From the Maryland Historical Society:
Public Invited to Participate In Flag Stitching as Part of Maryland's Celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812
BALTIMORE, May 22, 2013 -- Beginning July 4, 2013,
The Maryland Historical Society (MdHS)
will be recreating the 30 x 42 foot Star-Spangled Banner flag that
inspired the writing of our national anthem. Using authentic materials,
MdHS will
employ traditional stitching techniques that Mary Pickersgill used 200
years ago.
Once
completed, the flag will fly over Fort McHenry National Monument and
Historic Shrine and, along with the original Star-Spangled Manuscript,
will be a part of the 2014 Flag Day celebration at the Smithsonian's
Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
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Illustration by Gerry Embleton/em>
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"We
are so fortunate, during the Bicentennial celebrations, to make an idea
like this come alive!" says Kristin Schenning, MdHS Director
of Education. "It means so much for our state of Maryland, and its
place in American history."
The
Maryland Historical Society has recruited more than 100 experienced
quilters from around the country to construct the majority of
the flag. The group will gather in MdHS' France Hall and, by working up
to eight hours a day, will assemble the flag in three sections,
including: the long stripes, the short stripes, and the blue field.
Descendants of Mary Pickersgill are scheduled to participate.
On
Saturday, August 3 and
Sunday, August 11 from noon until
3 p.m. the general public is invited to come and add a stitch to the
flag. During these days, MdHS will host the Fort McHenry Fife and Drum
Corps, celebrity guest appearances, actors in period
costume, exhibit tables from our friends and partners, and mobile food
vendors outside of the Museum. To register for the public days, visit
www.mdhs.org/events.
"This
is the ultimate participatory event," says President Burt Kummerow. "It
will be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Visitors will
be able to participate in the creation of an artifact that will become
part of the nation's proud history."
Participants in the sewing days will also receive a stamp in the 1812 Bicentennial Passport, a free passport from the
Baltimore National Heritage Area that includes over a dozen Baltimore-area historical sites.
About The Original Star Spangled Banner
Mary
Pickersgill, a local flag maker, worked with her daughter Caroline,
nieces Eliza and Margaret Young, and African American indentured
servant Grace Wisher to complete the flag in six weeks in the summer of
1813. Two hundred years later, it is the goal of MdHS to recreate the
flag during the same time period.
The
original flag was made from English wool bunting, a loosely woven,
light-weight material common in flag-making before the advent of
nylon. MdHS has commissioned the recreation of this fabric by Family
Heirloom Weavers in Red Lion, PA.
The
finished flag will be flown at Fort McHenry National Monument and
Historic Shrine during Defender's Day, this year's September 14
anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore. It will also be used for
school programs and other public events in the Bicentennial year of the
writing of the national anthem and the defense of the city of
Baltimore. In 2014, it will be transported to the
Smithsonian's American History Museum,
where the original Star-Spangled Banner is on display. In addition, the
original Star-Spangled Banner Manuscript, penned in Francis Scott Key's
hand,
will temporarily travel from the Maryland Historical Society to be
reunited with the original Star-Spangled Banner for the first time.
Related Collaborations
MdHS is proudly partnering with The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House,
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the Maryland 1812
Bicentennial Commission, Star Spangled 200 and the National Park Service
Star-Spangled Banner Trail.
Saleable Items
While the 30'x42' flag is underway, a smaller, 4'x6' flag will also be
made using the same authentic materials. This flag will be auctioned off
in a raffle on Defender's Day, 2014.
In
addition,a build-it-yourself American flag kit will be sold at the MdHS
Gift Shop and on its website. This kit will contain 15 precut
stripes and 15 iron-on stars that families and classrooms can assemble
together. As a special bonus, purchasers of this kit can have their
completed flags flown at Fort McHenry! For more details, visit
www.mdhs.org
Online Resources
For even more fascinating details about the flag making process, and the
historical women who shaped our past, the Education Department has
started a blog entitled
Stitching History. You can access it by visiting this link:
www.mdhs.org/star-spangled-banner
Hours/Admission
The Maryland Historical Society Museum hours are Wednesday through
Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. After June 9, general admission to the Maryland
Historical Society is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students and
children ages 3-18 and free for children under
3. For more information, visit,
www.mdhs.org
The
Maryland Historical Society is deeply grateful to the many funders who
have made this project possible, including the War of 1812
Bicentennial Commission, Star Spangled Banner 200 Inc., The
Star-Spangled Banner Trail, and F.W. Haxel & Co.
About The Maryland Historical Society
Founded in 1844, The Maryland Historical Society Museum and Library
occupies an entire city block in the Mount Vernon district of Baltimore.
The society's mission is to "collect, preserve, and interpret the
objects and materials that reflect Maryland's diverse
cultural heritage." The Society is home to the original manuscript of
the Star-Spangled Banner and publishes a quarterly titled "Maryland
Historical Magazine." Visit
www.mdhs.org.
For more information, contact Marketing Director Laura Rodini at 410-685-3750 Ext. 322 or
lrodini@mdhs.org.
The Maryland Historical Society | | 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore MD 21201 |
http://www.mdhs.org
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