Wood medallions, 1876 Centennial Exposition
notes: label: Description
content: These are six medals of embossed walnut that were part of the exhibition of the Philadelphia Ornamental Wood Company at the Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, 1876. They are stored in their original cardboard case, which features a map of the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition. They were accessioned by the U.S. National Museum (today, the National Museum of American History) in 1928.
label: Description
content: The first carved wooden medallion is one of the larger two. It has a raised image of a building on its obverse side, as well as the text, “1776 memorial hall (/) or (/) art gallery (/) great international (/) exposition (/)1876.” On the reverse, text reads, “The 100th Anniversary of American Independence. Great International Exhibition Fairmount Park Philadelphia 4th of July 1876.”
label: Description
content: The second medallion, the second of the larger two, also has a raised image of a building on its obverse side, with text reading, "Main Building Great International Exposition 1776 In Memoriam 1876 Philadelphia.” The reverse side reads “The 100th Anniversary of American Independence. Great International Exhibition Fairmount Park Philadelphia 4th of July 1876.”
label: Description
content: The third and fourth medallions both feature an image of Independence Hall on its obverse side, with text reading, "1776 Independence Hall 1876 Birthplace of Liberty. Commenced 1729 Finished 1734.” The back of the medals read, “The 100th Anniversary of American Independence. Great International Exhibition Fairmount Park Philadelphia 4th of July 1876.”
label: Description
content: The fifth medallion depicts Afred T. Goshorn on its obverse side, with text reading, “Alfred T. Goshorn Director General U.S. International Exposition.” The reverse side of the medal reads, “The 100th Anniversary of American Independence. Great International Exhibition Fairmount Park Philadelphia 4th of July 1876.” Goshorn was a businessman from Cincinnati, Ohio, who organized Cincinnati Industrial Expositions beginning in 1870. In 1873, Goshorn was elected Director-General of the Centennial Exposition. During the Exposition, dignitaries celebrated the Director-General, and Philadelphia presented him with hundreds of books, pamphlets, and photographs that now compose the collection, <i>Goshorn’s Centennial Collection</i> at the Cincinnati Historical Society.
label: Description
content: The sixth medallion features a depiction of George Washington with text reading, “George Washington Born Feb 22, 1732 Died Dec 14, 1799.” On the reverse side, text reads, “The 100th Anniversary of American Independence. Great International Exhibition Fairmount Park Philadelphia 4th of July 1876.”
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Forestry
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: William B. Marshall
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AG.101343
label: accession number
content: 101343
label: accession number
content: 101343
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Medallions, Wood, Set
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cardboard (case material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (medallion material)
label: Measurements
content: medallion: 3 in; x 7.62 cm
label: Measurements
content: medallion: 2 1/2 in; x 6.35 cm
label: Measurements
content: container: 8 in x 10 in; 20.32 cm x 25.4 cm