Lifestyles

At McCoy House, a star-spangled exhibit

By CJ Gill

Sentinel reporter

cgill@lewistownsentinel.com

LEWISTOWN -- The McCoy House Museum, owned and operated by the Mifflin County Historical Society, will open for the summer season, starting Sunday. This year dawning a new museum-wide exhibit of historic, vintage and representative United States flags and banners.

The McCoy House Museum summer hours are Sundays during July and August from

1-3 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to visit the museum and take in the new exhibit as well as other historical pieces the McCoy House has to offer.

The special exhibit was created by Forest Fisher, exploring a cross-section of American history through various flags. The newly constructed display includes flags and banners that span the entire history of the United States. Throughout the halls of the McCoy House Museum, there will be everything from hand-sewn colonial pieces to more modern flags that fly today. Pieces displayed in the exhibit are from the historical society's collection as well as flags that are on loan or have been donated from exterior sources.

Some of the flags on display in the newly-created exhibit include a commemorative flag set from the 1976 Bicentennial, handmade 37-, 38- and 39-star flags, as well as various small hand-held mini flags and larger street-side building flags.

The exhibit created by Fisher has been a few years in the making, including lots of brainstorming and long work hours locating a choosing the pieces for the exhibit and putting the entire display together.

"Over the past few years, I have read articles or watched videos about various state and local museums across the country dusting off their U.S. and related flag collections," Fisher said. "It's been a very challenging undertaking, far more details than just unpacking items in storage, but research and background on the scope and history of U.S. flags in general. I can truly see that this initial exhibit opening may very well expand as additional examples are revealed during the summer."

Fisher chose to take this summer to display the evolution of the American flag because of how important the flag has been in the 247-year history of the country and the meaning it holds to the American people.

"The flag was an important part of recruitment and steadfastness on the home front during World Wars I and II. This exhibit is not social commentary, rather an exhibit of flags and the facts about each, creation and its historic place in time," Fisher said.

The exhibit has a lot to offer, presenting a variety of antique flags. Some of the ones Fisher is most excited for the public to see include a 37-star US Ensign, which dates back to shortly after the Civil War. A collection of 48 mini flags produced during the U.S. Bicentennial will also be on display in the main hall.

Some other unique pieces throughout the McCoy House are a loaned 45-star flag that originates from the Spanish-American War. Possibly believed to be the oldest flag on display, is a Lincoln-Hamlin campaign flag from 1860. These are just a few of the historic pieces at the museum this summer.

Mifflin County has had its moments throughout the entirety of the United States of America's history. The one piece through it all-the evolution of the American flag.

"Many of the people, places, and events in or from Mifflin County history are connected to the flag exhibit. From the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I, II, Korea, Middle Eastern wars of the 1990s to the home front across the generations reflect the commitment of Mifflin County's residents," Fisher said.

The McCoy House Museum is located at 17 N. Main St., Lewistown.