The Museum’s doors will open once again to the public Friday, Nov. 21, providing a new look at the almost 200-year-old Star-Spangled Banner.
The Star-Spangled Banner Preservation Project was made possible by major support from Polo Ralph Lauren. Generous support was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the U.S. Congress, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the American Express Historic Preservation Fund. The conservation project is part of Save America’s Treasures—a public-private partnership administered by the National Park Service and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
A special enclosure, fronted by a 35-foot-long floor-to-ceiling glass wall, will protect the fragile wool and cotton flag while providing maximum visibility to visitors. The chamber’s lighting, mechanical, security and fire prevention systems, as well as the table upon which the flag rests and the new gantry (movable bridge) that museum staff will use to inspect the flag, are designed to work together to ensure the long-term care of the flag. All support structures and mechanisms will be hidden from public view and the flag will appear to be floating.
The 30-by-34-foot banner will be displayed at a horizontal orientation according to U.S. flag code and, in order to reduce stress to the textile, at a 10-degree angle of elevation. Low light levels will protect the flag yet are dramatic enough to evoke an atmosphere of the “dawn’s early light,” similar to what Francis Scott Key experienced on Sept. 14, 1814, when he penned his poem that became the national anthem in 1931. The room has separate environmental systems maintaining a constant temperature of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 50 percent.
The viewing area provides a contemplative setting for visitors. The first stanza of Key’s poem will be projected prominently on the wall above and behind the Star-Spangled Banner. An interactive image of the flag will provide additional information.
The History Channel, a donor through financial contributions and in-kind gifts, will release a new one-hour special touching on the flag’s colorful history, including the specialized conservation treatment undertaken by the museum and the new high-tech flag chamber. A part of the channel’s “Save Our History” series, the documentary will air in November. -- americanhistory.si.edu
Proud to be BITSian
Its great to know that Proud to be a BITSian George Jacob who graduated from one among the top ranking universities in India today Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani Rajasthan is Project Director to produce exhibits for America's most treasured national icon -the STAR SPANGLED BANNER gallery at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. George Jacob is undoubtedly a torch bearer for Brand BITS Pilani. Great going George Jacob and your alma mater is indeed proud of you.