Bath Celebrations - Two for One

According to the Library of Congress, communities in the United States began commemorating the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence right away, in 1777. But celebrations were not widespread until after the War of 1812 - another milestone for the United States in its “relationship” with Britain (especially in Maine!).

In subsequent years, communities often scheduled other significant events to coincide with the holiday to get more bang for the buck, as it were. Rural residents might only travel en masse into town for this one day a year, so…let’s make the most of it! That was the case on July 4th, 1849 in Bath when the Portland & Kennebec Railroad brought the first passenger car to Bath and the posh four-story, 80 room Sagadahock Hotel (pictured with the four chimneys at right in this 1859 photo looking south on Front St.) opened as well.

In 1870, Independence Day aka July 4th became a federal holiday through an Act of Congress thus formalizing and broadening the opportunities for even more celebration.