Metropolitan Blog Assignment

Met Class Museum Blog Assignment

   This Tuesday our class went for a Metropolitan Museum of Art. I been to this museum on Columbus Day when I just came to the United States in 2009 but it was just occasional trip. The museum trip was quite interesting trip and for the first time I talk with other class mates who I haven’t spoke with in the entire semester so it was a nice gathering. Beside that fact, the experience was very interesting when I saw lot of students like us exploring about the museum plus it was packed with tourists as well. After entering through the main gate of the museum our professor took us to the exhibition hall in which the exhibition was filled with Civil War photography especially with Goerge N. Barnard , Mathew B.Brady`s and Alexander Gardner etc  hard works photography and paintings.

            After entering to the gallery I feel like I m a part of  Civil War because the photos were taking in a sense that would grab your attention. And I felt really weak for those who sacrifice their homes ,their families and their lives for sake of freedom. The gallery was preaching the truth of  both white and black people from what situation they been through. The first thing which inspired me was the Abraham Lincoln Campaign pin (1860). In which the presidential election was nation`s first political campaign in which the supporters of Abraham Lincoln party members distributes a tin-type ( silver image on copper) button with picture of A.Lincoln on it helped in making the success of campaign.

The second thing “confederate Sergeant standing with Cagge Bowie Knife and Rifle (1861-65)”by David Waynn Vaughan collection. Which made me emotional that a soldier kept a precious good-luck ribbon tied ringlet of hair. This probably belongs to his family relative whom he might really attach to that person. I think this is unique but due to the freedom of their future generation they give sacrifices of their lives.

The Third artifact “Trestile bridge at Whiteside, 1864” by George N .Barnard (1819-1902). This is based on wartime engineering and their hard work. Their main achievement during Civil War is to construct a wooden rail road bridge in the Raccoon range near Chattanooga which cuts two large mountains which link between Nashville and Chattanooga. But unfortunately it was destroyed in summer 1863 by Confederate troops but the Union army rebuilt in forty days at expense $95,000. Which makes me think that by rebuilding this bridge those workers may be faced hard time from their owners.

            To sum up, my visit to the museum was a wonderful experience of understanding Civil war history. I wished we were allowed to snap pictures so we could save it in our camera and this kind of trip is really useful and helpful to understand about our history