Archive for February, 2009

The Donald W. Reynolds Museum has just opened a new exhibition, “George Washington & His Generals,” and it is AMAZING (though we admit we are a biased source). Washington’s ability to place the greatest responsibility in the hands of those with the most talent was one of his most important leadership skills. The exhibition focuses on those oft-ignored generals that helped win the American Revolution, such as Nathaniel Greene, Henry Knox, Benjamin Tallmedge, and Artemas Ward.

As soon as you walk into the exhibition, your eye is drawn to Emmanuel Leutze’s “Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth.” Done by the same artist that painted the famous scene of “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” this huge painting seems to shine a heavenly light on a young, strong General Washington. As he rears up on his mighty steed, the people around him seem to bow down before him, making you feel like you should do the same…

As you drag your eye from this larger than life portrayal of Washington, a vibrant red whips your head around. It is a red cloak worn by Artemas Ward in the Revolutionary War, at a time before officers had standard uniforms. Though this cloak was worn through a long, dirty war, over 200 years later it still seems to be as eye-catching as the day it was made. A wise fashion choice by a general whose life depended on keeping the attention of his men. Continue reading What Makes a General? »

Last Friday, our George Washington Teaching Ambassador, Jan McClaren, threw a birthday party for George Washington and all of her guests brought cake! Forty schools participated in the George Washington Birthday Cake Contest at the Oklahoma History Center, and our esteemed judges were experts of both history and pastry (even though the cakes were faux). The winners were Melissa Tilley’s Comanche Elementary class and Judi Jackson’s students at Ft. Cobb-Broxton Middle School. All finalists received a DVD and gas card, and the winners will receive a George Washington Birthday Party hosted by Martha Washington herself!

Since 1862, the United States Senate observes Washington’s birthday by reading his 1796 Farewell Address aloud, and today is that day once again. The Address is usually read by a freshman senator, alternates between political parties, and takes about 45 minutes to read. The senators then sign their name into the black leather book pictured to the left. Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska read the Address this morning, hopefully leading to much thoughtful contemplation by all members of the Senate.

But why? The tradition began on February 22, 1862, ironically the same day that Jefferson Davis inaugurated himself as the first (and only) President of the Confederate States of America. The reading of the Address was meant to boost morale at one of the darkest times of the Civil War. Tennessee Senator Andrew Johnson, who introduced the petition in the Senate, said, “In view of the perilous condition of the country, I think the time has arrived when we should recur back to the days, the times, and the doings of Washington and the patriots of the Revolution, who founded the government under which we live.”

Washington’s Farewell Address had three themes: first, a warning about harmful “political factionalism in the country,” and a plea to, “unite for the good of the country;” second, a warning to “avoid permanent foreign alliances;” and third, a call for morality as, “a necessary part of popular government.” His words are as relevant now as they were in 1796, and it is this continuing relevancy that leads the United States Senate to devote time every year to Washington’s last words to his “Friends and Citizens.”

Did you know that George Washington was likely the largest whiskey distributor in the nation at the time of his death in 1799? It isn’t really a fact found in textbooks, but Washington was an incredible entrepreneur and his farms, gristmill, and distillery were extremely productive and innovative. At a time when most Virginia planters were still dependent on tobacco, Washington made wheat his primary crop. The wheat was grown on his five farms, threshed in a special 16-sided barn that he invented, ground at his gristmill, then distilled into whiskey.

After years of research and excavation, George Washington’s Distillery was rebuilt on the foundation of the original building, next to Washington’s Gristmill. Since the Distillery opened in 2007, small amounts of rye whiskey have been distilled onsite, but this month our Distillers have begun a more ambitious project. Steve Bashore, Manager of the Farm, Gristmill & Distillery, has stone ground over 2000 lbs. of grain in our Gristmill and the distillation of 100 gallons of rye whiskey is about to begin. In order to share this amazing experience with the public, a special blog, “Making George Washington’s Whiskey,” will document the entire process. The whiskey will be available for sale to the public in a series of special bottlings.