Elevate your Fourth of July in Plymouth Notch as we celebrate the birth of the nation as well as its 30th president with special activities scheduled from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Activities begin at 10:00 AM when the Coolidge Foundation hosts its Annual Meeting in the Union Christian Church. The public is invited to gather at the village green at 12:00 Noon, when a Vermont National Guard delegation leads a procession to the Plymouth Notch Cemetery.  A wreath from the White House will be placed at the president’s gravesite; a brief ceremony follows with members of the Coolidge family in attendance.

At the cemetery, noted Coolidge biographer and chairman of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation Amity Shlaes will speak about one of Coolidge’s most famous speeches, which he delivered at the sesquicentennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1926.

At 1:00 PM, the Coolidge Foundation will begin its annual marathon reading of the entire Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. The final rounds of the Coolidge Cup National Debate Tournament will be held in Plymouth Notch from 2:00-4:00 PM. The general public is invited to take part in the reading as well as to come and watch some of America’s top debaters in action.

Other highlights on the Fourth include wagon rides with Plymouth’s own Farmer Fred (Fred DePaul), a barbecue offered by Maple Street Catering, and a cake to celebrate President Coolidge’s birthday.  Plymouth Artisan Cheese will make cheese at the factory, Plymouth Historical Society will have a special exhibit about one-room schoolhouses, and children’s games will be held on the Aldrich House lawn.

Twelve buildings are open to the public at the Coolidge Site, which is owned and operated by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.  At the Museum & Education Center, visitors can see the award-winning permanent exhibition, More Than Two Words: The Life and Legacy of Calvin Coolidge.  Also at the Center is this year’s temporary exhibit, Expressions of Esteem: The Coolidge Presidential Gifts, which features glittering treasures from world dignitaries and modest tokens from “just plain folk.”