Elevate your Fourth in Plymouth Notch as we celebrate American independence and Calvin Coolidge, the only president born on the Fourth of July. A full day of activities is planned, and all are welcome. Please find the day’s agenda below:

10:00 AM: Naturalization Ceremony — Twenty immigrants living in Vermont will become U.S. citizens in a ceremony hosted in partnership between the Coolidge Foundation and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The honorable Judge J. Garvan Murtha will preside.

12:00 PM: Procession to Cemetery and Wreath-Laying Ceremony — A delegation from the Vermont National Guard will lead a procession to the Plymouth Notch Cemetery where a wreath from the White House will be placed at the president’s gravesite. A ceremony will follow with members of the Coolidge family in attendance. Ambassador C. Boyden Gray will offer brief remarks.

1:00 PM: Full-length, group reading of the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge — Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas will interview President Coolidge himself (as portrayed by impersonator Tracy Messer). This interview will lead into our group reading of the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. This reading is an annual tradition, and the public is encouraged to join the reading. To sign-up to read a portion, please contact Ryan Kline in the Coolidge Foundation office at events@coolidgefoundation.org or by calling: 802-672-3389 Ext. 113. Walk-ups will also be accommodated.

2:00 PM – 4:30 PM: The final rounds of the Coolidge Cup National Debate Tournament. The general public is invited to come and watch some of America’s top high school debaters in action. Up to $10,000 in college scholarship money will be awarded to the winners of the 2017 Coolidge Cup.

Other highlights on the Fourth include wagon rides with Plymouth’s own Farmer Fred (Fred DePaul), a barbecue offered by the Wilder House Restaurant, and a cake to celebrate President Coolidge’s birthday. Plymouth Artisan Cheese will be making cheese up at the cheese factory and the Plymouth Historical Society will have an exhibit in the Schoolhouse.

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, “Homespun Treasures: The Textiles of Plymouth Notch,” featuring the practical, and often highly artistic, textiles and fiber items created by the Coolidge family and their neighbors in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.