Description
Twenty-one star American Shield painted on both sides of the tin sign. Full original paint. mid-late 19th century (c. 1862-1885) Twenty one stars commemorates Illinois’ entry into the Union on December 3, 1818 and official added to the flag on July 4, 1819.
This twenty one star painted shield on tin sign is said to come from Chicago, Illinois and made for the train station or government offices (Post Office) in Chicago. Hand Painted (original paint) on tin. Both sides of the sign feature the hand painted twenty one star shield. Six white stripes and Seven red stripes represent the original Thirteen Colonies that rebelled against the British crown and became the first states in the Union. George Washington is credited for saying: "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty." Many people also take the red and white to stand for the blood of those who gave their lives for freedom, and the presumed purity of the freedom ideal, respectively.
Period hardware. Measures an impressive: 17 1/2" width x 24 3/8" height.
History of the American Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States was built across North America in the 1860s and was authorized by the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and heavily backed by the federal government, it was the culmination of a decades-long movement to build such a line and was one of the crowning achievements of the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, completed four years after his death.
Three important railroad companies pre-1870 were:
Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. Incorporated in 1836, the G&CU became the first railroad built to Chicago.
Chicago and North Western Railway . The Chicago and North Western Railway was chartered on June 7, 1859. It had purchased the assets of the bankrupt Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac Railroad five days earlier. On February 15, 1865, it officially merged with the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, which had been chartered on January 16, 1836.
The Union Pacific Railroad . The Union Pacific Railroad was incorporated on July 1, 1862 in the wake of the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862.
Twenty One Star American Shield
Period: mid-late 19th century
Composition: tin, original paint
Condition: original paint, rust on tin, faded surface with some paint loss. original hardware.
