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Home Schoolers have the Best Presidents' Day Field Trip
 On February 16 the National Park Service conducted a Winter Homeschool Fair about The Presidents at Gettysburg. 88 students (and their parents) attended from throughout PA and MD. The program focused on connecting the times of the two Presidents who were at Gettysburg - from the pre-Civil War era in the 1850s through the Eisenhower presidency in the 1950s.
First the students met six individuals "from the past," including soldiers from the Civil War, World Wars I and II, townspeople from Gettysburg in 1863, and a 1950s Secret Service Agent. They then created a living timeline to put the events in chronological order - and followed this up with a visit to the Eisenhower farm and activities revolving around Lincoln especially the Gettysburg Address. Fun activities (like a scavenger hunt) helped students note and remember details.
The concluding guest speaker was Mr. Abner Rainbow, who tied the two presidential eras at Gettysburg together - in both his presentation and his genealogy! He had been a fighter pilot in World War II (under Eisenhower), and his grandfather fought at the battle of Gettysburg (in Lincoln's era).
One student commented: "I learned so much in those 6 ½ hours." And a parent said: "I really enjoyed listening to and speaking with the individuals from the past. The extent of their knowledge was amazing... My daughter (soon to be 13 and very hard to please) said it was her favorite home school field trip." |
Rotating Museum Objects for a Well-earned Rest
Most artifacts on display in a museum need a "rest" from time to time. Conservators therefore engage in "object rotation." This prolongs the life of historic items, but it's important to rotate objects that relate to the same theme of a display.
 This was the case with the two coats pictured. On the right is the custom made sack coat worn by General Samuel Crawford during the the action around Little Round Top on July 2, 1863. It is one of the stellar general officer garments in our collection and was on exhibit in the old museum on Taneytown Road for over 15 years before being removed for conservation treatment in 2006. Fifteen years is too long for the normal display of a textile but, since we did not have another garment in the collection that spoke to the struggle at that time and place, it remained on exhibit.
 We were lucky, however, to obtain the frock coat and sash (at left) of Captain Isaac Nicoll of the 124th New York Infantry in 2009 who lost his life at Gettysburg in the fighting at Houck's Ridge. Thanks to a generous contribution from the Artists Preservation Group (APG), the Nicoll coat was stabilized and treated for exhibit. With this coat there is a connection to the same part of the battle as the General Crawford coat and, hence, an object to rotate into its place. The Crawford coat can now enjoy its well-earned rest.
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Just to Remind 
Our featured business partner this month is the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg, 
From the Friends Quartermaster Store
