'Turnback Tuesday' highlights history of 4th of July fireworks

Turnback Tuesday celebrates the 4th of July. The association of fireworks and the 4th go back to the first organized celebration held in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777.

With much fanfare, ships in the river were decked out with the colors of the United States. At noon, the ships fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. Festivities and celebrations continued throughout the day.

The Evening Post reported “at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks, which began and ended with 13 rockets”.

In 1870, Congress established Independence Day as an official holiday.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting history each week.