The centennial of American independence was celebrated in Knoxville on July 4. Although only a decade had passed since UT had been closed for the Civil War, the institution was a large part of the local 1876 celebration. The observance began at daybreak with “a National salute of 13 guns” fired from “the battery on College Hill.” Cadets living in and near Knoxville turned out for the grand parade down Gay Street, and the Centennial Band, a 24-man group “dressed in flaming oriental costumes mounted on horses,” was led by UT’s Professor Gustav Knabe. Professor Knabe also led the band and a choir of “100 trained voices” in patriotic selections at the 4:00 p.m. outdoor program at which three UT alumni spoke: Hector Coffin (grandson of former UT President Charles Coffin), Moses White (UT trustee and historian), and John H. Crozier (an 1829 graduate and former congressman). The day concluded with a fireworks salute in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue, opened by two pieces of artillery brought from College Hill for a 38-gun salute.