View allAll Photos Tagged declarationofindependence
The City Hall in the Centre City District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
It is the seat of the municipal government of the City of Philadelphia. Built in the ornate Second Empire style, City Hall houses the chambers of the Philadelphia City Council and the offices of the Mayor of Philadelphia.
This building is also a courthouse, serving as the seat of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. It houses the Civil Trial and Orphans' Court Divisions of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. It also houses the Philadelphia facilities for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Built using brick, white marble and limestone, Philadelphia City Hall is the world's largest free-standing masonry building and was the world's tallest habitable building upon its completion in 1894. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976; in 2006, it was also named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Information Source:
Independence Hall, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was constructed between 1732 and 1756; the Assembly Room was the site of several significant events in U.S. history: (1775) George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army; (1776) the Declaration of Independence was signed; and (1787) the U.S. Constitution was drafted in this room.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space, in the South Street District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To date, it is the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Spanning spans three city lots and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. The mosaics are made up of everything from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates.
Isaiah and his wife Julia moved to South Street in 1968, when the area was being slated for demolition by the city to create the Crosstown Expressway. Due to this proposed construction, the area was desolate and dangerous.
The Zagars were one of the first people to come to this area and begin to turn its image around. They opened the Eyes Gallery on 402 South Street, which was the first property that Isaiah would mosaic. Here they still showcase and sell the art of Latin-American artists.
After the Eyes Gallery, the Zagars went on to purchase and rent out several other buildings, and Isaiah would go on to create several other mosaicked spaces and public murals. He bought the building that currently houses Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in 1994. He fenced off the two vacant lots next door to keep out garbage and vermin, and over the next fourteen years began creating the Magic Gardens.
In 2002 the landowner of the two vacant lots wanted to sell the land due to rising property values on South Street. Together with members of the community, Isaiah was able to purchase the lots. With this purchase "Philadelphia's Magic Gardens" was born, and in 2008 it opened to the public, dedicated to inspiring creativity and community engagement.
Information Source:
Washington, D.C. (est. 1790, pop. ~690,000)
• the “Seven Buildings,” now the Mexican Embassy • among the city’s earliest residential structures • originally 6 privately-owned blogs., 7th added later [photo] • housed the Navy Department • after the White House was burned in the War of 1812, housed 4th U.S. President James Madison (1751-1836) & his wife, Dolley Todd (1768-1849) • also housed Vice President, Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) & his wife, Hannah Hoes (1783-1819) • most of the bldgs. demolished, 1959 • facades of remaining 2 incorporated into the Embassy of Mexico, 1986 —Wikipedia
The Seven Buildings were a row of houses built in the late 1790s at No. 1901-1913 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The largest, No. 1901, on the corner of 19th Street, was also the most historic -- used for the original State Department, under John Marshall; later as the home of President James Madison and his wife Dolley, after the Executive Mansion was burned in the War of 1812; as the residence of Vice President Martin Van Buren; and as offices for Generals George McClellan and M. D. Hardin during the Civil War.
Much later, commercial occupants in No. 1901 included the Nichols Pharmacy from 1895 until 1927 [photo], and by the original Peoples Drug Store (from 1927 to 1958) -- which was included in the high-rise office building that was soon built on the site. By then only two of the "seven" original buildings remained -- No. 1909 and No.1911; That at No. 1911 was long occupied by the Marrocco Restaurant, until 1983; later in the 1980s, the Mexican Embassy occupied a new large office complex that had been built on the two sites -- with only the facades (with moved door locations) and roof lines of the two old houses maintained. (See James Goode's “Capital Losses") —DC History Center
Plaque:
“The Embassy of Mexico incorporates the two surviving facades of a set of seven row houses known as “The Seven Buildings”. This complex has an intimate relationship with American history, and the government of Mexico is proud to honor and preserve this landmark’s legacy.
“At the dawn of the 1800s, this complex housed the Declaration of Independence. Later, it was one of the early homes of the Department of State. Most famously, the Seven Buildings housed President James Madison and his wife Dolly between 1815 and 1817, while the White House was being rebuilt in the aftermath of the War of 1812. As a testament to the strength and depth of the ties that bind our two countries and peoples, Mexico commemorates the bicentennial of its independence and the centennial of its revolution with this plaque for the people of Washington, DC, and of the United States of America.”
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a large memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square, which is the place where Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Construction work began on September 2, 1973, and the structure was formally inaugurated on August 29, 1975. The mausoleum was inspired by Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow but incorporates distinct Vietnamese architectural elements, such as the sloping roof. The exterior is made of gray granite, while the interior is gray, black, and red polished stone. The mausoleum's portico has the words "Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh" (Chairman Ho Chi Minh) inscribed across it.
The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh is preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum, which is protected by a military honour guard. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights. The mausoleum is closed occasionally while work is done to restore and preserve the body but is normally open daily from 9:00 am to noon to the public. Lines of visitors, including visiting foreign dignitaries, pay their respects at the mausoleum.
Rules regarding dress and behavior are strictly enforced by staff and guards. Legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts). Visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. Smoking, photography, and video taping are also not permitted anywhere inside the mausoleum.
Nicki and I visited the site of the mausoleum, but never actually went inside. I can vouch for the rules being strictly enforced though as there is a white line before the pavement in front of the building, with signs saying "do not cross". I lost count the number of times the guards blew their whistles as visitors ignored the signs in order to get that little bit closer to take a photo of the mausoleum!
1/200 | F5.3 | 62mm | ISO 200
© All rights reserved. Darren Faulkner Photos 2012.
Please do not use my images without my permission.
The Eastern State Penitentiary a former American prison and now a museum in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.
The penitentiary, which was in operation between 1829 and 1971, was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world. Its construction refined the revolutionary system of separate incarceration first pioneered at the Walnut Street Jail which emphasized principles of reform rather than punishment.
Notorious criminals such as Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton were held inside it's innovative wagon wheel design. James Bruno (Big Joe) and several male relatives were incarcerated here between 1936 and 1948 for the alleged murders in the Kelayres massacre of 1934, before they were paroled. At its completion, the building was the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected in the United States, and quickly became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide.
Today it stands more in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. The prison is currently a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which is open to the public for tours seven days a week, twelve months a year, 10 am to 5 pm.
Information Sources:
Title: Engrossed Declaration of Independence, 08/02/1776
Creator(s): Congress of the Confederation. (03/02/1781 - 03/04/1789) (Most Recent), Second Continental Congress. (09/05/1775 - 03/02/1781) (Predecessor)
Persistent URL: arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=1419123
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
Use Restrictions: Unrestricted
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space, in the South Street District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To date, it is the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Spanning spans three city lots and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. The mosaics are made up of everything from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates.
Isaiah and his wife Julia moved to South Street in 1968, when the area was being slated for demolition by the city to create the Crosstown Expressway. Due to this proposed construction, the area was desolate and dangerous.
The Zagars were one of the first people to come to this area and begin to turn its image around. They opened the Eyes Gallery on 402 South Street, which was the first property that Isaiah would mosaic. Here they still showcase and sell the art of Latin-American artists.
After the Eyes Gallery, the Zagars went on to purchase and rent out several other buildings, and Isaiah would go on to create several other mosaicked spaces and public murals. He bought the building that currently houses Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in 1994. He fenced off the two vacant lots next door to keep out garbage and vermin, and over the next fourteen years began creating the Magic Gardens.
In 2002 the landowner of the two vacant lots wanted to sell the land due to rising property values on South Street. Together with members of the community, Isaiah was able to purchase the lots. With this purchase "Philadelphia's Magic Gardens" was born, and in 2008 it opened to the public, dedicated to inspiring creativity and community engagement.
Information Source:
The Continental Color Guard, provided by U.S. 3rd Infantry (the Old Guard), presents the colors during the National Anthem during the July 4, 2016, celebration at the National Archives in Washington, DC. NARA photo by Brogan Jackson.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space, in the South Street District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To date, it is the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Spanning spans three city lots and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. The mosaics are made up of everything from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates.
Isaiah and his wife Julia moved to South Street in 1968, when the area was being slated for demolition by the city to create the Crosstown Expressway. Due to this proposed construction, the area was desolate and dangerous.
The Zagars were one of the first people to come to this area and begin to turn its image around. They opened the Eyes Gallery on 402 South Street, which was the first property that Isaiah would mosaic. Here they still showcase and sell the art of Latin-American artists.
After the Eyes Gallery, the Zagars went on to purchase and rent out several other buildings, and Isaiah would go on to create several other mosaicked spaces and public murals. He bought the building that currently houses Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in 1994. He fenced off the two vacant lots next door to keep out garbage and vermin, and over the next fourteen years began creating the Magic Gardens.
In 2002 the landowner of the two vacant lots wanted to sell the land due to rising property values on South Street. Together with members of the community, Isaiah was able to purchase the lots. With this purchase "Philadelphia's Magic Gardens" was born, and in 2008 it opened to the public, dedicated to inspiring creativity and community engagement.
Information Source:
Edward Hlavka, 2005, Jefferson Park L Station, Jefferson Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA, sculpture. Photo 2 of 2.
"The Library 2.0 has been working with the Library of Congress on a Declaration of Independence display that was officially announced and which opened yesterday on Info Island in Second Life. The exhibit includes dioramas, streamed audio, text in the form of larger-than-life documents and SL notecards, information kiosks and even period furniture."
Read about it here, and visit it here.
Walking among larger-than-life photo scans of the documents, listening to them being read aloud, browsing the text, and sitting in the period furniture...there's something special about the immersiveness of this exhibit.
The Eastern State Penitentiary a former American prison and now a museum in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.
The penitentiary, which was in operation between 1829 and 1971, was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world. Its construction refined the revolutionary system of separate incarceration first pioneered at the Walnut Street Jail which emphasized principles of reform rather than punishment.
Notorious criminals such as Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton were held inside it's innovative wagon wheel design. James Bruno (Big Joe) and several male relatives were incarcerated here between 1936 and 1948 for the alleged murders in the Kelayres massacre of 1934, before they were paroled. At its completion, the building was the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected in the United States, and quickly became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide.
Today it stands more in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. The prison is currently a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which is open to the public for tours seven days a week, twelve months a year, 10 am to 5 pm.
Information Sources:
To the men who sought what they could give others with a country, not take for themselves. They gave us freedom, let's hope we can keep it. .
_7704
The Jefferson Memorial was dedicated to the the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the 3rd President of the United States of American (Thomas Jefferson).
"The Library 2.0 has been working with the Library of Congress on a Declaration of Independence display that was officially announced and which opened yesterday on Info Island in Second Life. The exhibit includes dioramas, streamed audio, text in the form of larger-than-life documents and SL notecards, information kiosks and even period furniture."
Read about it here, and visit it here.
Walking among larger-than-life photo scans of the documents, listening to them being read aloud, browsing the text, and sitting in the period furniture...there's something special about the immersiveness of this exhibit.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space, in the South Street District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To date, it is the largest work created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Spanning spans three city lots and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. The mosaics are made up of everything from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates.
Isaiah and his wife Julia moved to South Street in 1968, when the area was being slated for demolition by the city to create the Crosstown Expressway. Due to this proposed construction, the area was desolate and dangerous.
The Zagars were one of the first people to come to this area and begin to turn its image around. They opened the Eyes Gallery on 402 South Street, which was the first property that Isaiah would mosaic. Here they still showcase and sell the art of Latin-American artists.
After the Eyes Gallery, the Zagars went on to purchase and rent out several other buildings, and Isaiah would go on to create several other mosaicked spaces and public murals. He bought the building that currently houses Philadelphia's Magic Gardens in 1994. He fenced off the two vacant lots next door to keep out garbage and vermin, and over the next fourteen years began creating the Magic Gardens.
In 2002 the landowner of the two vacant lots wanted to sell the land due to rising property values on South Street. Together with members of the community, Isaiah was able to purchase the lots. With this purchase "Philadelphia's Magic Gardens" was born, and in 2008 it opened to the public, dedicated to inspiring creativity and community engagement.
Information Source:
National Archives Foundation guests show off their patriotic outfits during the July 4, 2016, observance at the National Archives in Washington, DC. NARA photo by Jeff Reed.
"The Library 2.0 has been working with the Library of Congress on a Declaration of Independence display that was officially announced and which opened yesterday on Info Island in Second Life. The exhibit includes dioramas, streamed audio, text in the form of larger-than-life documents and SL notecards, information kiosks and even period furniture."
Read about it here, and visit it here.
Walking among larger-than-life photo scans of the documents, listening to them being read aloud, browsing the text, and sitting in the period furniture...there's something special about the immersiveness of this exhibit.
!! Flickr Explore: June 29, 2009 !!
The American Revolution refers to the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies of North America overthrew the governance of the Parliament of Great Britain, and then rejected the British monarchy itself to become the sovereign United States of America. In this period the colonies first rejected the authority of the Parliament to govern them without representation, and formed self-governing independent states. These states through the Second Continental Congress then joined together against the British to defend that self-governance in the armed conflict from 1775 to 1783 known as the American Revolutionary War (also called American War of Independence). This resulted in the individual states uniting to form one nation, breaking away from the British Empire in 1776 when the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. While the states had already rejected the governance of Parliament, through the Declaration the new United States now rejected the legitimacy of the monarchy to demand allegiance. The war raged for seven years, with effective American victory in October 1781, followed by formal British abandonment of any claims to the United States with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States
Port Tobacco, Maryland - October 19, 2024: The 18th century Thomas Stone National Historic Site door and porch
The Liberty Bell an iconic symbol of American independence, located in the Old City District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Once placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence Hall), the bell today is located across the street in the Liberty Bell Centre in Independence National Historical Park. The bell was commissioned in 1752 by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly from the London firm of Lester and Pack and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof", a Biblical reference.
The bell first cracked when rung after its arrival in Philadelphia and was twice recast by local workmen John Pass and John Stow, whose last names appear on the bell. In its early years, the bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens about public meetings and proclamations.
The bell acquired its distinctive large crack sometime in the early 19th century—a widespread story claims it cracked while ringing after the death of Chief Justice John Marshall in 1835. The bell became famous after an 1847 short story claimed that an aged bellringer rang it on July 4, 1776, upon hearing of the Second Continental Congress' vote for independence.
Although the bell did not ring for independence on that July 4, the tale was widely accepted as fact, even by some historians. Beginning in 1885, the city of Philadelphia—which owns the bell—allowed it to go to various expositions and patriotic gatherings. The bell attracted huge crowds wherever it went, additional cracking occurred, and pieces were chipped away by souvenir hunters. The last such journey occurred in 1915, after which the city refused further requests.
After World War II, Philadelphia allowed the National Park Service to take custody of the bell, while retaining ownership. It was used as a symbol of freedom during the Cold War and was a popular site for protests in the 1960s. It was moved from its long-time home in Independence Hall to a nearby glass pavilion on Independence Mall in 1976, and then to the larger Liberty Bell Centre adjacent to the pavilion in 2003. The bell has been featured on coins and stamps, and its name and image have been widely used by corporations.
Information Source:
The British Surrender
at Yorktown, 1781
In the summer of 1781, after six years of war, the American Army was struggling. The British occupied New York City. A second British army lead by General Lord Cornwallis ravaged the South - capturing Charleston, Richmond, and apparently was heading for the Chesapeake Bay. Mutiny plagued the American army in New York and New Jersey.
There was a glimmer of hope, however. The French, allied with the Americans since 1778, had landed six thousand troops in Rhode Island while the French fleet gathered in the Caribbean preparing to do battle with the British. General George Washington and the French commander, Comte de Rochambeau, met in May 1781 to plan their strategy. Washington wanted to attack the British in New York City. Rochambeau, fearful of attacking such a well fortified position and lacking confidence in the Continental Army's abilities, recommended marching south to battle Cornwallis in Virginia.
Washington finally acquiesced to the French position and on August 22, the two armies began their march from White Plains, New York to Virginia arriving in early September. As the combined American and French armies marched south, a battle between the French and British fleets in the Chesapeake Bay sealed the fate of General Cornwallis and his British troops at Yorktown. In the period from September 5 - 9, the French surprised the British fleet at the mouth of the Chesapeake forcing the British navy to retreat to New York, leaving General Cornwallis stranded.
After a five-day bombardment, the combined American and French forces attacked and overwhelmed Cornwallis's fortified position on the night of October 14. The British commander was left with no choice but to surrender, which he did on October 19. News of the surrender reached England on November 25 sending shock waves through the British government. Although King George III wanted to continue the battle, the surrender forced Prime Minister Lord North to resign in March 1782. His replacement began the peace process that culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Paris in September 1783 granting independence to the American colonies.
"The World Turned Upside Down"
General Cornwallis did not attend the surrender ceremony saying that he was not feeling well. His substitute, General O'Hara, first tried to surrender to the Comte de Rochambeau who directed the British officer to General Washington who in turn directed him to Washington's subordinate General Lincoln. During the ceremony a British band played the song "The World Turned Upside Down." Dr. James Thacher served with the Continental Army and published his account of the surrender some years later:
"At about twelve o'clock, the combined army was arranged and drawn up in two lines extending more than a mile in length. The Americans were drawn up in a line on the right side of the road, and the French occupied the left. At the head of the former, the great American commander [George Washington], mounted on his noble courser, took his station, attended by his aides. At the head of the latter was posted the excellent Count Rochambeau and his suite. The French troops, in complete uniform, displayed a martial and noble appearance; their bands of music, of which the timbrel formed a part, is a delightful novelty, and produced while marching to the ground a most enchanting effect.
The Americans, though not all in uniform, nor their dress so neat, yet exhibited an erect, soldierly air, and every countenance beamed with satisfaction and joy. The concourse of spectators from the country was prodigious, in point of numbers was probably equal to the military, but universal silence and order prevailed.
It was about two o'clock when the captive army advanced through the line formed for their reception. Every eye was prepared to gaze on Lord Cornwallis, the object of peculiar interest and solicitude; but he disappointed our anxious expectations; pretending indisposition, he made General O'Hara his substitute as the leader of his army. This officer was followed by the conquered troops in a slow and solemn step, with shouldered arms, colors cased and drums beating a British march. Having arrived at the head of the line, General O'Hara, elegantly mounted, advanced to his excellency the commander-in-chief, taking off his hat, and apologized for the non-appearance of Earl Cornwallis. With his usual dignity and politeness, his excellency pointed to Major-General Lincoln for directions, by whom the British army was conducted into a spacious field, where it was intended they should ground their arms.
The royal troops, while marching through the line formed by the allied army, exhibited a decent and neat appearance, as respects arms and clothing, for their commander opened his store and directed every soldier to be furnished with a new suit complete, prior to the capitulation. But in their line of march we remarked a disorderly and unsoldierly conduct, their step was irregular, and their ranks frequently broken.
But it was in the field, when they came to the last act of the drama, that the spirit and pride of the British soldier was put to the severest test: here their mortification could not be concealed. Some of the platoon officers appeared to be exceedingly chagrined when giving the word "ground arms," and I am a witness that they performed this duty in a very unofficer-like manner; and that many of the soldiers manifested a sullen temper, throwing their arms on the pile with violence, as if determined to render them useless. This irregularity, however, was checked by the authority of General Lincoln. After having grounded their arms and divested themselves of their accoutrements, the captive troops were conducted back to Yorktown and guarded by our troops till they could be removed to the place of their destination."
References:
Cook, Don, The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies, 1760-1785 (1996); Thacher, James, M.D., A Military Journal During the American Revolutionary War, from 1775-1783 (1827) excerpted in Commager, Henry Steele and Richard Morris (ed.), The Spirit of 'Seventy Six v. 2 (1958).
How To Cite This Article:
"The British Surrender at Yorktown, 1781," EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2002).
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."—Jefferson
Ah, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial: I first came here with my aunt and uncle when I was seven years old. Time has changed me, yet he remains ageless.
John Hancock (January 23, 1737 [O.S. January 12, 1736] – October 8, 1793) was an American merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution.
He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
He is remembered for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration of Independence, so much so that the term "John Hancock" has become a synonym in the United States for one's signature.
Source: Wikipedia
On this day, before all the fireworks, family reunions, concerts, barbecues, picnics, parades, hot dogs, baseball games, a salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a “salute to the union,” fired at noon by a capable military base, and all the other fun of today, in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress and we became the United States of America.
And, what a nation we became. Countries in need of help, call us and our men and women leave their loved ones behind and go…many never to return; volunteers go to countries that suffered natural disasters; we, along with others, stopped Hitler; we freed the Jewish people from those horrific camps, we fought in Nam; we opened our shores to people of other lands to come and create a better life for themselves and their children; and we fought and still fight for a concept, an ideal…freedom. Sadly, after all the wars behind us, our men and women are still all over the globe, fighting so others will have freedom. When, if ever, will there be peace?
Whenever I get scared about something, and I don’t know why I do this, I always think about the men at Normandy during WW2. (Way way before I was even a twinkle in anyone’s eye!) I imagine their fear and try to think what their thoughts were as they sat before dawn in the cold and dark in those boats, knowing full well they would die, especially the ones in all the first boats. They sat there in their last few moments of their lives, ready to hit the beach, knowing they would die that day. My fears, compared to theirs and what they faced, pale in comparison and those men who fought and died at Normandy always, without fail, give me strength and courage. I love them all.
I wish you all a safe, happy, fun filled July 4th. On Sunday, as we are swimming, playing, eating, dancing, and singing, let us all take just a few moments to send up a prayer or send good vibes/wishes or positive energy or safe positive thoughts to those of us who are overseas away from their loved ones fighting in a war or keeping some portion of another’s country’s land safe. They, and those before them, are the ones who are keeping the Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, a living, breathing, and viable document.
Note: This photo of the flag is from one of Martha Stewart’s July 4th magazine issues. It is not my original photo.
Okay, who swallows watermelon seeds?
I do. I love them and I have never had a watermelon grow inside my stomach.
:) Marsha
Was watching "National Treasure" earlier (shut up; I like it! It's entertaining!) and got inspired for the "tools" assignment for Take a Class with Dave and Dave.
Assignment: Tools. We use them everyday. They are allegedly what set us apart from the animals. Show us the tools you use to change your world.
Creator(s): General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Educational Programs. Education Division. ?-4/1/1985
Series: Historic Photograph File of National Archives Events and Personnel, 1935 - 1975
Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789 - ca. 2007
Production Date: 1935 - 1975
Access Restriction(s): Unrestricted
Use Restriction(s): Unrestricted
Contact(s): National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures (RDSS)
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone: 301-837-0561
Fax: 301-837-3621
Email: stillpix@nara.gov
National Archives Identifier: 12167978
Local Identifier: 64-NA-1-426
Persistent URL: catalog.archives.gov/id/12167978
Creator(s): General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Educational Programs. Education Division. ?-4/1/1985
Series: Historic Photograph File of National Archives Events and Personnel, 1935 - 1975
Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789 - ca. 2007
Production Date: 1935 - 1975
Access Restriction(s): Unrestricted
Use Restriction(s): Unrestricted
Scope and Content: This photograph shows Brigadier General Soyte O. Ross as he led 12 special policemen carrying the crates of the Charters of Freedom (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights) up the National Archives Building steps to deliver the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights into the custody of the Archivist of the United States.
Contact(s): National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures (RDSS)
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone: 301-837-0561
Fax: 301-837-3621
Email: stillpix@nara.gov
National Archives Identifier: 5928179
Local Identifier: 64-NA-1-434
Persistent URL: catalog.archives.gov/id/5928179
Creator(s): General Services Administration. National Archives and Records Service. Office of Educational Programs. Education Division. ?-4/1/1985
Series: Historic Photograph File of National Archives Events and Personnel, 1935 - 1975
Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789 - ca. 2007
Production Date: 1935 - 1975
Access Restriction(s):Unrestricted
Use Restriction(s):Unrestricted
Contact(s): National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures (RDSS)
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone: 301-837-0561
Fax: 301-837-3621
Email: stillpix@nara.gov
National Archives Identifier: 23855831
Local Identifier: 23855831
Persistent URL: catalog.archives.gov/id/23855831
Scope & Content: This is a photograph of an overhead view of the shrine for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in the Library of Congress.
"The Library 2.0 has been working with the Library of Congress on a Declaration of Independence display that was officially announced and which opened yesterday on Info Island in Second Life. The exhibit includes dioramas, streamed audio, text in the form of larger-than-life documents and SL notecards, information kiosks and even period furniture."
Read about it here, and visit it here.
Walking among larger-than-life photo scans of the documents, listening to them being read aloud, browsing the text, and sitting in the period furniture...there's something special about the immersiveness of this exhibit.
Quoting from Wikipedia: Trumbull's Declaration of Independence
John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting in the United States Capitol Rotunda that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress. It was based on a much smaller version of the same scene, presently held by the Yale University Art Gallery.[1] Trumbull painted many of the figures in the picture from life and visited Independence Hall as well to depict the chamber where the Second Continental Congress met. The oil-on-canvas work was commissioned in 1817, purchased in 1819, and placed in the rotunda in 1826.
The painting is often described as the "Signing of the Declaration of Independence", but this is an error. The painting actually shows the five-man drafting committee presenting their draft, an event that took place on June 28, 1776, and not the signing of the document, which took place later.[2]
The painting shows 42 of the 56 signers of the Declaration; Trumbull originally intended to include all 56 signers, but was unable to obtain likenesses for all of them. He also decided to depict several participants in the debate who did not sign the document, including John Dickinson, who declined to sign. Because the Declaration was debated and signed over a period of time when membership in Congress changed, the men in the painting had never all been in the same room at the same time.
Thomas Jefferson seems to be stepping on the foot of John Adams in the painting, which many think is supposed to symbolize their relationship as political enemies. However, upon closer examination of the painting, it can be seen that their feet are merely close together. This part of the image was correctly depicted on the two-dollar bill version.
Unpictured signers
There were 14 signers of the Declaration who did not appear in the painting:
• Matthew Thornton (New Hampshire)
• George Taylor (Pennsylvania)
• Thomas Stone (Maryland)
• Thomas Nelson, Jr. (Virginia)
• Francis Lightfoot Lee (Virginia)
• Lyman Hall (Georgia)
On the two-dollar bill
Trumbull's painting is the source of the picture on the reverse of the two-dollar bill, which cuts out the farthest four figures on the left (George Wythe, William Whipple, Josiah Bartlett and Thomas Lynch, Jr.); the farthest two figures on the right (Thomas McKean and Philip Livingston); and seated in the left rear, George Walton. The bill features 40 of the 47 figures from Trumbull's painting. Two other unknown figures are superimposed in the engraving in between Samuel Chase and Lewis Morris and between James Wilson and Francis Hopkinson, bringing the total number of figures on the reverse of the two-dollar bill to 42.
Key to historical figures depicted in the painting
The following key to the figures in the painting follows the numbering used by the U.S. government publication "Art of the Capitol" (in the illustration of the key shown in this section) but provides a different (hopefully clearer) description of which figure is where in the painting, so numbers are not entirely in order.
Key to figures (in each group, listed from left to right):
Four men seated on the far left:
• 1. George Wythe
• 2. William Whipple
• 3. Josiah Bartlett
• 5. Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Seated at the table on the left:
• 4. Benjamin Harrison
Seated together to the right of Harrison and in front of the standing figures:
• 6. Richard Henry Lee
• 7. Samuel Adams
• 8. George Clinton
Five figures standing together on the left:
• 9. William Paca
• 10. Samuel Chase
• 11. Lewis Morris
• 12. William Floyd
• 13. Arthur Middleton
Three seated figures in the back between the two sets of standing figures:
• 14. Thomas Heyward, Jr.
• 15. Charles Carroll
• 16. George Walton
Set of three figures standing together in the back:
• 23. Stephen Hopkins (wearing a hat)
• 24. William Ellery
• 25. George Clymer
Ten figures seated:
• 17. Robert Morris (first on the left at the table)
• 18. Thomas Willing
• 19. Benjamin Rush
• 20. Elbridge Gerry
• 21. Robert Treat Paine
• 22. Abraham Clark
• 26. William Hooper
• 27. Joseph Hewes
• 28. James Wilson
• 29. Francis Hopkinson
Five figures standing in front:
• 30. John Adams
• 31. Roger Sherman
• 32. Robert R. Livingston
• 33. Thomas Jefferson
• 34. Benjamin Franklin
Four background figures seated together near the right corner of the room:
• 35. Richard Stockton
• 36. Francis Lewis
• 37. John Witherspoon
• 38. Samuel Huntington
Two figures standing in the right corner of the room:
• 39. William Williams
• 40. Oliver Wolcott
Two foreground figures at the central table:
• 42. Charles Thomson (standing)
• 41. John Hancock (seated)
Three figures standing at right:
• 43. George Read
• 44. John Dickinson
• 45. Edward Rutledge
Two figures seated at far right:
• 46. Thomas McKean
• 47. Philip Livingston
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...
"The Library 2.0 has been working with the Library of Congress on a Declaration of Independence display that was officially announced and which opened yesterday on Info Island in Second Life. The exhibit includes dioramas, streamed audio, text in the form of larger-than-life documents and SL notecards, information kiosks and even period furniture."
Read about it here, and visit it here.
Walking among larger-than-life photo scans of the documents, listening to them being read aloud, browsing the text, and sitting in the period furniture...there's something special about the immersiveness of this exhibit.
The Grave of American Founding Father, principal author of the Declaration of Independence & former President of the United States Thomas Jefferson. Monticello Virginia
The Grave of American Founding Father, principal author of the Declaration of Independence & former President of the United States Thomas Jefferson. Monticello Virginia
Tomorrow, United States citizens will celebrate America’s 237th Birthday with parades, fireworks and cookouts with friends and family. To them I say, have a safe and enjoyable holiday!
Quoting from Wikipedia: Trumbull's Declaration of Independence
John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting in the United States Capitol Rotunda that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress. It was based on a much smaller version of the same scene, presently held by the Yale University Art Gallery.[1] Trumbull painted many of the figures in the picture from life and visited Independence Hall as well to depict the chamber where the Second Continental Congress met. The oil-on-canvas work was commissioned in 1817, purchased in 1819, and placed in the rotunda in 1826.
The painting is often described as the "Signing of the Declaration of Independence", but this is an error. The painting actually shows the five-man drafting committee presenting their draft, an event that took place on June 28, 1776, and not the signing of the document, which took place later.[2]
The painting shows 42 of the 56 signers of the Declaration; Trumbull originally intended to include all 56 signers, but was unable to obtain likenesses for all of them. He also decided to depict several participants in the debate who did not sign the document, including John Dickinson, who declined to sign. Because the Declaration was debated and signed over a period of time when membership in Congress changed, the men in the painting had never all been in the same room at the same time.
Thomas Jefferson seems to be stepping on the foot of John Adams in the painting, which many think is supposed to symbolize their relationship as political enemies. However, upon closer examination of the painting, it can be seen that their feet are merely close together. This part of the image was correctly depicted on the two-dollar bill version.
Unpictured signers
There were 14 signers of the Declaration who did not appear in the painting:
• Matthew Thornton (New Hampshire)
• George Taylor (Pennsylvania)
• Thomas Stone (Maryland)
• Thomas Nelson, Jr. (Virginia)
• Francis Lightfoot Lee (Virginia)
• Lyman Hall (Georgia)
On the two-dollar bill
Trumbull's painting is the source of the picture on the reverse of the two-dollar bill, which cuts out the farthest four figures on the left (George Wythe, William Whipple, Josiah Bartlett and Thomas Lynch, Jr.); the farthest two figures on the right (Thomas McKean and Philip Livingston); and seated in the left rear, George Walton. The bill features 40 of the 47 figures from Trumbull's painting. Two other unknown figures are superimposed in the engraving in between Samuel Chase and Lewis Morris and between James Wilson and Francis Hopkinson, bringing the total number of figures on the reverse of the two-dollar bill to 42.
Key to historical figures depicted in the painting
The following key to the figures in the painting follows the numbering used by the U.S. government publication "Art of the Capitol" (in the illustration of the key shown in this section) but provides a different (hopefully clearer) description of which figure is where in the painting, so numbers are not entirely in order.
Key to figures (in each group, listed from left to right):
Four men seated on the far left:
• 1. George Wythe
• 2. William Whipple
• 3. Josiah Bartlett
• 5. Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Seated at the table on the left:
• 4. Benjamin Harrison
Seated together to the right of Harrison and in front of the standing figures:
• 6. Richard Henry Lee
• 7. Samuel Adams
• 8. George Clinton
Five figures standing together on the left:
• 9. William Paca
• 10. Samuel Chase
• 11. Lewis Morris
• 12. William Floyd
• 13. Arthur Middleton
Three seated figures in the back between the two sets of standing figures:
• 14. Thomas Heyward, Jr.
• 15. Charles Carroll
• 16. George Walton
Set of three figures standing together in the back:
• 23. Stephen Hopkins (wearing a hat)
• 24. William Ellery
• 25. George Clymer
Ten figures seated:
• 17. Robert Morris (first on the left at the table)
• 18. Thomas Willing
• 19. Benjamin Rush
• 20. Elbridge Gerry
• 21. Robert Treat Paine
• 22. Abraham Clark
• 26. William Hooper
• 27. Joseph Hewes
• 28. James Wilson
• 29. Francis Hopkinson
Five figures standing in front:
• 30. John Adams
• 31. Roger Sherman
• 32. Robert R. Livingston
• 33. Thomas Jefferson
• 34. Benjamin Franklin
Four background figures seated together near the right corner of the room:
• 35. Richard Stockton
• 36. Francis Lewis
• 37. John Witherspoon
• 38. Samuel Huntington
Two figures standing in the right corner of the room:
• 39. William Williams
• 40. Oliver Wolcott
Two foreground figures at the central table:
• 42. Charles Thomson (standing)
• 41. John Hancock (seated)
Three figures standing at right:
• 43. George Read
• 44. John Dickinson
• 45. Edward Rutledge
Two figures seated at far right:
• 46. Thomas McKean
• 47. Philip Livingston
In 1836, sixty copies of He Whakaputanga were produced by William Colenso on the CMS press at Paihia at the request of James Busby; they were circulated urgently in order to diffuse a flare-up between missionaries and traders in the Hokianga. In April 1837 Colenso printed a second edition of one hundred copies. This is the version displayed above.
In preparing the text for printing, Colenso standardised the spelling of English words transliterated into Māori, and inserted additional punctuation. Hapū information not recorded on the original document has also been added.
34 rangatira signed the original document on 28 October 1835. The printed version records 31 of them – Waikato, Te Peha and Hone Wiremu Heke Pokai are not recorded. Busby deliberately left Waikato’s name off the printed copy due to his involvement in a conflict at Waitangi, but it is not known why the others are not recorded.
A further 18 rangatira signed the original document between 29 October 1835 – 22 July 1839. Six of these names are recorded on the printed copy.
You can view the original, signed document here: www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/10430000633/in/album-721...
Archives Reference: ZZZZ 6249 W5243 Box1
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/item/aims-...