May
21

May 19, 1883

May 19, 1883 The relics of George Washington and other distinguished persons are transferred from the Commissioner of Patents to the National Museum. Included is the Colonel Lewis collection of Washington relics, purchased for $12,000 by Congressional appropriation, and never previously unpacked. Among the objects in the Lewis collection are two portraits of George and Martha Washington, painted by John Trumbull, considered among the choicest treasures of American art.

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives

Related posts:

Snapshot of Ann Dunham with sunglassesHelp Transcribe Field Notes Penned by S. Ann Dunham, a Pioneering Anthropologist and Barack Obama’s Mother Spencer Fullerton BairdToday in Smithsonian History: May 17, 1878 Award recipientThat’s the ticket! Smithsonian box office recognized for outstanding customer service COVID-19 SquareCOVID-19 Team Update: A milestone worth celebrating

Posted: 21 May 2012
About the Author:

The Torch relies on contributions from the entire Smithsonian community.