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- Souvenir Book, "World's Fair through a Camera," 1893 - More than 25 million visitors attended the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893. The fair celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's landing in America. Many fairgoers returned home with mementos to help relive their experience at the exposition. This souvenir photograph book contains images of the buildings, grounds, and "other views of general interest."
- 1893
- Collections - Artifact
Souvenir Book, "World's Fair through a Camera," 1893
More than 25 million visitors attended the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893. The fair celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's landing in America. Many fairgoers returned home with mementos to help relive their experience at the exposition. This souvenir photograph book contains images of the buildings, grounds, and "other views of general interest."
- Covered Wagon Lamp, 1959 -
- 1959
- Collections - Artifact
Covered Wagon Lamp, 1959
- Union Station, Washington, D.C., circa 1913 - Washington's Union Station was opened by the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads in 1907. The monumental building -- well suited to a city of monuments -- was part of a larger project to beautify the nation's capital in the early 1900s. Removal of the Pennsylvania Railroad's previous station, located directly on the National Mall, was a major component of the plan.
- April 27, 1913
- Collections - Artifact
Union Station, Washington, D.C., circa 1913
Washington's Union Station was opened by the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads in 1907. The monumental building -- well suited to a city of monuments -- was part of a larger project to beautify the nation's capital in the early 1900s. Removal of the Pennsylvania Railroad's previous station, located directly on the National Mall, was a major component of the plan.
- "San Francisco" Snow Globe, circa 1970 - Tourist attractions offered souvenir seekers something new beginning in the 1950s: inexpensive plastic snow globes. These evolved from fancier versions through innovations in plastics and manufacturing technology, and they quickly became connected with travel. Snow globes were fun to collect, easy to transport, and served as both proof of the journey and a lasting representation of vacation memories.
- circa 1970
- Collections - Artifact
"San Francisco" Snow Globe, circa 1970
Tourist attractions offered souvenir seekers something new beginning in the 1950s: inexpensive plastic snow globes. These evolved from fancier versions through innovations in plastics and manufacturing technology, and they quickly became connected with travel. Snow globes were fun to collect, easy to transport, and served as both proof of the journey and a lasting representation of vacation memories.
- Souvenir Card, "A Sleighride Dance at the Wayside Inn," 1927 -
- January 18, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Souvenir Card, "A Sleighride Dance at the Wayside Inn," 1927
- Pennant, "Souvenir of Denver, Colorado," 1940-1965 -
- 1940-1965
- Collections - Artifact
Pennant, "Souvenir of Denver, Colorado," 1940-1965
- Pennant, "Amarillo, Texas," 1940-1965 - Souvenirs provide tangible proof of a tourist's travels. They also expose the prejudices of the time. This mid-20th century pennant uses a stereotyped image of a Native American. In addition to being culturally incorrect -- feathered headdresses were used by only a small number of Plains tribes -- images like this simply reinforced the discriminatory biases held by many non-Native Americans, purchasers of these souvenirs.
- 1940-1965
- Collections - Artifact
Pennant, "Amarillo, Texas," 1940-1965
Souvenirs provide tangible proof of a tourist's travels. They also expose the prejudices of the time. This mid-20th century pennant uses a stereotyped image of a Native American. In addition to being culturally incorrect -- feathered headdresses were used by only a small number of Plains tribes -- images like this simply reinforced the discriminatory biases held by many non-Native Americans, purchasers of these souvenirs.
- Pennant, "Newport Beach," 1915-1930 - Tourists purchase simple, inexpensive souvenirs as proof of their travels. These mementos transport vacationers back to the places they visited and the things they did. In the mid-20th century, felt pennants were trendy. This pennant depicts the leisure activity vacationers experienced at Newport Beach.
- 1915-1930
- Collections - Artifact
Pennant, "Newport Beach," 1915-1930
Tourists purchase simple, inexpensive souvenirs as proof of their travels. These mementos transport vacationers back to the places they visited and the things they did. In the mid-20th century, felt pennants were trendy. This pennant depicts the leisure activity vacationers experienced at Newport Beach.
- Pennant, "Gaslight Village, Lake George, N.Y.," 1960-1975 - After World War II, highways were flooded with family vacationers out to enjoy their new cars and all that America had to offer. New attractions vied for the attention of passing auto tourists. Most themed village attractions relied on fairy tales, nursery rhymes or popular holidays. Gaslight Village, built in 1959, focused on the "Gay Nineties" hoping to appeal to parents as well and children.
- 1960-1975
- Collections - Artifact
Pennant, "Gaslight Village, Lake George, N.Y.," 1960-1975
After World War II, highways were flooded with family vacationers out to enjoy their new cars and all that America had to offer. New attractions vied for the attention of passing auto tourists. Most themed village attractions relied on fairy tales, nursery rhymes or popular holidays. Gaslight Village, built in 1959, focused on the "Gay Nineties" hoping to appeal to parents as well and children.
- Pennant, "The Aquarium, Key West, Fla.," 1940-1965 -
- 1940-1965
- Collections - Artifact
Pennant, "The Aquarium, Key West, Fla.," 1940-1965