1976 Bicentennial Logo

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The 1976 American Revolution Bicentennial symbol was a logo created to commemorate America's 200th birthday and served as a precursor to the NASA "Worm" logo designed by Bruce Blackburn in 1974. Blackburn reveals that his design deliberations led him to conclude that the five-pointed star from the Betsy Ross flag was the only suitable element for a modern solution, given its historical significance and potential for contemporary adaptation. However, he recognized that the star's aggressive and militaristic connotations were at odds with the event's aim for friendliness and accessibility. To address this, Blackburn wrapped the star in red, white, and blue "bunting" stripes, softened its sharp edges, and created a secondary star surrounding the original. The dual stars also referenced the two centuries being celebrated. When the design reached the Oval Office for final approval, President Nixon's team deemed it insufficiently governmental in style, prompting them to rearrange the typographic information into a circular format surrounding the symbol. As a result, this arrangement was implemented.