THE
    Story of
America's Freedom Trains
      TIMELINE FOR THE 1947 - 1949
    FREEDOM TRAIN
Fall, 1946   May, 1947   September, 1947       September 17, 1947  

Coblenz and the staff of the National Archives flesh out the exhibit, complete with proposed documents and a plan for the layout of the train itself. Funding is conspicuously absent, and Attorney General Clark turns to his friends in corporate America. One friend, Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, took the lead, helping to bend the ears of media luminaries such as Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, composer Irving Berlin, and Frank Stanton, president of CBS. Thomas Brophy, who had been working on a similar project for the Advertising Council, was asked by Clark to join forces. With the combined support of these men and their respective organizations, the financing fell in place.

   The plan for the exhibit now calls for the train to be the focal point of a "Rededication Week" wherever it goes. During the week before the train's arrival, programs and community events will provide dramatic reminders to the people of the liberties they each enjoy as American citizens. Also, by now, the name of the train has evolved to its final form: The Freedom Train.  

In the first weeks of September, the exhibits are placed in the cars by members of the National Archive staff under heavy guard at Cameron, VA.

Full-time security for the train will be provided by 27 United States Marines under the command of Lt. Col. Robert F. Scott.

     The Freedom Train opens to the public in Philadelphia on the 160th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. Thousands sign "The Freedom Scroll", a pledge of rededication to the principles of liberty. Thousands more will sign it as the train travels across the land.  
September 17-19 Philadelphia, PA September 23 Patterson, NJ September 30 Van Nest (Bronx), NY October 4 Hartford, CT October 9 Worcester, MA October 13 Rutland, VT October 18 Nashau, NH October 23 Dover, NH October 27 Manchester, NH November 1 Schenectady, NY November 6 Rochester, NY November 11 Albany, NY November 15 Altoona, PA November 20 Chester, PA November 25-26 Baltimore, MD   December 2 Roanoke, VA December 6 Raleigh, NC December 11 Columbia, SC December 16 Charlston, SC December 20 Miami, FL December 26 Mobile, AL December 31 Macon, GA January 6 Jackson, TN January 11 Jackson, MS January 16 Baton Rouge, LA   January 21 Pine Bluff, AR January 25 Oklahoma City, OK January 30-31 Dallas, TX February 4 Beaumont, TX February 10 Corpus Christi, TX February 14 El Paso, TX February 19 Tucson, AZ February 23-26 Los Angeles, CA March 9 Riverside, CA March 13 Stockton, CA March 19 Oakland, CA March 24 Salt Lake City, UT March 29 Boise, ID April 3 Eugene, OR April 8 Tacoma, WA April 14 Coeur d' Alene, ID April 18 Great Falls, MT April 23 Pierre, SD April 28 Jamestown, ND May 2 Superior, WI May 8 St. Cloud, MN May 13 Souix City, IA May 19 Alliance, NE May 24 Colorado Springs, CO May 29 Hutchinson, KS June 2 Lawrence, KS June 6-7 Kansas City, MO June 12-14 St. Louis, MO June 18 Iowa City, IA June 23 Rockford, IL June 27 Wausau, WI July 3 Racine, WI July 11 Joliet, IL July 16 Champaign, IL July 21 Cairo, IL July 25 Terre Haute, IN July 31 - August 1 Louisville, KY August 5 Ashland, KY August 11 Ft. Wayne, IN August 15 Muskegon, MI August 20-22 Detroit, MI August 27 Port Huron, MI August 31 Toledo, OH September 5-6 Columbus, OH September 10 Canton, OH September 15-17 Pittsburgh, PA September 22 Cumberland, MD September 26 Huntington, WV October 1 Kingsport, TN October 6 Danville, VA October 10 Lancaster, PA October 15 Princeton, NJ October 21 Montclair, NJ
October 25 New Brunswick, NJ November 16 - 17 Washington, DC to replace documents November 25 - 27 Staten Island December 20 Van Nest, NY   December 26 - January 1 New York City January 16 - 22 Washington, DC Official end of the tour
  September 20 Atlantic City, NJ September 24-26 New York, NY October 1 Stamford, CT October 5 New Haven, CT October 10 Lynn, MA October 15 Burlington, VT October 19 Lowell, MA October 24 Augusta, ME October 28 Fitchburg, MA November 2 Utica, NY November 7 Buffalo, NY November 12 Scranton, PA November 16 Harrisburg, PA November 21 Wilmington, DE November 27-28 Washington, DC     December 3 Winston Salem, NC December 7 Norfolk, VA December 12 Spartanburg, SC December 17 Savannah, GA December 21 Tampa, FL December 27 Montgomery, AL January 1-2 Atlanta, GA January 7-8 New Orleans, LA January 13 Vicksburg, MS January 17 Shreveport, LA   January 22 Ft. Smith, AR January 27 Enid, OK February 1 Ft. Worth, TX February 5-6 Houston, TX February 11 Austin, TX February 15 Santa Fe, NM February 20 Phoenix, AZ February 27 Pasadena, CA March 10 Bakersfield, CA March 14-16 San Francisco, CA March 20 Sacramento, CA March 25 Provo, UT March 30 Walla Walla, WA April 4 Corvalis, OR April 9-10 Seattle, WA April 15 Missoula, MT April 20 Billings, MT April 24 Aberdeen, SD April 29 Fargo, ND May 3-4 St. Paul, MN May 10 Willmar, MN May 14-15 Omaha, NE May 20 Casper, WY May 25 Pueblo, CO May 30 Wichita, KS June 3 Parsons, KS June 9 St. Joseph, MO June 15 Hannibal, MO June 19 Cedar Rapids, IA June 24 Madison, WI June 29 Green Bay, WI July 4 Kenosha, WI July 13 Peoria, IL July 17 Decatur, IL July 22 Paducah, KY July 27 Danville, IL August 2 Bowling Green, KY August 6 Portsmouth, OH August 12 South Bend, IN August 17 Lansing, MI August 24 Jackson, MI August 28 Pontiac, MI September 1 Sandusky, OH September 7 Dayton, OH September 11 Youngstown, OH September 18 Erie, PA September 23 Parkersburg, WV September 28 Bluefield, WV October 2 Knoxville, TN October 7 Winchester, VA October 11 Easton, PA October 16-17 Camden, NJ
October 22 Passaic, NJ October 26 Harve De Grace, MD (end of initial tour) November 18 - 20 Gettysburg November 28 - December 6 Brooklyn, NY December 21 New Rochelle, NY January 3- 7 Boston January 22, 1949 Official end of the tour
  September 21 Trenton, NJ September 27 Brooklyn, NY October 2 Bridgeport, CT October 7 New London, CT October 11 Boston, MA (North Station) October 16 Montpelier, VT October 20 Lawrence, MA October 25 Bangor, ME October 30 Springfield, MA November 4 Rome, NY November 8 Elmira, NY November 13 Wilks Barre, PA November 18 Reading, PA November 22 Sallsbury, MD November 29 Charlottesville, VA     December 4 Charlotte, NC December 9 Richmond, VA December 13 Greenville, SC December 18 Brunswick, GA December 22 Tallahassee, FL December 28 Tuscaloosa, AL January 3 Chatanooga, TN January 9 Hattisburg, MS January 14 Monroe, LA January 18 Texarkana, AR/TX   January 23 Muskogee, OK January 28 Ada, OK February 2 Waco, TX February 7 Galveston, TX February 12 San Antonio, TX February 16 Albuquerque, NM February 21 Yuma, AZ February 28 Long Beach, CA March 11 Fresno, CA March 17 Palo Alto, CA March 21 Reno, NV March 26 Ogden, UT March 31 Yakima, WA April 6 Salem, OR April 12 Wanatchee, WA April 16 Butte, MT April 21 Sheridan, WY April 26 Bismark, ND April 30 Grand Forks, ND May 5-6 Minneapolis, MN May 11 Watertown, SD May 16 Lincoln, NE May 21 Cheyenne, WY May 26 Trinidad, CO May 31 Emporia, KS June 4 Joplin, MO June 10 Sedalia, MO June 16 Quincey, IL June 20 Des Moines, IA June 25 La Crosse, WI June 30 Oshkosh, WI July 5-9 Chicago, IL July 14 Bloomington, IL July 18 Springfield, IL July 23 Evansville, IN July 28 Logansport, IN August 3 Frankfort, KY August 7-8 Cincinnati, OH August 13 Kalamazoo, MI August 18 Battle Creek, MI August 25 Flint, MI August 29 Dearborn, MI September 2-3 Cleveland, OH September 8 Springfield, OH September 12 Steubenville, OH September 19 Oil City, PA September 24 Clarksburg, WV September 29 Bristol, TN October 3 Oak Ridge, TN October 8 Hagerstown, MD October 12 Morristown, PA October 19 Red Bank, NJ
October 23 Ridgewood, NJ October 27 Washington, DC to remove documents November 21 Frederick, MD December 7 - 12 Queens, NY December 22 White Plains, NY January 8 - 13 Philadelphia, PA September 1949 - January 1950 'Freedom Train Documents' on
  September 22 Elizabeth, NJ September 28 Jamaica (Long Island), NY October 3 Waterbury, CT October 8 Providence, RI October 12 Boston, MA (South Station) October 16 Montpelier, VT October 22 Haverill, MA October 26 Lewiston, ME October 31 Pittsfield, MA November 5 Syracuse, NY November 9 Binghamton, NY November 14 Williamsport, PA November 19 Allentown, PA November 23 Dover, DE November 30 Lynchburg, VA     December 5 Greeneboro, NC December 10 Wilmington, NC December 14 Augusta, GA December 19 Jacksonville, FL December 23 Pensacola, FL December 29 Columbus, GA January 4 Nashville, TN January 10 Meridian, MS January 15 Alexandria, LA January 19 Little Rock, AR   January 24 Tulsa, OK January 29 Denison, TX February 3 Tyler, TX February 8 Harlingen, TX February 13 Del Rio, TX February 18 Douglas, AZ February 22 San Diego, CA February 29 San Bernardino, CA March 12 Modesto, CA March 18 San Jose, CA March 23 Elko, NV March 27 Pocatello, ID April 1-2 Portland, OR April 7 Olympia, WA April 13 Spokane, WA April 17 Helena, MT April 22 Rapid City, SD April 27 Minot, ND May 1 Duluth, MN May 7 Brainerd, MN May 12 Souix Falls, SD May 17 Grand Island, NE May 22-23 Denver, CO May 27 Amarillo, TX June 1 Topeka, KS June 5 Springfield, MO June 11 Jefferson City, MO June 17 Burlington, IA June 21 Davenport, IA June 26 Eau Claire, WI July 1-2 Milwaukee, WI July 10 Gary, IN July 15 Kankakee, IL July 20 Bellville, IL July 24 Vincennes, IL July 29-30 Indianapolis, IN August 4 Lexington, KY August 10 Muncie, IN August 14 Grand Rapids, MI August 19 Ann Arbor, MI August 26 Saginaw, MI August 30 Monroe, MI September 4 Akron, OH September 9 Lima, OH September 14 Wheeling, WV September 21 Johnstown, PA September 25 Charleston, WV September 30 Johnson City, TN October 5 Ashville, NC October 9 York, PA October 13-14 Jersey City, NJ October 20 Orange, NJ
October 24 Hackensack, NJ October 28 - November 15 Wilmington, DE for train overhaul November 22 - 24 Newark, NJ December 14 - 19 Bronx, NY December 23 Yonkers, NY January 15 Newport News, VA view in a special display at the National Archives.
       
1946 1946 1946 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1947 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1948 1949

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April, 1946

William Coblenz, an assistant director with the Public Information division of the Department of Justice, spends his lunch hour at the National Archives. There he views an exhibit containing the German surrender documents and Hitler's last will and testament. Lamenting that so many Americans will never get to the National Archives to see such documents (and contrasting documents of our heritage of freedom) he decides to take his idea of a traveling exhibit of such documents to the Archivist of the United States, Solon Buck.

  

April. 1946

Buck likes the idea and passes it along to his boss, who in turn passes it on to Attorney General Tom Clark. With President Truman's "strongest endorsement", the idea takes shape as a seven-car rolling exhibit that will place dozens of documents of American liberty next to dozens of documents illustrating tyranny and despotism. The hope is that this exhibit will cause a reawakening in the hearts of Americans and serve as a reminder that freedom cannot be taken for granted.

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February, 1947

The American Heritage Foundation is formed to oversee the financial and operational affairs of the exhibit. The president of the foundation is Thomas Brophy. It is decided the train will be called The Liberty Train and it is decided it will only carry documents related to our American liberties. The concept survives, but the name doesn't.

  

August, 1947

The train takes shape. The engine will be a brand new 2000 horsepower PA-1 manufactured and loaned by the American Locomotive Corporation (ALCO). The loaned cars consist of a baggage car form the Santa Fe Railway, three exhibit cars on loan form the Pennsylvania Railroad, and three Pullman cars from the Pullman Company to provide accommodations for the staff of the train. The train is painted red, white and blue in a paint scheme designed by noted designer Chester Mack.

  

 

 

 

 

September 16, 1947

The Freedom Train arrives in Philadelphia. Irving Berlin's song "The Freedom Train" debuts on radio. Recorded by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, it is an instant hit.

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While in New York, as in most places the train went, the Marine guards who weren't on duty were treated to the best the city had to offer. In this case, Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel, September 28, 1947.

Membership has its privileges.

Each member of the Freedom Train's Marine Corps Honor Guard is issued a bronze card from Paramount's M&P Theaters affording them the luxury of free movies at any of their theaters.

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Fall, 1947

The foundation's short film production "Our American Heritage" is released to theaters nationwide.

    
                               
   

November 28, 1947

President Truman visits the train for the first of two times. After touring the train, he signs the Freedom Scroll.

 

 

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Documents of Freedom.

For some visitors to the Freedom Train, certain documents had special meaning.

 

January 7, 1948

The Freedom Train is not in Memphis.

The city's fathers have stood their ground on segregation and the American Heritage Foundation has not wavered on their policy that admission to the Freedom Train will not have any component of segregation, either aboard the train or in line. To the foundation's credit, Memphis is struck from the itinerary. As is Birmingham.
 

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Late at night February 7, 1948.

Dinner is served on the Freedom Train for the first time.

 

March 1 - 8

The Freedom Train gets a thorough overhaul in the shops of the Santa Fe Railroad in San Bernardino, CA. The locomotive is serviced and the entire train is given a new coat of paint.

 

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The Kellogg Company was one of the Freedom Train's many supporters. They offered a variety of premiums to hold the interest of the nation's youth.
 
The cover of the April, 1948 issue of Joe Palooka encouraged every American to see the Freedom Train.
 
In June, 1948 the Freedom Train found itself the centerpiece of a dastardly plot - in Captain Marvel Adventures #85.
 
September 17, 1948
President Truman again visits the Freedom Train, this time in Pittsburgh on the train's first anniversary. In a speech from the observation platform at the rear of the train, Truman promotes his hopes for the United Nations.
    On October 26, the train reached the end of its initial tour. Cities were to be added to the route to extend the run through to the Presidential inaugural in 1949. After refurbishment, the train left on the "Notheast loop" that took the train back though New England. After the run of the train, the document cases were salvaged from the train for a special display of the "Freedom Train Documents" at the National Archives later in 1949.      

In 1998, the 1947 Freedom Train alumni were invited to the American Freedom Train reunion in Sacramento, CA to create the first reunion of the staffs of both trains. The invitation was extended again in 2000 for the AFT's 25th anniversary reunion in Knoxville, TN -- with Dave Watson, "Black John" Alexander and John Cobb in attendance.

If you or anyone you know was involved with the Freedom Train in any way, please email the Webmaster so that you ( or they) may be added to the reunion contact list.
               

For years after the tour of the Freedom Train, Colonel Scott continued to correspond with many members of the Freedom Train Marine detachment as well as several others who had worked on the train in some capacity. The culmination of the late Colonel's efforts to keep everyone in touch was a 50th anniversary reunion in 1997 in Qunatico, VA.. Several of the former Marine guards attended with their families. All were treated to dinner at the home of the Commandant of the Marine Corp, as well as a train ride to Philadelphia (courtesy of Amtrak) along the same route originally taken by the Freedom Train.