Independence Day 2007
The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson
Fireworks; Lighting Up The Night
America's earliest settlers brought their enthusiasm for fireworks to
the United States. Fireworks and black powder were used to celebrate
important events long before the American Revolutionary War. The very
first celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before
Americans knew whether the new nation would survive the war; fireworks
were a part of those festivities. In 1789, George Washington's
inauguration was also accompanied by a fireworks display. This early
fascination with their noise and color continues today.
In 2004, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, started using aerial
fireworks launched with compressed air rather than gunpowder, the first
time that such a launch system was used commercially. The display shell
explodes in the air using an electronic timer. The advantages of
compressed air launch are a reduction in fumes, and much greater
accuracy in height and timing.[2]
The largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world is
China. China is estimated to have exported over 6 million cases or
120,000 tons of fireworks to the US in 2005.
Fireworks Everywhere!
