Stars & Stripes: An American Story

Date: Fri, October 7th 2011 - Sun, June 17th 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; check website for dates when closed
Venue: Senator John Heinz Regional History Center
Admission Info: Adults: $10.00; Senior Citizens (62+): $9.00; Students with

Event Category: Museums & Galleries

External Link: Event Website

We pledge allegiance to it, we parade it, and we display it on occasions both solemn and celebratory. The American flag represents the nation and its people, patriotism, and pride, even during times of war and strife. The Senator John Heinz History Center’s major exhibition, Stars & Stripes: An American Story, sponsored by BNY Mellon, details the stories of the people behind the more than 200 year history of our nation’s most enduring symbol. The 7,000 square foot exhibit was developed by History Center museum staff in conjunction with Dr. Peter Keim and historians including Marc Leepson. Stars & Stripes: An American Story includes objects, images, and archival materials from the History Center’s collections, as well as items on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, The Warhol Museum, The National Gallery of Art, and private collectors. A fragment of the Star-Spangled Banner, on loan from the Smithsonian, is featured along with a rare fifth-edition sheet music of Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which eventually became the U.S. national anthem. Additional sections of the exhibit will examine the flag during times of conflict, as a symbol of pride and power to some and a symbol of oppression to others. Several interactive stations and video presentations will help bring the symbolism of the flag to life for visitors. Highlights include touch interactives on materials used to create flags, a section on proper flag etiquette and folding techniques, and a recreated grand entrance of the Centennial Exposition hall in Philadelphia. The exhibit also includes a special section on the role of the American flag during the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001.

Brought to you by:
Senator John Heinz History Center
412-454-6000