Girl Scouts will gather in Washington, DC, in July 2026 to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States—the semi-quin-cen-ten-nial.
But how did they celebrate the 200th? That’s the theme of the latest display at the Nation’s Capital Council offices in Washington DC.
Official Girl Scout Bicentennial Patches
Red, white, and blue appeared all over uniforms in 1976. Girl Scouts of the USA issued two official commemorative patches that could be worn on the front of the uniform or sash.
Councils also had their own bicentennial-themed patches, used for cookie sales, special events, and day camps.
Girl Scouts of the USA offered three different programs to mark the bicentennial. All launched at the 1975 Girl Scout National Convention, also held in Washington, DC.
#1 Hidden Heroines
The Hidden Heroines National Project kicked off national Bicentennial celebrations in 1974.
GSUSA asked councils to identify outstanding women in their communities. These were to be women “admired for [their] achievements and noble qualities and considered a model or ideal.” Troops devised ways to celebrate their heroine and spread her story throughout her community.
The program meant to expand the definition of “hero” beyond just males, exposing girls to admirable women in history and modern times.
a Hidden Heroines volume to Queen Elizabeth II.
A bound volume of Hidden Heroine stories was presented to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain during her visit to Philadelphia in 1976.
#2 Horizons ’76
Part 2 of the Girl Scout Bicentennial Celebration, Horizons 76, encouraged community improvement projects.
The Horizons 76 patch design came from a national contest.
Over 650 girls submitted entries and the twelve finalists appeared on the cover of the March 1975 Leader Magazine. Troops voted for the design submitted by Delores Gardner and twins Ann and Mary Formeller of Greater Philadelphia’s Cadette Troop 1293.
Patch design contest winners Delores Gardner, Ann Formeller, and Mary Formeller.
GSUSA held its 40th National Council Session in Washington in October 1975. Over 20,000 Girl Scouts and their families presented Honorary President and First Lady Betty Ford with a special bicentennial gift—a book of Horizons ’76 projects and pledges from girls across the country to make the United States a better place to live.
First Lady Betty Ford accepts a bound volume of Horizons 76 projects
as National President Marjorie Ittman watches.
#3 Flames of Freedom
At 5 pm on March 12, 1976, Girl Scouts across the world lit these special candles—or any candle—forming a ribbon of light across the globe.
First Lady Betty Ford symbolically lit the first candle during the 1975 Girl Scout National Convention in Washington, DC. She then lit candles held by national officials, who in turn lit candles for each council. These “used” candles were saved and used to light troop candles the following March.
The full display will be available through July 4, 2026.
© 2026 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.
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