Evening star., 1898-01-12
AMERICAN HISTORY.
Special Feature to lie introduced In
National Museum.

One of the most important features
which Will be devel loDed in the National
Museum under the department of anthro-
pology of which Prof W. H. Holmes is
the head will be the hall of American
history. This was an idea which Prof.
Goode cher.sred and which it has long
been the 7. those having the museum
in charge stitute. 1t is the scheme.
under the s.e-ent dispensation of the mu-
scum. to have the institution as nearly
national in it's character as possible, and
every effort will be made to have as many
things IA it relating TO early American
history, that of the United States in par
ticular, as possible. The department OF
anthropolOgy Includes three divisions, those
Of ethnology, technology and American
history. with chief at the head of each
Steps now being taken which viii.
in time bring this idea to full fruition-
Prof. Homes is greatly interested in the
undertake.. and thinks that 1t will prove
to be the most attractive features
OF the Natiy nal Museum. The place reserv
ed for The objects relating to American
history will occupy the north hall of the
building These objects will be the frs.
seen by persons visiting the building. Tie
ceramics which now occupy a portion OF
this hall will be removed TO the galleries.
and the entire space given up for the pur-
pose mentioned.
BACK EF1cSsOn'S Time.
The objects and relics will be presented
chronoIogicalIy, beginning with the period
when Leif Ericsson. in his Viking ship.
visited America. There is a heroic statue
of Ericsson at present in the rotunda of
the museum, which attracts great atten-
ton. This will be placed 10 one side of
the hall His Viking ship. which is al
ready seen in the museum, will occupy
position close to the statue. As far as pos
sible the weapons or models of weapons
used by the NorSen,en On their voyage 10
discover the new continent will be shown.
There will be representations of the ap-
parel they wore and everything possible
relating to them, far can be secured
by the museum. The objects relating only
TO American history and not to that of the
United States proper will be given posi-
tions at either side of the hall. while the
United States exhibits, of historical inter
eet of course, will be presented in the
main floor space.
Columbus and His Voyage.
TIE next period after Ericsson will b.
shown by the objects relating to Column
bus voyage to the new land. A statue of
him, it is thought, will form part of the
Columbus collection A model of his flag
ship, the Santa Maria, has been ordered to
be constructed at the museum, and will
probably be completed in a short time
This will be of the same size as the Viking
ship. with all of the characteristics. so far as
known, of the original Models, or. if pos
sible, some of the originals OF the weapons
used by Columbus and his brave explorers
will be secured. All features pertaining to
the voyage of the Santa Maria, the Pinta
and the Nina will be SHOWN. that at
glance il can be seen exactly the requisites
which resulted in the discovery.
The objects relating to the early settle
ment OF Massachusetts and the other New
England states which can be obtained will
will hx. al
Maytiower. and assembled about 1t a series
OF models with costumes of that period
Everything which can be secured of value
indicating the early types of civilization
in America will be presented, the same as
of the other periods of history In this
country. 1t is certain that the Plymouth
ROCK exhibit Will be most interesting from
every point of view
The model of Captain John Smiths "yir-
gtnia Mayhower. the Sally Constant in
which he brought colonists to Virginia in
1907. already exists in the museum. Added
to this Will be whatever can be secured re-
lating to the romantic history of this dar-
ing soldier and his followers as well as
the period when his exploits took place
The Revolutionary Period.
Some of the revolutionary relics and OBJ
tects are already shown in the museum,
especially those of Washington. These will
be grouped together and added to them
will be many others From the time of
FdSiliLSton the tAIlDlt VIII come straight
down TO the civil war The Grant relics
will be included in the hail. and whatever
else can be obtained of interest relating
to those troublous times The hall will
also contain exhibits of particular interest
from the period of the civil war up to the
present
There will be a series of ship models
shown in the hall of American history
exhibiting developments of vessels in
America from the earliest time Up to date,
including the evolution of the steamboat
The railroad exhibit at the museum has
a section TO itself. but enough will be in
ciuded in the hall to show how the rail-
road has developed in the United States
Electrical Exhibits
The electrical exhibits will contain cases
containing apparatus used and Invented by
Profs- Henry and Morse and Cyrus W.
Field.
1t is hoped that it will be possible to Sc
cure marble and bronze statues OF the men
who took leading parts in the epochs of
which there will be representative objects
shown. there is already a statue of
Lief Ericsson.
While the matter is yet in embryo II is
certain of being fully developed in time,
although it may take years to finish 1t in
the manner the officers of the museum
wish to have ii done The work of insti-
tuting the hall of American history has al
ready begun