Name/Title
Tennessee State CapitolEntry/Object ID
2017.9.3Description
Sample sent prior to the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association ordering its centennial ornaments. This sample features the Tennessee State flag, surrounded by a gold frame. A plaque-like banner is at the bottom. It reads: "Three white stars on a field of blue God keep them strong and ever true It is with pride and law that we Salute the Flag of Tennessee." The back of the ornament is inscribed as follows:"Christmas 2013 Senate Majority Leader Mark and Chris Norris Made in the USA."
The front of the box is red, with gold decoration. The decoration shows a sketch of the Tennessee State Capitol in a border, in gold. The text "Tennessee State Capitol" is at the bottom of the border. The back of the box is plain red. The inside of the box is lined with a molded red velveteen liner.
According to https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/tennessee/state-flag/flag-tennessee:
The state flag of Tennessee has three stars representing the "grand divisions" of the state: East, Middle, and West. The stars are "bound together in indissoluble unity by an unending white band" (officially adopted in 1905). All State Flags
Tennessee's flag was designed by LeRoy Reeves of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Infantry. His explanation of the design:
"The three stars are of pure white, representing the three grand division of the state. They are bound together by the endless circle of the blue field, the symbol being three bound together in one - an indissoluble trinity. The large field is crimson. The final blue bar relieves the sameness of the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when hanging limp. The white edgings contrast more strongly the other colors."
Tennessee Flag Salutes
There are two official salutes to the Tennessee flag, both adopted in 2006. The first salute was written by Lucy Steele Harrison:
"Three white stars on a field of blue
God keep them strong and ever true
It is with pride and love that we
Salute the Flag of Tennessee."
The second salute to the Tennessee flag was written by Miss John Bostick:
"Flag of Tennessee, I salute thee
To thee I pledge my allegiance with
My affection, my service and my life."
According to
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
A National Historic Landmark, the Tennessee State Capitol sits on the highest hill in the central city. Designed in the Greek Revival Style by architect William Strickland who moved to Nashville from Philadelphia, it is his last and perhaps his finest work. Strickland began his career as an apprentice to Benjamin Latrobe, the first architect of the U.S. Capitol. He died in 1854, before the completion of the Tennessee State Capitol, and, according to his wishes, was buried in the walls of the northeast corner of the building. Built with Tennessee limestone, the building employs the Ionic and Corinthian orders, the two most highly regarded in Greek architecture. To match the elegancy of the exterior, Strickland makes extensive use on the interior of cast iron, an avant garde building material of the 1840s, as seen in the highly decorative spiral staircase and library balconies.
Also on Capitol Hill are various other monuments including the tomb of President and Mrs. James K. Polk, an equestrian statue of President Andrew Jackson by Clark Mills, monuments to Civil War hero Sam Davis and World War I hero Alvin York, and six cedar trees planted to commemorate the six million Jews who died as a result of the Holocaust.
Tennessee State Capitol
600 Capitol Blvd
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-0830Collection
Beacon DesignAcquisition
Accession
2017.9.0Source or Donor
Beacon Design by ChemArtAcquisition Method
Gift