Millennium celebrations
Millennium celebrations in the United States coincided with global festivities on December 31, 1999, marking the transition into the twenty-first century. In preparation for this significant event, President Bill Clinton established the White House Millennial Council in 1997, promoting the theme "Honor the Past—Imagine the Future." This council aimed to engage Americans in various activities, leading to the designation of communities as "Millennium Communities" based on their celebratory efforts. Notable events took place in iconic locations such as the Lincoln Memorial, Times Square, and the National Mall, featuring cultural showcases by prominent artists and scholars.
The celebrations included a gala at the Lincoln Memorial, with performances by renowned figures and a televised address by President Clinton. Despite some concerns about potential disruptions from terrorism and the Y2K computer bug, the night largely unfolded as a grand celebration with fireworks and countdowns. The impact of these celebrations was primarily short-lived, with the council concluding its activities in early 2001. However, the legacy included the establishment of parks and trails, as well as initiatives aimed at preserving the nation’s history and heritage. Overall, the millennium festivities offered a unique opportunity for communities across the U.S. to reflect on the past while looking forward to the future.
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Millennium celebrations
Celebrations that occurred across the United States that marked the beginning of the third millennium on January 1, 2000
Millennial celebrations in the United States occurred in concert with others around the world on the evening of December 31, 1999, to celebrate the turn of the millennium, which is the span of one thousand years. The evening also ushered in the dawn of the twenty-first century. Celebrations occurred across the United States, with major events held at the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, and Times Square.
By the late 1990s, preparations began in the United States to mark the turn of the millennium. President Bill Clinton established the White House Millennial Council in August 1997, with the theme “Honor the Past—Imagine the Future.” The council was set up to coordinate millennial activities, under the leadership of then First Lady Hillary Clinton. The council’s role was to encourage all Americans to take part in the celebrations, and to this end established the Millennium Communities program. Any community across the United States that planned and held any kind of celebration to mark the millennium was eligible for the honorary designation of Millennium Community. For example, Meridian, Mississippi, renovated a Grand Opera House into an arts education center, while Laredo, Texas, schools created their own time capsules to be opened in 2020.
The Millennial Council also designed and created the National Millennium Time Capsule to commemorate key events and accomplishments of the twentieth century. Winners of various national medals were canvassed for ideas for capsule items, as were students from across the country. Millennium Evenings were also set up by the White House, in order to showcase culture and learning by inviting some of the leading artists and scholars to perform or present, including such distinguished guests as jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, scientist Stephen Hawking, and Nobel Peace Prize–winner Elie Wiesel. Other programs of the council included the Millennium Trails program, designed to recognize and/or create at least two thousand trails across the United States. There was also a desire to preserve the nation’s history with the $30 million Save America’s Treasures program, designed to preserve historic sites, documents, monuments, and art. Communities and schools were even asked to imagine what human habitation would look like on Mars by the year 2030.
The evening of December 31, 1999, and early morning of January 1, 2000, marked the actual millennial celebrations. The White House hosted a gala at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, which included notable American artists. It was hosted by Will Smith and produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens Jr. The Washington Monument was illuminated for the countdown to midnight, and President Clinton addressed the nation by television at about 11:53 p.m. Times Square in New York City was once again teeming with people.
Throughout America, cities and towns held enhanced New Year’s Eve celebrations, with the requisite fireworks and countdowns. Although some felt the celebrations were dampened by worries of terrorism and the Y2K computer bug, millennial celebrations in essence turned out to be one big party.
Impact
The impact of millennial celebrations in the United States was relatively short-term. The White House Millennial Council continued its activities until January 1, 2001, in order to avoid the controversy of those who believed that the turn of the millennium actually occurred on the evening of December 31, 2000. There were also numerous community trails, parks, and even some infrastructure built across the country to commemorate the millennium.
Bibliography
Johnson, Dan. “Millennium: The Biggest Party Ever—and You Are Invited!” Futurist 32.7 (1998): 41–45. Print.
Robinson, Tracy. “Clinton Transcends the Millennium.” American Spectator 30.11(1997): 80–81. Print.
White House Millennium Council 2000. White House, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.