Think of Philadelphia, and you think of the Liberty Bell. Think of the Liberty Bell, and you think of an immovable object. But not always. The normally sedentary icon of the United States went on a coast-to-coast tour 100 years ago, and American flags welcomed it everywhere it went. One of its destinations was thousands… continue
More than a century ago, the dedication of a firehouse in New Jersey was a major extravaganza, complete with – as a newspaper headlined – “New Fire House, New Fire Engine, New Flag and Big Time.” On the first Saturday in August 1907, the citizens of Slackwood, N.J., gathered to celebrate the completion of the… continue
Travelers who take side roads sometimes find themselves driving back in time to a small town bedecked with American flags, like a movie set for “The Music Man.” Such a town in western New York State bears the celestial name of Angelica. It comes complete with a town square, spired churches, antique stores and plenty… continue
The 14th anniversary of 9/11 and the flags that flew as patriotism rose that day spur a question: What happened on other September 11s when American flags flapped? FOSTERING MUSIC “Oh! Susanna” is probably Stephen Foster’s most famous song, and it was first performed on 9/11 in 1847. But he also wrote the music for… continue
The American flag is one of the most recognizable flags in the world. With its trademark white and red stripes and 50 bold stars, it’s hard to imagine it looking any other way. However, the American flag wasn’t always the stars and stripes we know today. In fact, the U.S. flag has gone through many changes – 26 to be… continue