Liberty Banner, 1790s
date: label: date made
content: 1796
notes: label: Description
content: This rare silk banner was probably carried in a public parade in Philadelphia in the mid to late 1790s. Its elaborate design suggests the importance of such festivals, which provided a place for many Americans, voters and non-voters, to express patriotic sentiments or partisan views on current events.
label: Description
content: The banner, mostly likely made by women, is embroidered on both sides, so that it could be viewed as it was carried down the street or hung from a prominent building. The Liberty figure here wears a Grecian garment, carries a pole with a “liberty cap” on it, and nourishes the American eagle—all while standing triumphant over the fallen crown and broken chains of monarchy.
topic: label: depicted
content: Liberty
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, General History Collection
label: See more items in
content: Government, Politics, and Reform
label: See more items in
content: American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
label: Exhibition
content: American Democracy
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0849.01
label: accession number
content: 1985.0849
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0849.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Banner
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: silk (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 55 in x 46 in; 139.7 cm x 116.84 cm