ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The countdown has begun.
We are just a month away from the 250th birthday of our nation.
There are lots of ways to learn about our country’s fight for independence, including a new exhibit in Allentown.
At the Allentown Art Museum, Revolution Retold is a look at our nation’s patriotic past.
“How Americans have understood their history, what they have focused on, what stories they have told, and how all of that has changed over time,” said Associate Curator Claire McRee.
The exhibit showcases decorative and keepsake items from 1826-2009.
“So we have printed textiles with Washington, we have embroidery, embroidery patterns featuring Washington, we have a flask with Washington’s face on it, and all of this just speaks to the intense excitement and around Washington,” said McRee.
If you’re counting, you’ll find our first president 72 times.
But not everything is about George Washington.
There’s also an appearance by the other George in our Revolutionary War history, King George.
And in several pieces by artist Faith Ringgold, the fight for freedom is contrasted with fights that were yet to come.
“And specifically, juxtaposes scenes of the freedoms that Americans were demanding in the Revolutionary era, and contrast those with black American struggles to gain the same freedoms,” said McRee.
You’ll also see an icon of Americana and a piece of Allentown history if you look close enough at a quilt featured in the gallery.
“You can see these little Liberty Bell motifs that are framed against the star, the Liberty Bell was really an icon for fundraising during the First World War,” said McRee.
Revolution Retold runs through October 18th.