The Mayflower was the best of American Flyer's wide-gauge passenger line. Introduced in 1928, it was custom-built-to-order and sold for $100. The train was identical to the "President's Special" except that it had a chrome-plated finish....
Scrolls; Scrolls, Chinese; China; China -- History; Art -- China; Ching dynasty, 1644-1912; 19th Century
Lighter and easier to transport than books, scrolls have been used for centuries by different cultures all over the world. This beautifully painted scroll, by an anonymous Chinese artist, depicts 100 children playing with traditional Chinese toys...
Brooks, Garth; Guitar; Country musicians; Country music; Autographs; 1990s
Country Music artist Garth Brooks helped change the face of country music in the 1990s. He attracted thousands of new fans to country music with his appeal to country and popular music fans as well as his boundless energy. Since his debut album of...
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969; Presidents -- United States; Campaign paraphernalia; Political collectibles; Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1944
The tradition of campaign souvenirs began in the 1840 presidential campaign. More than 100 years later, Dwight D. Eisenhower, nicknamed Ike, used these buttons to easily win the United States 42nd Presidential election in 1952 against Adlai...
On December 25, 1951, 10-year-old Norman Townsend's Christmas wish was granted when he found this Schwinn "Black Phantom" bicycle waiting for him at his home in Watseka, Illinois. Purchased by his parents for around $100 at the Kankakee,...
Fishes, Fossil; Paleontology -- Cretaceous; Brazil
This fossil fish comes from the Santana Formation of Brazil and is over 100 million years old. This geologic formation is well known for its beautifully preserved fossil fishes as well as fine specimens of plants insects, amphibians, reptiles,...
The Musk Ox can be found in northern Canada and Greenland inhabiting the tundra. This animal is superbly equipped for harsh weather with a dense undercoat of fur which neither cold nor water can penetrate and an outer coat of very long hair. Its...
Ribbons; Political collectibles; Campaign paraphernalia; Campaign insignia; Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901; 19th century; Elections -- United States -- History; Souvenirs (Keepsakes)
Benjamin Harrison ran for President in the 1888 election. The campaign gave away banners, buttons, ribbons and bandanas like this one to inspire voters to vote for them. In swing states Indiana and New York, these souvenirs helped them win the...
Toys; Airplanes; Airlines -- United States; Aircraft industry
Can you imagine flying in an airplane with the windows open? This Tri-motor airplane is a toy copy of the late 1920s Ford Tri-motor airplane. At the time, it was the most popular passenger airplane. Flying lower than airplanes do today, the planes...
But Where Do You Sit? Frivolous, fun furniture in bright colors and kitschy themes expanded furniture's playfulness in the 1960s. Innovative Italian designers pioneered new ideas, materials and "anti-design" shapes in domestic...
Africa; Ghana; Ashanti (African people); Kente cloth; Kente cloth -- Ghana; Hand weaving; Handicraft -- Africa; Africa, Art
This cloth strip is very special. It was made in the Ghanaian village, Wonoo, world-renowned as one of the centers of manufacture for Asante kente cloth. This strip was purchased from a shop owned by Nana Asante-Frempong, one of many premiere...
Football; Football -- Equipment and supplies; Indianapolis Colts (Football team); Indianapolis; Indiana; Sports -- Indiana
In 1984 the Colts moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, the same year this helmet was made. Today, football inspires people all over the world, but 100 years ago very few people knew anything about American style football. An adaptation of English rugby,...
Fossils; Animal, Fossil; Dinosaurs, Fossil; Charcaradontosaurus; Paleontology -- Cretaceous; Carnivores; Carnivora, Fossil; North Africa
This is a claw from the Charcaradontosaurus, a large bipedal carnivorous dinosaur that lived in North Africa. It was lightly built, but had a huge head with shark-like fangs. In fact the name Charcaradontosaurus means “shark toothed reptile.”...
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901; Political collectibles; Campaign paraphernalia; Buttons; Presidents -- United States; Indiana; Indiana -- History; Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1888; Souvenirs (Keepsakes)
Benjamin Harrison and Levi Morton represented the Republican Party in the 1888 Presidential election. The campaign gave away banners, buttons, ribbons and bandanas like this one to inspire voters to vote for them. In swing states Indiana and New...
Bush, George, 1924-; Nesting dolls; Russia; Russia -- Social life and customs
The art form of Matreshkas (often spelled Matroyshkas) is more than 100 years old. Matreshkas are commonly referred to as nesting dolls because each smallest doll stacks into a larger one. According to legend, the first nesting dolls were made by a...
