The daily Alaskan., 1915-06-21
HISTORY IN RELICS
There's a Wonderful Exhibit In
 the National Museum.
INFAMOUS COSTUME DISPLAY.

Besides Uniforms of National Heroes,
 There Are Nineteen Gowns of the
 Wives of Our PrssIdontsr Beginning
 With One of Martha Washington.
 A recent report on the United stateS National museum gives an account Of the origin and.deveiopment of the divi- sion of history which will appeal to every American. The first building ex- pressly erected for the National mu- scum was not opened to the public un- 2 October, 1881, and from that date until. the. occupation of the new build ing, in June, 1911, 1t contained the greater part of the exhibits. Since the opening of the new. building, however, the natural history collections have been removed there, leaving moro space in the older building for tho ex- tension of the divisions of American history and arts and industries.
 The division was originally organized to illustrate the history of the United States from colonial times by exhibit ing such relics and memorials of note worthy personages and events and the domestic life of the country as could be brought together into groups of ob- tects representing the different periods. One striking feature in this connection Is the unique American period cos tune collection of nineteen dresses be- longing to the successive hostesses of the White House from the time of Martha Washington to that of recent administration. These costumes arc so exhibited on lay figures as to bring out the full effects of the gowns, although no effort has been made to reproduce the faces of the individuals. Several other dresses and great number of accessories of apparel, including shaWls, shoes, hats and bonnets, gloves, hand kerchiefs, combs, fans and Jewelry, are also on display.
 Among the costumes and uniforms of American men shown are a uniform and dress suit of George Washington, a court suit of General Thomas Pinck- ney, the court dress and other attire of James Monroe and the uniform coat of General Andrew Jackson, worn at the battle of New Orleans.
 Many memorials and relics of George Washington were purchased from the Lewis heirs and deposited in the mu- scum in 1878, which, with sundry addi- tions, now include some 400 objects.
 Historical furniture which at one time or another was the property of men of national importance-Lafayette, Jefferson, Putnam, Hamilton, Ganse- voort, Cooper and others-is displayed
 Colonial relics deposited by the na- tional society of the Colonial Danes of America fll two large cases.
 The printing press used in 1T25-25 by Benjamin Franklin when a printer In London Is specially interesting on ac- count of its connection with this noted statesman, as well as its historical im- portance as regards the development of the. science of printing.
 Models of five sailing vessels con nected with the discovery and early history of the United States represent q viking ship, such as the Norsemen used in their supposed early visits to this continent in about 1000 A. D.; the Santa Maria, flagship of Columbus; the Susan Constant, which brought the first permanent English colony to America; the Mayfower of the pil- grims and the United States frigate Constitution.
 The war of 1872 and the Mexican war, are represented by many swords, pistols, guns, medals, flags, uniforms and .accouterments belonging to mill tary and naval officers, among whom are Generals Brown, Ripley, Shields, Mugruder, Paul, Morgan, Browne of the United States army, and Captain Lawrence, U. SIN. One of the most valued possessions of the museum Is the star spangled banner of Fort Mo Henry, the inspiration of Keys tm- mortal verses. This historic flag has been backed and repaired by an elabo- rate process. which insures its perma- uent preservation. -..-....
 Associated with. the civil war arc memorials and mementos of many well known. Americans - Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Sherman, Custer, Foote and many others prominent in that greaG strug- gle. The extensive Grant collection. occupying four cases, is especially tn- teresting.
 Among other prominent officers re- called by various mementoS are Ma comb, Hancock, Decatur, Perry, Bid dle, Porter, Farragut, Wilkes, Phillips Newcomb, Maury, Rogers and Meigs.
 The historical development in science is shown by several individual eXhio- It's Illustrating the work of. Henry Morse, Field, Langley, Francis, Bache, Morton, Wharton and Baird, but most of the scientific apparatus Is included in the division ot mechanical technol- ogy.