50 years ago on this day (1976): the American Freedom Train on its nationwide tour arrived for a five-day stop in Wichita. The restored steam-powered locomotive was one of the more popular cultural events as part of the Bicentennial celebration for the United States of America.
The Freedom Train was stationed on the train tracks between Wichita's baseball park, Lawrence Stadium, and McLean Boulevard. Ticket-holders awaiting their prescribed times for the train were able to sit in stands in the ballpark.
The American Freedom Train featured a dozen display cars: 10 that visitors would go aboard and pass through, and two to hold large objects to be viewed from the ground on the outside through huge "showcase" windows.
The display cars were filled with more than 500 precious treasures of Americana, including George Washington's copy of the Constitution, the original Louisiana Purchase, Judy Garland's dress and ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz", Joe Frazier's boxing trunks, Martin Luther King's pulpit and robes, and even a rock from the moon.
Ticket-holders were moved through the train cars on a conveyor belt/people-mover.
During a 21-month period from April 1, 1975 to December 31, 1976, more than seven million Americans visited the train during its tour of all 48 contiguous states, and tens of millions more stood track-side to see the Freedom Train go by. Wichita was among the 138 stops on the tour.
Prior to Wichita, the Freedom Train spent four days in Tulsa; after Wichita, the train traveled to Topeka for three days as the tour continued.
