December 13th, 2010
Robert A. was visiting Chicago a few weeks ago and discovered something very interesting. He was sightseeing inside the ornate Chicago Cultural Center and noticed this frieze on the ceiling:
This is the Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda. Taking a closer look at the corner:
Here’s a sharp photo someone else took of the Don’t Tread on Me frieze.
Is that neat, or what?
Robert and I are intrigued and want to learn more. I’ve never seen this combination of symbols before. Was it some flourish of the architect? Did the designer make it up, or reproduce it from somewhere?
The Chicago Cultural Center was opened in 1893. It was originally a dual-purpose building: a Chicago public library, and a museum/meeting hall for the Grand Army of the Republic veterans association.
Robert found a booklet entitled “The People’s Palace: The Story of the Chicago Cultural Center” which briefly mentions the rotunda:
“At the top of the stairway is the 45-foot by 50-foot Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Rotunda. The ceiling is embossed with plaster carvings of swords, shields, helmets, and flags. This ornamental heraldry serves to remind viewers of the loss that comes with war.”
That’s not much, and sounds a little bit like politically-correct pap to me. How does that frieze symbolize the loss that comes with war?
I find it interesting that these symbols aren’t from the Civil War. They’re from the American Revolution: the Liberty Cap, the Liberty Tree, and our Don’t Tread on Me snakes. To the degree that DTOM symbols were used in the Civil War, it’s my understanding that they were used by the South, not the North. This dome and hall were funded and used by the GAR, i.e. Union veterans.
Does anyone have insights?
Tags: Chicago Cultural Center, Civil War, Don't Tread on Me, Gadsden in Chicago, GAR rotunda
Posted in Vintage Gadsden | No Comments »
November 13th, 2010
I wish I lived in Virginia!
The Tea Party group “912 Richmond Va” is sponsoring a custom license plate for Virginia with the Gadsden flag. Is this awesome, or what? I love it.
The bill to create the Don’t Tread on Me plate still needs to be passed by the legislature and be signed into law by the governor, and 350 Virginia residents need to pre-order to plate. I really wish I could be one of them. I’d send in the paperwork today.
Click to 912 Richmond Va for all the details. Thanks to Deborah Griffin for pointing this out to us.
Tags: Don't Tread on Me license plate, Gadsden license plate
Posted in Tea Party protests | 2 Comments »
October 29th, 2010
Tommy Priestley is leading a great effort on Facebook. Hundreds of people will be changing their profile picture on November 1 and 2 to the Gadsden Flag, “to remind our friends to vote for candidates who will uphold our Constitution and adhere to the message written on the flag.”
Click over to DONATE YOUR PROFILE PIC TO “DON’T TREAD ON ME” FLAG NOV 1 & 2!.
Tags: Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
October 6th, 2010
Andrew Z. Luder (SSG) flew the Gadsden flag from his wrecker during the invasion of Iraq.
Andrew write, “I was battalion recovery NCO for the 122nd Combat Engineer Battalion of the South Carolina National Guard, attached to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
Tags: 122nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Gadsden flag, Operation Iraqi Freedom, South Carolina National Guard, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment
Posted in Gadsdens in the Military | No Comments »
August 23rd, 2010
Brian Dorr from Poulsbo, Washington had this incredible custom paint job done on his motorcycle helmet. Is this cool, or what?
Brian writes, “Been a big early American history buff and have had a renewed interest in the Gadsden snake due to the current political climate.”
The helmet design, he explains, is a “bit of a different take. Wanted to retain the yellow from the flag but give the snake a more modern and menacing look.”
He explains it on his own blog here, NEW 3/4 HELMET.
Tags: bike helmet
Posted in Motorcycles | No Comments »
