Burlington Vermont Tercentenary Celebration Parade Winners 1909 Real Photo Postcard

The Lake Champlain Tercentenary Celebration, held in Burlington, Vermont, in 1909, commemorated the 300th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of the lake in 1609. This "Painters and Decorators Float" earned the first prize of $100, highlighting the competitive and elaborate nature of civic parades during this era, where local businesses and trade organizations showcased their skills and community spirit.

Such tercentenary events were significant public spectacles, designed to foster regional identity, celebrate historical milestones, and attract tourism. Parades featured allegorical figures, historical reenactors in period costumes (including representations of colonial settlers and Indigenous peoples), and patriotic symbols like American flags, reflecting a blend of historical remembrance and national pride prevalent in early 20th-century American celebrations.