{"id":66344,"date":"2026-06-12T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=66344"},"modified":"2026-06-09T07:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T11:37:37","slug":"1976-u-s-bicentennial-callsigns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/1976-u-s-bicentennial-callsigns\/","title":{"rendered":"1976 U.S. Bicentennial Callsigns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi Thomas,<\/p>\n

In 1976, amateur radio operators in the United States were allowed the option of using a special prefix in place of their regular one to celebrate the country\u2019s bicentennial year. Many amateurs issued special QSL cards for this bearing the new prefix, making reference to the US bicentennial year on the front.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a>Others simply modified their existing cards. The bicentennial commissions in Massachusetts and South Dakota even made up fill-in-the-blank commemorative QSL cards.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WL1CEN was a special events station in Lexington, Massachusetts, that appears to have been operating earlier in 1975.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The American Radio Relay League also issued a bicentennial WAS award to amateurs making contacts with all 50 U.S. states during 1976.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is a link to more bicentennial QSL’s<\/p>\n

https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/ac-2-ghk-4-front<\/a><\/p>\n

I wonder what’s going on this year, as I am not QRV at the moment?<\/p>\n

73<\/p>\n

Dan Greenall, VE3HLC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas, In 1976, amateur radio operators in the United States were allowed the option of using a special prefix in place of their regular one to celebrate the country\u2019s bicentennial year. Many amateurs issued special QSL cards for this bearing the new prefix, making […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[545,3,305],"tags":[389,11133,10271],"class_list":["post-66344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-nostalgia","tag-amateur-radio","tag-bicentennial-callsigns","tag-dan-greenall"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-hg4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49617,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/save-the-date-special-broadcast-for-perus-bicentennial\/","url_meta":{"origin":66344,"position":0},"title":"Save The Date: Special Broadcast For Peru’s Bicentennial","author":"Bill Tilford","date":"July 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Per\u00fa le canta a las Am\u00e9ricas (Peru Sings To the Americas) Date\/Time: Thursday, July 29th, 0300-0400 UTC** **(Wednesday July 28 2200-2300 Lima Time) WRMI 5800 kHz In honor of the bicentennial of Peru's independence, a special hour of Peruvian music hosted by Luis Alejandro Vallebueno with guests Estefania Rivera and\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Englishpromo-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59604,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/dans-digital-archive-of-qsl-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":66344,"position":1},"title":"Dan’s digital archive of QSL Cards","author":"Thomas","date":"May 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas In addition to digitizing many of my old SW and BCB audio files, I have begun setting up some of my QSL galleries on the internet archive in order to help preserve radio history. I am sending along\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/El-Salvador.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/El-Salvador.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/El-Salvador.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/El-Salvador.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/El-Salvador.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32849,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/nss-annapolis-qsls-for-swls\/","url_meta":{"origin":66344,"position":2},"title":"NSS Annapolis QSLs for SWLs","author":"Thomas","date":"June 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ulis Fleming (K3LU), who writes: I wanted to pass along some information regarding the NSS Annapolis radio station. Last year\u2019s cards were sent out for Armed Forces day with one generic card with all the callsigns. This year the ops at NSS will be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/NSS-QSL-CArd-e1529320144216.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/NSS-QSL-CArd-e1529320144216.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/NSS-QSL-CArd-e1529320144216.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/NSS-QSL-CArd-e1529320144216.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61626,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/bridging-two-worlds-shortwave-listening-meets-amateur-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":66344,"position":3},"title":"Bridging Two Worlds: Shortwave Listening Meets Amateur Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"January 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"When the SWL and Amateur Radio hobbies meet by\u00a0 Dan Greenall Many of us who are also amateur radio operators, got their start in the hobby through simply listening to shortwave radio, or perhaps, to stations in the AM or FM broadcast bands.\u00a0 I suppose it is then inevitable that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9791,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/cw-pirates-promote-separatist-movement-in-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":66344,"position":4},"title":"CW pirates promote separatist movement in Ukraine ?","author":"Thomas","date":"May 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Southgate Amateur Radio News) \"Two CW [Morse Code] stations have appeared on the higher HF bands, claiming to operate from Donetsk, as promoting a separatist 'Peoples' Republic of Donetsk', or 'NovoRossiya New Russia'. The callsigns, D0A and 1C4M are believed to be two operators on the same transmitter. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Disputed Ukraine Map via Wikimedia Commons","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Europe-Ukraine-Disputed.svg_.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Europe-Ukraine-Disputed.svg_.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Europe-Ukraine-Disputed.svg_.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66100,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/staying-the-course-w9ims-stages-its-second-special-event-of-the-month-celebrating-the-indy-500\/","url_meta":{"origin":66344,"position":5},"title":"Staying the Course: W9IMS Stages its Second Special Event of the Month, Celebrating the Indy 500","author":"Thomas","date":"May 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Brian D. Smith, W9IND It\u2019s back to the track for amateur radio station W9IMS. Less than 2 weeks after concluding their first special event of the year, members of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club will take to the airwaves from now through Sunday, May 24, to commemorate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contests"","block_context":{"text":"Contests","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/contests\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-GP-front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-GP-front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-GP-front.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-GP-front.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-GP-front.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2025-GP-front.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66344"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66351,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66344\/revisions\/66351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}