.