Faneuil Hall also known as The Cradle of Liberty
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Today I went to Boston. Polly Flanagan, a volunteer at the museum, wanted to go too, so we took off early this morning. Polly thought she could drive in, avoiding the train and subway. Since it was Sunday, we arrived in no time flat and found a parking place right away. First thing we headed for was Faneuil Hall. They were already open at 9:30 which was really nice. It was just us and the NPS Ranger. Great! I have been here before but it's a neat place to come back to again. It's a good thing we came this morning because the hall will close at 1 p.m. today to prepare for a concert this evening. Imagine attending a concert, graduation or other event in Faneuil Hall. Wouldn't that be cool? Polly and I wanted to take a walking tour of the Freedom Trail so next we headed over to the NPS Visitor Center near the Old State House. It wasn't far and the weather today was already warmer than you would expect in New England in November -- 65 degrees!
The walking tour took us to the Old State House, the Old South Meeting House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House, and the North Church. If only we could spend the entire day exploring the Freedom Trail, we could have gone to the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, and other sites that are north of downtown Boston. Sigh.....maybe another time. I would like to have two or three days in Boston. That is not to be.
Today I went to Boston. Polly Flanagan, a volunteer at the museum, wanted to go too, so we took off early this morning. Polly thought she could drive in, avoiding the train and subway. Since it was Sunday, we arrived in no time flat and found a parking place right away. First thing we headed for was Faneuil Hall. They were already open at 9:30 which was really nice. It was just us and the NPS Ranger. Great! I have been here before but it's a neat place to come back to again. It's a good thing we came this morning because the hall will close at 1 p.m. today to prepare for a concert this evening. Imagine attending a concert, graduation or other event in Faneuil Hall. Wouldn't that be cool? Polly and I wanted to take a walking tour of the Freedom Trail so next we headed over to the NPS Visitor Center near the Old State House. It wasn't far and the weather today was already warmer than you would expect in New England in November -- 65 degrees!
The walking tour took us to the Old State House, the Old South Meeting House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House, and the North Church. If only we could spend the entire day exploring the Freedom Trail, we could have gone to the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill, and other sites that are north of downtown Boston. Sigh.....maybe another time. I would like to have two or three days in Boston. That is not to be.
The Fine Arts Museum
Next stop, the Fine Arts Museum. Polly and I hopped on the subway and were there in twenty minutes. When we were buying our tickets I asked about the Harriet Powers Bible Quilt. They told me it had been on exhibit up until November 17 -- FOUR days ago -- honestly I wanted to ring my own neck. I had checked their website and it said the Bible Quilt was on tour. If I had only known it was out, I would have done whatever was necessary to get there! Oh well, I guess you can't get everything you want -- grrrr...
By this time, Polly and I were starved so we headed directly to the Cafeteria Exhibit. We ate outside in the courtyard. So so so lovely! I was wearing jeans, a cotton turtleneck, and a cotton sweater. With the sun shining, we were almost too warm.
We planned to spend the day exclusively in the new North American Wing. However, on our way to lunch, we passed an exhibit we just had to go back to. Beauty and Duty was primarily a collection of English scarves printed during World War II with propaganda themes. Because nearly everything, including clothing, was rationed during the war, scarves became very popular. Manufactured by Jacqmar, a high-end London textile firm, scarves were colorful, inexpensive, and an easy way to brighten up an outfit. This fashionable accessory also gave British women an overt way to promote the war and help boost moral.
Next stop, the Fine Arts Museum. Polly and I hopped on the subway and were there in twenty minutes. When we were buying our tickets I asked about the Harriet Powers Bible Quilt. They told me it had been on exhibit up until November 17 -- FOUR days ago -- honestly I wanted to ring my own neck. I had checked their website and it said the Bible Quilt was on tour. If I had only known it was out, I would have done whatever was necessary to get there! Oh well, I guess you can't get everything you want -- grrrr...
By this time, Polly and I were starved so we headed directly to the Cafeteria Exhibit. We ate outside in the courtyard. So so so lovely! I was wearing jeans, a cotton turtleneck, and a cotton sweater. With the sun shining, we were almost too warm.
We planned to spend the day exclusively in the new North American Wing. However, on our way to lunch, we passed an exhibit we just had to go back to. Beauty and Duty was primarily a collection of English scarves printed during World War II with propaganda themes. Because nearly everything, including clothing, was rationed during the war, scarves became very popular. Manufactured by Jacqmar, a high-end London textile firm, scarves were colorful, inexpensive, and an easy way to brighten up an outfit. This fashionable accessory also gave British women an overt way to promote the war and help boost moral.
"We shall never surrender. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets..." "The Americans in London"
Another favorite was the EMBROIDERIES of Colonial Boston exhibit. It was not a huge exhibit, but impressive. The bed curtains, chair covers, christening blanket, scarf, workbags, and petticoat borders were in wonderful condition for the most part. They were almost all mounted without glass and we could get close so as to inspect the quality of the work. The colors were vivid and I have to wonder how these aged textiles were protected so well for so many years. All the natural fibers were represented: cotton, linen, wool, and silk. During this entire day I paid particular attention to the labels -- especially what wasn't on them. I don't think I saw one that had a dimension on it. Not one. I am considering not putting the dimensions of the quilts on the labels of the Presidents exhibit. I'm not sure what Pam is going to think about that idea. The current exhibit, Art Quilts from Haiti does not include dimensions. I've seen the MFA use boldface type to help organize their labels. I am reading about labels right now, so I am really aware of them and the different presentation styles used.
George Washington,Gilbert Stuart, 1796
We also saw some wonderful paintings by well-known American artists such as Gilbert Stuart, John Singleton Copley, and Childe Hassam I especially loved the water color and impressionist paintings. The scenes of the ocean captured my heart! We enjoyed the Folk Art and Aesthetic Movement galleries. Also the furniture...all the furniture was wonderful.
It was such a treat to visit the MFA. I have never been here before. We walked 'till we dropped and finally they kicked us out at closing time. And, really, Polly and I only saw the Art of the Americas wing, and not all of it. I could spend two weeks here! What a great day!
It was such a treat to visit the MFA. I have never been here before. We walked 'till we dropped and finally they kicked us out at closing time. And, really, Polly and I only saw the Art of the Americas wing, and not all of it. I could spend two weeks here! What a great day!
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