Panama Canal Railroad Tie Souvenir From 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition
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Artifact Overview
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition celebrated the 1914 completion of the Panama Canal and the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. Nearly nineteen million people visited San Francisco, recently recovered from a devastating 1906 earthquake, during the fair in 1915. Many returned home with mementos, such as this souvenir section of Panama Railroad tie.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Souvenir
Date Made
1915
Creators
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Distributed by the Isthmian Canal Souvenir Co. of San Francisco, California.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
71.100.15
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Nate S. Shapero and Ruth B. Shapero.
Material
Lignum vitae (Wood)
Dimensions
Height: 5 in
Width: 6.5 in
Inscriptions
On envelope: ...THIS PANAMA SOUVENIR IS CUT OUT OF ONE OF THE ORIGINAL LIGNUM VITAE RAILROAD TIES USED IN 1852...ISTHMIAN CANAL SOUVENIR CO. / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Brass badge on left: ISTHMIAN CANAL / 75034 / COMMISSION
Copper plate on right: MADE FROM RAILROAD TIE / LAID IN 1852 ACROSS / THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA / PPIE 1915
Painted center obverse: A LIFE FOR EACH TIE / PANAMA / SEE OTHER SIDE
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