Honoring George Washington: Museum of Idaho’s ‘Declaration – 250 Years of US’ exhibit offers a time machine to the Revolutionary War
David Pace
“Washington crossing the Delaware” is featured in the Museum of Idaho’s “Declaration: 250 Years of US” exhibit this summer.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Museum of Idaho recognized George Washington Wednesday with a U.S. 250th anniversary commemorative event.
At a special showing of “Young Washington” at the Centre Twin Theater, Idaho Falls City Council President and award-winning U.S. history teacher Jim Francis explored the complexities of America’s first president.
He offered an insightful look at George Washington the man – as a general, Commander in Chief, slave owner, and monument in U.S. history.
“Who was he as a human being, as a leader who made mistakes sometimes, and who was he as this monument we’ve built up as our founding father?” Francis asked.
Francis cited five historical statements made about George Washington.
“George Washington married one of the richest women in the colonies, making him one of the richest men in the colonies,” Francis related. “Her name, Martha Custis, a widow who owned thousands of acres of land around Williamsburg, 300 slaves, hundreds of head of cattle, hogs and sheep.”
He quoted John Adams, who described Washington’s characteristics in 1807, “Handsome face, tall, graceful, gift of silence, self-command, great fortune.”
Author Ron Chernow, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography “Washington: A Life,” wrote, “Two people seemed to coexist inside George Washington’s breast. One was the political militant who mouthed republican slogans; this Washington thought his troops would fight better if motivated by patriotic ideals. … This Washington was also the Virginia planter who felt little in common with the scruffy plebeians around him.”
“George Washington was a flirt and in love with Sally Fairfax, his best friend’s wife,” Francis said, quoting another statement.
Finally, “At the age of 21, George Washington single-handedly touched off the Fourth War that soon led to the Seven Years War, which we teach as the French and Indian War,” Francis shared.
The Museum of Idaho’s Film Series was paired with its fascinating historical exhibit “Declaration: 250 years of US” – which offers a look at artifacts, historical documents, and facsimiles at the heart of the Revolutionary War.
“It explores America’s founding and the basic tenets of the Declaration,” said Museum of Idaho Marketing Director Camille Farac. “One thing that I really enjoy is a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence. So that’s an exact replica, and it’s hand-engraved [and printed] in 1833. Another cool one is the Declaration of Independence with edits – so Thomas Jefferson’s edits – scribbled onto it.”
The exhibit also contains artifacts from Independence Hall, a cannonball from the War of 1812, and Continental Army and British Army uniforms.
You can catch the “Declaration: 250 years of US” exhibit this summer through February 2027 – only at the Museum of Idaho.