Artifacts of our own cultures surround us. From art and music to Essay

Artifacts of our own cultures surround us. From art and music to architecture and literature, from philosophy and religion to laws and economics, we live among cultural artifacts that have deep roots - Essay Example The United States of America has its rich history that is being evidenced by the various artifacts that are seen in museums, which are preserved to serve as a symbol of the changes the nation has gone through the years. One of these significant artifacts is the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that became the inspiration of Francis Scott Key in creating a poem, which is now America’s national anthem. The stars in the banner are about two feet across in size. The method used to create the cotton stars was the reverse applique’ method. The blue portion of the banner is canton or wool pigmented with indigo. There was a stain on one star that may have come from a metal buckle. Georgina Armistead Appleton sewed an inscription into the flag. Only fifteen stars were left since one star was cut out during the 1800s (Smithsonian National Museum of American History, n.d.). Wool pigmented with roots of madder plant make up its red stripes. One stripe and one star represented the fifteen states of the U.S during that period (â€Å"The Star-Spangled,† n.d.). The flag has deteriorated with its edges damaged, and it has undergone several repairs prior to reaching the Smithsonian museum, where it is now being preserved (Smithsonian National Museum of American History, n.d.). The Star-Spangled Banner is a legacy, a symbol of freedom and victory for the American people. If not because of this flag, the national anthem that America has in this day age will not be made. Americans live in a country, where there is liberty and diversity, and this is well embodied by this artifact. The banner has been made at that point in history, where the American soldiers were fighting for the country. Thus, it became a witness to some of the crucial points in American history. Americans are warriors, who value peace and benevolence. This is evidenced by the nation’s participation to worldwide