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The
Louisiana State Exhibit Museum celebrated the Bicentennial of
the Louisiana Purchase with an exhibition and reception recognizing
Jefferson, Texas. The reception honored Jefferson as a Texas town
that was part of the Louisiana Purchase.
The Louisiana Purchase: Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon The
exhibit included the first Smithsonian Institution artifacts ever
shown in the area. From the National Postal Museum, letter covers
from the 1803 period, a Bill of Lading, and an invitation on the
First Consul's letterhead signed by "Bonaparte." These
documents symbolize the conflicts that Napoleon had in the West
Indies that brought about his decision to dispose of his property in
North America. From the National Portrait Gallery was an etching of
Thomas Jefferson, an ink drawing of James Monroe, and an oil
painting of James Wilkinson. From The Forbes Collection, the
Marriage Certificate of Napoleon and Josephine. From The Library of
Congress, 12 documents never before displayed to the public. Some
are hand written by Thomas Jefferson; of special interest is the
manuscript President Jefferson hand wrote to Congress asking for
ratification of The Louisiana Purchase Treaty and letters written by
Governor William C. C. Claiborne, Robert Livingston, and Francois
Barbe-Marbois, among others.
Included
will be objects related to the period from the private collection of
Douglas Allan, Napoleonic Society of America, Jefferson Historical
Society and Museum, and from The Turak Gallery of American Art.
These include a lock of Napoleon's hair and flintlock guns, to name
a few.
These
documents are related to The Louisiana Purchase and the history of
our nation. They are national icons written by the fathers of our
country.
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