200 Years Later, Smithsonian Explores War Of 1812
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery is opening a major exhibit on the War of 1812 with objects from Canada, Great Britain and the United States.
On Friday, the museum opens "1812: A Nation Emerges." It comes almost 200 years to the day from the nation's declaration of war against the British Empire. This "forgotten war" eventually led to the burning of the White House.
Curators pulled together more than 100 objects showing people who influenced the war. They include portraits of British generals and stories of slaves, pirates, Native Americans and women of the time.
A broadside with the first reference to "Uncle Sam" is included, along with Dolley Madison's red velvet dress that might have been made from curtains saved from the White House.
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