Last March the friends in Maryland we were staying with took us into Washington DC on the metro, to teach how it works.
My son had a blast. He had always wanted to ride one of these.
Despite the odd feeling of traveling underground, I was thankful for all the tips about riding the metro.
The day our friends took us on the metro, we went to the Smithsonian and spent some time at the newly renovated American History Museum.
Star-Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian American History Museum
Closed for renovations during our trip last summer, the newly renovated museum opened a few months ago.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine we’d be living in the area and I’d have an opportunity to actually see this historic flag.
Part of the renovation process enabled easier viewing of this fragile flag
Previously raised and then lowered at different times of the day to protect the fragile fibers, long lines of people waited to see the historic flag.
Now encased in a special environment, two stories tall…
…the flag…is sealed in a pressurized chamber. Monitored by sensors, shielded by glass, guarded by a waterless fire-suppression system and soothed by temperature and humidity controls, it lies on a custom-built table that allows conservators to care for it without having to move it. “We really want this to be the last time it’s handled,” says Thomassen-Krauss. “It’s getting too fragile for moving and handling.” –Smithsonian Magazine
We walked right in! No lines. Everyone free to come and go.
The flag was prodigious!
Even despite all the snippets that have been cut and given away over the years as souvenirs in the 19th century, it was impressively huge.
Being a seamstress, I couldn’t imagine sewing anything that massive.
I stood there for a long-time marveling at the craftsmanship and the history it bore.
Finally moving on, I felt immersed in the battle at Fort McHenry as I read and looked at the displays around the flag.
Arriving at the Smithsonian in 1907 on loan, America’s most historic flag became a permanent addition in 1912.
This sacred relic is but a frail piece of bunting, worn, frayed, pierced and largely in tatters. -Assistant Secretary Richard Rathbun said in 1913. –Smithsonian Magazine
Two years later the first restoration took place under the care of Amelia Fowler
Hiring ten seamstresses, they set up shop in the spacious Smithsonian Castle, where they could carefully spread out the flag.
…removing the heavy canvas backing that had been attached to the flag in 1873 and, with some 1.7 million stitches, painstakingly attaching a new backing of Irish linen.
Her work kept the flag from falling apart for nearly a century, as it was displayed in the Arts and Industries Building until 1964, then in the Museum of History and Technology, later renamed the National Museum of American History. –Smithsonian Magazine
In between restorations World War II caused Smithsonian curators to safely store national treasures, such as the Star-Spangled Banner, in Luray, Virginia.
Nevertheless the flag again slowly deteriorated as it hung for viewing to the public.
In 1998 this humongous flag underwent a ten-year conservation process costing $7 million
After removing contaminants and reducing acidity, restoration specialists removed the backing placed by Amelia Fowler’s team, a process that took 18 months.
Then they attached—to the other side of the flag—a new backing made of a sheer polyester fabric called Stabiltex. As a result, visitors will see a side of the flag that had been hidden from view since 1873. –Smithsonian Magazine
The restored flag returned to the newly renovated American History Museum of the Smithsonian in November 2008, just a few months after our summer vacation.
When we moved to the next room, my kids and I played with the interactive flag to discover all the information the flag holds in its tears, rips and stains.
The Star-Spangled Banner became our national anthem in 1931
By 1930, five million citizens had signed a petition in support of the idea, and after veterans recruited a pair of sopranos to sing the song before the House Judiciary Committee, Congress adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem the next year. –Smithsonian Magazine
I’m still in disbelief that I now live in the Washington DC area…able to see fascinating pieces of history up close, like the Star-Spangled Banner.
There’s an entire world to explore in my new backyard.
Epilouge 2024
The header photo, taken at Fort McHenry, displays the Grand Old Flag.
