HISTORIC PRESERVATION
NYT has an interesting feature on the flag from Fort McHenry that was immortalized in Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangeled Banner.”
I saw it a few months back when touring Smithsonian’s Museum of American History. I’m afraid there’s not much left of it at this stage. “Protecting” it by not letting the public see it strikes me as utterly pointless and, unfortunately, even the resources of the Smithsonian don’t seem adequate to restore it to its former glory.
National Museum of American History
Interesting to note that it has 14 stars. I never noticed that before.
I’m guessing there was a 15th star under that hole–there’s only two stars on the one row.
As I recall, someone snipped the 15th star as a souvenir–much like people snipped other pieces of it over the years.
Ah, yes. See, I’m observant, but not super-observant. 😆
Well, it looks in pretty good shape in the picture, anyway. A nice photo for the fourth.
—