The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-06-16
HISTORY IN RELICS
There's a Wonderful Exhibit In
the National Museum.
A FAMOUS COSTUME DISPLAY.
Besides Uniforms of National Heroes,
There Are Nineteen Gowns of the
Wives of Our Presidents, Beginning
With One of Martha Washington.

Wives of Our Presidents, Beginning
With One of Martha Washington.
A recent report on the United States
National museum gives an account OF
the origin and development 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-
til 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 more
space in the older building for the 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 personagcs and events and the
domestic life of the country as could
be brought together into groups OF OBJ
jects 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 hostessesl of
the White House from the time OF
Martha Washington to that oflalrecent
administration These costumes are so
exhibited on lay tlgiires 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 uniform
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 nc the
battle of New Orleans. iisf
Many memorials and relics of George
Washington We're purchased from the
Lewis. heirs and deposited in the mu-
scum in 1878, which, with sundry addi-
lions, now include some 400 objects.
historical furniture, which at one
time lor another was the PROPERTY. OF
nieiiuflnntionlii Importance Lafayette.
Jefferson, I'ntIiain, Hamilton, Gapse-
WORT, Cooper and others istdisplagea.,
Colonial. relics deposited 13y' the ma
tional societyeofstHe Colonial Danes OF
Anlerica filt,two iarge-cases.
The printing press used jim 1885 by
Benjamin l'runkifi wiieli a printer in
lbtrsion Is specially Interesting on nc
count ofitk connection with this noted
statesmail, as wen as its historical inn
portance as regards the development OF
the science ofprintihg.
Models OF five smiling vessels CON
nected with tho discovery anil early
history of the United States represent
n 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 Pill
grims and the United States frigate
Constitution.
The war of 1912 and the Mexican
war are represented by many swords.
vt- ln1-
and accouterments belonging to mill
tary and naval officers, among whom
are Generals Brown, Ripley, Shields,
Magruder, Paul, Morgan, Browne OF
the United States army, and, Captain
Lawrence L. S. n. 0nesof theanlost
valued possessions of the museum is
the star spangled bannereof FprtsMcs
Henry, the inspiration OF Keys i'm
mortal verses This Historic flag has
been backed and repaired by an clabo-
rate process. which insures its perma-
nent preservation. eH,F
Associated with the civil war arc
and mementos of many well
known Americans - Lincoln, Grant, |
Lee, Sherman, Custer, Foote and many
others prominent in that great strug-
gle. The extensive Grant collection,
four cases, is especially in
Among other prominent officers re-
called by various mementos are Ma |
comb, Hancock Decatur, Perry. Bid.
die, Porter, Farragut, Wilkes, Phillips, |
Newcomb, Maury, Rogers and Meigs.
The historical development in science |
Is shown by several individual exhib- |
It's illustrating the work OF Henry, |
Morse, Field, Langley. Francis Bache
Morton, Wharton ard Baird. but most
Of the scientific apparatus is included
In the division OF mechanical technol
ogy.