Founding Fragments: Star-Spangled Souvenirs

Grade Range: 4-12
Resource Type(s): Primary Sources, Interactives & Media
Duration: 5 minutes
Date Posted: 2/4/2014

A short video, this one is great as a lesson opener! "Star-Spangled Souvenirs" is the first episode in the NMAH webseries "Founding Fragments." Join host Tory Altman for a behind-the-scenes look at some of our most intriguing and little-known objects.  Hear personal interviews with curators and get a glimpse into non-public spaces at the museum.  This episode focuses on the scraps of the original Star-Spangled Banner flag that have been cut off from the flag and kept as souvenirs over the 200 years since it was originally sewn.  Many pieces of the original flag have found their way to the Smithsonian, but the whereabouts of nearly 8ft of flag are still unknown.  One of many episodes available on YouTube.


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