American History through American Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Image Credit:  Metropolitan Museum of Art

If you're in the New York Area don't miss the new wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring American history through art.  

Following are excerpts from the Exhibit Introduction:

The Metropolitan Museum's collection of American art, one of the finest and most comprehensive in the world, returned to view in expanded, reconceived, and dramatic new galleries on January 16, 2012, when the Museum inaugurated the New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts. The new installation provides visitors with a rich and captivating experience of the history of American art from the eighteenth through the early twentieth century. The suite of elegant new galleries encompasses 30,000 square feet for the display of the Museum's superb collection.

The Museum's holdings are particularly rich in the works of the great masters, including John Singleton Copley (Daniel Crommelin Verplanck), Gilbert Stuart (George Washington), Thomas Cole (The Oxbow), Church (The Heart of the Andes), Winslow Homer (Prisoners from the Front), Thomas Eakins (Max Schmitt in a Single Scull), and John Singer Sargent (Madame X).

The centerpiece of the new installation is one of the best-known works in all of American art, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.  This double-sized gallery showcases Leutze's iconic work alongside two other masterpieces—Church's Heart of the Andes and Albert Bierstadt's Rocky Mountains.

The Museum's encyclopedic collection offers visitors the broad sweep of American history as told through great works of art.  [US History themes in the art collection include]  Colonial Portraiture, the American Revolution, the Young Republic, the Civil War Era, Art in the Folk Tradition, the Hudson River School, the West, the Cosmopolitan Spirit, and American Impressionism.

Interspersed among the pictures is the American Wing's sculpture collection.   Artists represented include Erastus Dow Palmer, John Quincy Adams Ward, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Daniel Chester French, Frederic Remington, and Frederick William MacMonnies.

The new suite of galleries also feature four rooms dedicated to the display of American decorative arts, principally treasures of colonial furniture and silver. Selected highlights of the Museum's extraordinary collection of early American silver include works by John Hull and Robert Sanderson, Myer Myers, and Paul Revere. The furniture gallery has masterpieces of late colonial case furniture by John Townsend of Newport and Thomas Affleck of Philadelphia, complemented by imposing architectural elements. In addition, the galleries include the grand pre-revolutionary entrance hall of the Van Rensselaer Manor House, Albany, New York.

The opening of the New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts in January 2012 represents the third and final phase of a major, multi-part renovation project. Part 1 opened in January 2007 with galleries dedicated to the classical arts of America, 1810–1845. Part 2 opened in May 2009 with the renovation of The Charles Engelhard Court and the Period Rooms. Now that Part 3 is completed, nearly all of the American Wing's seventeen thousand works are on view.

Visit the Metropolitan's website for more pictures and information about this spectacular new exhibit of American Art and US History.  Metropolitan Museum of Art

Making Each Day Unique

A US History Guest post

By:  Evan Britton

One of the most commonly used expressions is “Time Flies Fast”.  And it does, people’s lives pass them by way too fast, and when children come into our lives, they grew up right before our own very eyes.  Before we know it – the kids are doing things that we can’t believe.  Times really moves.

A major reason why time moves so fast is that we do the same thing each day.  When you do the same thing over and over – the days run into each other and the weeks go by.  And without different things happening in a given day – memories slip away and before you know it – a year has passed and you can’t remember many unique things that you did in that given year. 

This is why birthdays are so important.  As it gives everyone a chance to have one day which is special and unique.  People look forward to that one day out of 365 in which everything is more important to them.  However, part of the reason why birthdays are so great is that they are simply better than just about all of the other 364 more common days throughout the year.

It is important to realize that each day is special and unique.  And with that in mind – the Famous Daily (http://famousdaily.com)  was launched.  The Famous Daily shows us what important events in history happened on this day.  This allows us to understand that today’s date isn’t random and that it does have importance.  The important historical events are displayed by categories which include general history, entertainment, geography, business, and sports.

In addition to history, the Famous Daily displays today’s Famous Birthdays.  It is always fun to see what influential people and celebrities were born today to help give more importance to this day.  Furthermore, the Famous Daily highlights a Famous Quote that was said on this date in history.  By learning of a quote that has withstood the test of time, which was said today – it is easier for us to appreciate today and be excited about it.

Time flies fast – but the Famous Daily is here to help you stop, smell the roses, see what makes today special, so that you can better enjoy the day.  You can sign up to the Famous Daily for free (http://famousdaily.com/subscribe ) each day via email.

Tomorrow may just be another day.  However, important historical events happened tomorrow which helped to shape our world.  And important people have a birthday tomorrow.  So, tomorrow isn’t that boring afer all – and by realizing it – time will slow down!

Dead Sea Scrolls online

The Dead Sea Scrolls are coming alive online thanks to a joint project with Google and the Israeli Museum that has provided high resolution imagery of the scrolls along with translations:

Official google.org Blog: From the desert to the web: bringing the Dead Sea Scrolls online

Museums of Richmond Virginia

Richmond Virginia offers visitors one of the most fascinating and significant historical landscapes in the United States. As one of the most important and prominent cities of the Civil War era and the capitol of the Confederacy during the US Civil War, Richmond represents the charm and mystique of the antebellum South, the evils of the US slave trade, and arguably the most important and strategic city in the American Civil War.

Near Richmond you find the Richmond National Battlefield Park with extensive information about the two key Union Army campaigns to capture Richmond. Here you'll explore battlefields from the Peninsula Campaign and later actions.

A driving tour of several civil war sites in the greater Richmond area is maintained by the "Virginia Civil War Trails". The White House of the Confederacy is now part of the Museum of the Confederacy. This building has been fully restored to look as it did in the Civil War era. Daily tours. Next door is the "must see" attraction of this area - the Museum of the Confederacy (see below for description).

Do not miss the new "Richmond Slave Trail" and museum, which features exhibits and a walking trail to showcase the inhumanity and hardships of the southern slave economy.

Here, from the Richmond Visitors Website, are descriptions of more of the museums in this amazing and historical southern city:

Agecroft Hall

4305 Sulgrave Road. English manor home originally built in 15th century and then dismantled and transported to Richmond in 1928. Leaded glass windows, Tudor and Stuart artifacts, authentic furnishings and formal gardens.

Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives

1109 W. Franklin St., the museum features artifacts of international, national and local Jewish life and history. It is open to the public Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm. For information on exhibits, guided tours, lectures or volunteer opportunities, please call (804)353-2668.

American Historical Foundation Museum

Located at 1142 W. Grace St., this National Historic Landmark was restored to Federal Period grandeur. It houses the Monument Avenue Museum, The US Marine Raider Museum and the Military Knife and Bayonet Museum.

For additional information, call (804) 353-1812.

Black History Museum & Cultural Center

00 Clay Street. Neoclassical style structure built in 1832 and purchased by Maggie L. Walker in 1922. In 1932, it became the African-American branch of the Richmond Public Library; in 1991 it was converted to a museum and cultural center for visual, oral and written records and artifacts commemorating the lives and accomplishments of Blacks in Virginia from their arrival in 1619 to present. Artifacts, videos, historical documents, and photographs are used to highlight the achievements of African-Americans in Virginia through.

For more information, call (804)780-9093.

Children's Museum of Richmond

The Children's Museum of Richmond is located at 2626 W. Broad St.. Come out and explore over 250 interactive exhibits including the wonders of flight, illusions and astronomy in the 42,000 square-foot museum. An interactive, hands-on museum for children ages 6 months to 12 years. Permanent participatory exhibits include - How it Works, the Feeling Food Neighborhood, the Art Studio and Our Great Outdoors. There is also an OMNIMAX film and multimedia planetarium show.

For more information, call (804)474-2667.

Chimborazo Medical Museum

Located at 3215 E. Broad St., the museum stands on the eastern end of downtown Richmond, at the site of the Civil War's famous Chimborazo Hospital. Between 1861 and 1865 more than 75,000 Confederate soldiers received treatment at this sprawling facility. The medical museum tells the story of those patients and the hospital and physicians that cared for them. Using artifacts, uniforms and documents, the exhibits describe the state of medicine in 1860. In highlights the care of wounded and sick soldiers on the battlefields, and in the many large centralized Richmond hospitals like Chimborazo. Chimborazo Medical Museum is open to the public, free of charge from 9 - 5 daily.

For more information, call (804)226-1981.

Edgar Allan Poe Museum

Located between 19th & 20th Streets on East Main Street, this museum features exhibits on the life and career of Edgar Allan Poe. By documenting his accomplishments with pictures, relics, and verse, and focusing on his many years in Richmond; visitors get a glimpse of what Edgar Allan Poe was like. Five small buildings and an enclosed garden house the poet's possessions and memorabilia.

For more information, please call (804)648-5523.

John Marshall House

Located at Ninth and Marshall Streets, this house was the home of John Marshall for 45 years. He was the pioneer chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The house was built in 1790 and is the oldest brick house surviving the City. Restored as a house museum, it contains artifacts from Marshall's home and professional life.

For more information, call (804)648-1889.

Maggie L. Walker House National Historic Site

Located at 110-1/2 E. Leigh St., the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site commemorates the life of a progressive and talented African American woman. Despite many adversities, she achieved success in the world of business and finance. She was the first woman in the United States to found and serve as president of a bank. The bank she founded, now Consolidated Bank & Trust, is the oldest surviving black-operated bank in the United States. The site includes her residence of thirty years and a visitor center detailing her life and the Jackson Ward community, in which, she lived and worked. The house is restored to its 1930's appearance with original Walker family pieces.

For more information, call (804)780-1380.

Maymont House and Park

Located at 1700 Hampton St., this 100-acre Victorian estate, once home of Major James H. and Sallie May Dooley, was bequeathed to the City of Richmond in 1925. Features include: nature center and gardens, a carriage collection, children's farm and native Virginia wildlife exhibits (with more than 300 animals, almost 60 species), and the restored mansion. Since 1975, Maymont has been maintained and operated by the private nonprofit Maymont Foundation.

For more information, call (804)358-7166.

Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park

Located at 3400 Mountain in Richmond, this 1860's living historical farm recreates the life of a middle-class rural family. Changing exhibits, gift shop and orientation videos are features in the orientation center.

For more information, call (804)501-5520.

Museum of the Confederacy

Located at 1201 E. Clay St., adjacent to the restored historic White House of the Confederacy, this modern facility holds the world's most comprehensive collection of military, political and domestic artifacts and art associated with the period of the Confederacy, 1861-1865.

For more information, call (804)649-1861.

Old Dominion Railway Museum

Located at 102 Hull St., steam, passenger, freight and other artifacts of Virginia's rail heritage are on display near the 1831 birthplace of Virginia railroading. For more information, call (804)233-6237.

Richmond National Battlefield Parks

Located at 3215 E. Broad St., in the Chimborazo Park Visitor's Center Between 1861 and 1865, Union armies repeatedly set out to capture Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, to end the Civil War. Three of those campaigns came within a few miles of the city. The park commemorates eleven different sites associated with those campaigns, including the battlefields at Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill and Cold Harbor. Established in 1936, the park protects 763 acres of historic ground. Begin with an explanatory film, and then tour the well-preserved sites of the Civil War battle fields. There are history programs and more at the Chimborazo Park Visitors Center.

For more information, call (804)226-1981.

Science Museum of Virginia

Located at 2500 W. Broad St., this museum offers wonderful hands-on learning and fun. There is also a planetarium and special shows all year.

For more information, call (804)864-1400.

University of Richmond Museum

Located on the University of Richmond campus, the university has three museums: The Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, The Marsh Art Gallery and The Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center.

For more information, call (804)287-6424.

Valentine Museum

Located at 1015 E. Clay St., this museum features the life and history of Richmond. Major changing exhibitions focus on American urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts and architecture. The museum's 1812 Wickham House features rare neoclassical wall paintings.

For more information, call (804)649-0711.

Virginia Aviation Museum

Located at Richmond International Airport, 5701 Huntsman Road, the Virginia Aviation Museum is a division of theScience Museum of Virginia. This shrine to the "Golden Age of Aviation" enhances the Science Museum's aerospace exhibits with its extensive collection of vintage flying machines. Learn which planes earned the nicknames: Rolls Royce, Cadillac and Flying Bathtub. Stroll past exhibits on pioneer aviation, World War II and the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame. Enjoy aviation films and lectures in the Benn Theater. And if that's still not enough, how about getting an up-close view of the incomparable SR-71 Blackbird!

For more information, call (804)236-3622.

Virginia Fire & Police Museum

Located at 200 W. Marshall St., this museum houses antique fire and crime fighting memorabilia and operates as a museum and educational center. The museum is a National Historic Landmark. Richmond has the distinction of having the second oldest police force in the country and one of the oldest fire departments as well.

Virginia Holocaust Museum

Located at 2000 E. Cary St. in Shockoe Bottom, this museum is a tribute to Holocaust survivors. It features hands-on children's exhibits and an educational resource center. For more information, call (804)257-5400.

Virginia Historical Society

Located at 428 N. Boulevard, this museum offers a comprehensive collection of Virginia History. Nine-museum galleries exhibit rarely seen Virginia treasures. An extensive library for historical and genealogical research is also available. For more information, please call (804)358-4901.

Virginia House

Located at 4301 Sulgrave Road, this reconstructed English manor was home to Alexander Weddell, former United States Ambassador to Spain, and reflects his fascination with England and its history. The gardens are one of the highlights of the tour.

For more information, call (804)353-4251.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

This top ten comprehensive art museum features 5,000 years of artistic achievement from the glories of ancient Greece and India, to contemporary international art. Major special exhibitions at all times. Also a not-to-be-missed museum shop, cafe´ and restaurant. Open 365 days a year and general admission is always free. For more information, call (804) 340-1400. Located at 200 N. Boulevard.

Virginia Randolph Museum

Located at 2200 Mountain Road, this National Historic Landmark commemorates the career of a pioneer of vocational education. For more information, call (804)261-5029.

Wilton House Museum

Located at 215 S. Wilton Rd. off Cary Street, this house is an impressive example of mid-18th century Georgian architecture with fine interior paneling accented by exquisite period furnishings. Wilton house is one of Richmond's architectural treasures.

For more information, call (804)282-5936.

Betsy Ross Home, Philadelphia PA

Betsy Ross Home, Philadelphia PA, a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania offers the history traveler some of the richest experiences in the USA, from tours of the Betsy Ross home (background here) to Independence Hall and the US Mint. You'll also find extensive colonial architecture as well as the Liberty Bell and much, much more. Here was the home of Betsy Ross, an early American Patriot who created the first US Flag at the behest of George Washington. Players offer free shows here and at other Philadelphia venues that address the historical and cultural themes of early life in the American colonies.

Also don't miss "Franklin Court" with the exceptional museum of Benjamin Franklin artifacts and history.

Two of the Greatest Photographers in US History

The Two Great Photographers in US History

When we think of the two greatest photographers of the US history, we think of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. Edward Henry Weston (1886 - 1958) was originally from Chicago, then moved to California. He was best known for his sensual nudes and spectacular landscapes.

In 1937 Weston received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship producing numerous award winning images. Some of Weston’s best images were taken around the Carmel California region. Weston’s legacy continued with both of his sons Brett Weston and Cole Weston who have continued in his footsteps.

Ansel Easton Adams (1902-1984) is known as the grandfather of fine art photography. Originally trained as a pianist Adams transferred his musical artistry into visual form. Adams primarily used a large format camera and is best known for his crisp sharp landscapes.

Adams was well known for the work he did on the preservation and recording of the landscapes of Yosemite National Park. Together with Edward Weston Adams also founded Group f/64 which was the seed for the Museum Of Modern Arts.

This history article was provided by Vitaly Geyman of Art Prints America. Check out his great selection of art prints at this website: www.ArtPrintsAmerica.com.

Check out Vitaly's Black and White Prints at his personal website VitalyGeyman.com

History of Concord, Massachusetts

Few towns in the United States can boast incorporation in 1635, the date of the beginning of the colonial history of Concord, Massachusetts.

The annual "independence day" event in Concord, Massachusetts isn't on July 4th as in most parts of the USA, but this hardly represents any lack of patriotism on the part of Concord where the big parade is in April, following the reenactment of the battle for the Concord North Bridge. The North Bridge is now part of the National Park and is often considered the starting point of the Revolutionary War.

It should be noted that Lexingtonians from Lexington, Mass a short few miles away will often insist that it is Lexington Green, where Americans gathered earlier in the day to challenge the British, that is the true starting point of the Revolutionary War and not Concord. Serious historians generally note both events, suggesting that both events have enormous symbolic significance as setting the stage for the war to come and the eventual independence of the American states from England.

The North Bridge's fame stems partly from the poem written and read by Ralph Waldo Emerson at a Concord Bridge memorial years later where he called this the site of the "shot heard 'round the world"


Concord, MA, a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

Here, thanks to a summary from ConcordMa.com is an excellent list of sites important in the History of Concord:

The Bullet Hole House on Monument Street still has the hole from a bullet fired during the battle at the North Bridge. Please respect the folks who live in the houses while viewing all of Concord's historical homes.

Colonial Inn, earliest part built 1716 (Monument Square)

The Concord Museum is home to the Paul Revere lantern of "One if by land, two if by sea" fame, the best Henry David Thoreau collection, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Study. Don't miss the "Exploring Concord" film. Admission fee is low and well worth it - this is an excellent museum of early Americana. Location: Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Rd, Concord.

The Ralph Waldo Emerson House was Emerson's home from 1835-1882. There is an excellent tour of the home and the history of this remarkable Massachusetts family. More about Emerson's writing

First Parish in Concord was the site of the first and second Provincial Congresses of 1774. (Lexington Rd)

Grapevine Cottage, home of developer of the Concord Grape, Ephraim Bull (Lexington Rd)

Meriam's Corner saw a skirmish between Minutemen and British troops retreating towards Boston on April 19, 1775. Location: Lexington Rd at Old Bedford Rd.

Minute Man National Historical Park, is an absolute "must see" area for anyone interested in US Colonial History. The Park includes the Old North Bridge and famous "Minuteman" statue. In April of each year hundreds of historical reenactors gather, dressed in British and Colonial garb, and fight the early battles of the American Revolutionary War. In the evening during the annual Concord "Patriot Days" festival candlelight tours of the park showcase some of the characters, homes, and activity during that time. Reservations are required for the candlelight fascinating tours - contact the National Park service for more information.

Old Hill Burying Ground: Colonial families and Revolutionary soldiers buried here. Location:

Lexington Rd at Monument Square.

The Old Manse, was the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Rev. William Emerson, the grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Hawthorne on the Old Manse . Location: Monument Street next to Minute Man National Historical Park. Wikipedia entry about the Old Manse and it's role in the History of Concord The_Old_Manse.

Orchard House is another superb local tour focused on the colonial history of Concord. Orchard house was the the home of the Bronson Alcott family, including Louisa May Alcott, from 1858-1877. This was the house described in Lousia May's "LITTLE WOMEN". Location: 399 Lexington Rd.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetary, with "Author's Ridge", is the final resting place for many of Concord's finest and most influential early citizens including Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Bronson Alcot. Note the Melvin Memorial by famous sculptor Daniel Chester French. From a page devoted to the famous and their gravesites, several in Sleepy Hollow are described and pictured here. (Bedford Street/Court Lane near the town center)

Along with other "must sees" in the history of Concord, you'll want to visit the famous Walden Pond, now a state park complete with a recreation of the tiny cabin where Thoreau lived and worked during some of his time in this area. Walden Pond is a few miles from downtown Concord, and the site of Henry David Thoreau's cabin and the source of much of his inspiration for the book "Walden." Route 126 near Route 2.

The Wayside was home to the Hawthorns, Alcotts, and later author Margaret Sidney who wrote "The Five Little Peppers and How they Grew". Location: 455 Lexington Road.

Wright's Tavern on Monument Square was built in 1747. The plaque on the front reads "Here met the committees of the PROVINCIAL CONGRESS on the eve of the Revolution while the larger body sat in the MEETING HOUSE close by. Headquarters of the Minutemen in the early morning of April 19, 1775. Later that day Headquarters of the British under command of Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn".