Remembering Admiral Halsey
Admiral Halsey was an incredible and inspiring Navy war hero and was instrumental in defeating the Japanese after the Pearl Harbor attacks. Read more about his achievements during his time in the Navy in this weeks blog.
Report Upon the Colorado River
Prior to the Civil War, much of the American West was still unexplored and undocumented by the United States. In order to determine whether the Colorado River had potential to become a major shipping route, the United States government sponsored the Colorado Exploration Expedition, lead by Lieutenant Jospeh C. Ives, from 1857 to 1858 . The results of their exploration were presented by Ives in his Report Upon the Colorado River of the West, published in 1861. Read more to discover what they found in this amazing region of geological splendor.Â
WWII Savings Bonds and Stamps
During WWII, the government received funding directly from United States citizens in the form of war saving bonds and stamps, which were paid back later with interest. Purchasing war bonds was viewed as a way for American citizens to support the war effort. There was an outpouring of poster art on both the local and national levels for these loan programs, and we explore some of those fantastic designs in this blog.Â
Women in Wartime
This month, The Great Republic is showcasing our extensive inventory of World War II memorabilia and antiques. In addition to our August catalog of WWII items, released earlier this week, our upcoming blogs will delve into the rich stories and histories told by these original WWII items.Â
Why The 41-Star Flag is So Rare
We’ve dealt in our fair share of rare flags, from Civil War-era varieties to unique, hand-sewn masterpieces. However, until now, the 41-star flag had always eluded us. Read more about this rare flag!
Taking Back the South Pacific: Operation Cartwheel
In the summer of 1943, Allied forces in the Pacific launched Operation Cartwheel, a series of amphibious assaults aimed at encircling the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul. Utilizing a new "island-hopping" strategy, Air Corps General Kenney, Army General MacArthur, Navy Admiral Nimitz and Admiral Halsey worked together to take back control of the Pacific theater.Â
Collecting Unofficial 39-Star Flags
If you are looking for an impressive, antique American flag to acquire, consider an “unofficial” 39-star flag. In 1890, 14 years after Colorado statehood, a total of five states joined the Union together in a single year. Dakota Territory was divided into North and South Dakota, while Montana, Washington and Idaho joined as well. The official American flag jumped from 38-stars to 44-stars and any 39-star flags that were produced would never be official.
New York Maps
New York, being one of the original 13 colonies, has a deep and rich history. It has become one of the most popular and well-known states here in the United States. Our unique collection of New York maps tells over 100 years of growth and expansion in New York and the cities within it.
The Great White Fleet in Japan
The Great White Fleet was a popular nickname for the group of United States Navy battleships that completed a journey around the globe to the Pacific, from December 16, 1907 to February 22, 1909, by order of United States President Theodore Roosevelt. The White Fleet served as both a diplomatic olive branch and a reminder of U.S. Naval power. In Japan, the fleet was greeted with parties, including one hosted by famed Admiral Togo Heihachiro, as well as parades and public celebrations, from which there were exceptional flags, embroidered banners, and other souvenirs made to commemorate the event. These items are highly collectible today.
New Arrivals: Remington-inspired bronzes
Frederic Remington’s bronzes have a profound sense of storytelling, resulting in some of the finest American bronzes of the time. It is no surprise Remington’s bronzes continue to inspire the next generation of Western artists and sculptors, including Roy Harris. Read more to see new Remington-inspired bronzes in our Colorado Springs, CO shop.Â
Roughing It with Mark Twain
Mark Twain's Roughing It provides another look at the growing American landscape during a crucial period in history. It serves as both a snapshot in time, as well as an example of Twain’s humorist style, which he later became famous for in his novels such as The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Constructing a Canton: Stars on the American Flag
There are many ways to construct an American flag. And just as the configuration of stars changed and evolved as we added more states to the Union, so too did our way of adding stars to our flag, thanks to new technologies and the advancement of sewing and printing methods. Join us as we explore the many ways historical flag makers applied stars to Old Glory.Â
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