The museum is two stories and is operated by the New York State chapter of the Sons of the Revolution. It is a highly amusing mix of reproductions, photographs of historic statues and plaques, and tschotchkes spread over two floors. The money shot of shrines, though, is the one dedicated to George Washington. There is a fragment of George Washington’s coffin in a tin case and a chunk of George Washington’s pew from St. Paul’s Church. If you have ever wondered what the original GW looked like under his powdered wig, here’s your answer: a locket of George Washington’s hair is encased in a circular glass frame. (Who knew it was reddish brown?) There is also a fragment of George’s tooth encased in a locket, under a magnifying the glass. The tooth came from George’s denture. I’ll warn you that it is a little on the decayed side and leave it at that.Out of curiosity, when you read the news, how many of you also have an urge to celebrate Flag Day and "the spread of democracy" in Iraq by burning the flag and pissing off conservatives?
Finally, in what may be the most pointless museum display ever, there is a shrine to Flag Day amongst all the historical ephemera. A glass case is filled with miniature American flags and pictures of the Flag Day Parade on June 14, 2001. Long live Flag Day!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Happy Flag Day to My Fellow Pinko Commie Scum
So it's Flag Day today. Whoop-de-doo. Does anyone except the Fraunces Tavern Museum celebrate this? I wrote about the Tavern a while back(November 22, 2005) as part of my short-lived "Museum Mondays" series. A quick recap, in honor of Flag Day:
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Good blog about the museum!
ReplyDeleteI didn't burn the flag but in the Navy I made the statement on how stupid it was to worship the flag. And I went on to say "The Flag is a Rag."
Opps! Wrong thing to say, considering the time and place. But it did rhyme.
On my Uncle John's Bathroom Companion page-a-day Calendar today it tells of the Annin & Company in New Jersey. The have been producing flags since the 1820s.. they have furnished the flag in 1849 of the Zachary Taylor inauguaration and every one since.
Their flag also was the one at Iwo Jiwa in 1945 and on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969, where it is still standing.
I just thought it was interesting.
It was Flag Day today? Wow...live and learn, huh? But after just reading that, it explains why there were people on the street today with giant signs and flags. And here I thought it was just some sort of dare...I mean, really, who stands outside with a giant poster in 112 degree weather, you know?
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