Stepping into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) Library and headquarters offers a tangible bridge to the founding era. While some prominent features—such as the entryway banners, the busts of George Washington and Jefferson, and the model of the USS Constitution—are high-quality museum replicas, the vast majority of the objects on display are genuine artifacts from the Revolutionary War era.
Museum and Library Director Joe Alexander was a wonderful guide to the historical treasures contained in the adjacent Museum and this little-known artifact and archive repository, and I greatly appreciate his time and enthusiasm. Examining these items up close and pondering historical circumstances and modern questions provides a striking complement to the themes explored in the Journey to Liberty Discovery Companion, grounding historical narratives in the physical reality of the 18th century.
Washington and Jefferson Sculptures
Right near the entrance to the Library, the busts of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington greet visitors in what many historians and art experts consider the most accurate likenesses of these founding figures. Remarkably, the originals of both sculptures were created by the same master artist: the renowned 18th-century French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, whose meticulous life sittings captured the distinct features and gravitas of both men with unmatched precision.
As I peered into the faces of these sculptures, I had a distinct impression that I was seeing them as they were in the prime of their lives. It is rare for me to have such a visceral and specific reaction to porcelain or bronze, but such is the power of world-class art. I hope that the songs “Man of Courage” and “Ideals That Transcend” convey the sense of respect and appreciation I have for them both, notwithstanding their (or my) imperfections. Flawed people can accomplish much good in the world, even today. The respect Americans had for our first President was captured in a small souvenir from his 1789 inauguration shown in a later exhibit.
The Roots of Mount Vernon
Approaching the rear of the Library, visitors will find several display cases just outside the special collections room. One contains a fascinating small artifact relating to the namesake of George Washington’s famous estate: a medallion of British Admiral Edward Vernon. Washington's older half-brother, Lawrence, served under Admiral Vernon and subsequently renamed his estate Mount Vernon in his honor. Lawrence's property was eventually inherited by George, becoming his lifelong primary residence. It is also the historic setting where Washington’s dramatized reflective evening two days before his passing occurs in "Washington's Final Testament."
Pre-War Pride and Loyalties
Period pottery from the years immediately preceding the revolution illustrates the deep sense of pride and belonging many colonists felt toward their motherland before disaffection took root. Many colonists held onto these loyalties well into the war years—a tension that became increasingly problematic as the conflict escalated.
Benjamin Franklin similarly shared this deep-seated pride in the British Empire; it required systemic abuse and policy failures from the Crown for him to finally recognize the absolute necessity of breaking away. Franklin’s complex journey is addressed in the song "Safe From Hangman's Noose."
While the 18th-century pottery on display lacks the refined porcelain beauty that Franklin famously used to describe the British Empire—a metaphor woven into the song—the pieces possess a rustic elegance and share the same fragility. Standing before them called to mind the rugged, fragile, and ultimately life-altering struggle that birthed our independence.
First Inhabitants and the Unfinished Promise
Another display case outside the special collections room displays Native American artifacts that serve as a vital reminder of the people who inhabited these lands first. Their rights were sidelined by colonists who famously proclaimed that,
"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Actually applying those unalienable rights to all people was an idealistic standard the founders failed to achieve in their lifetime. It has taken several centuries of struggle to significantly expand access to those rights, though much work remains.
Among these displays are the business ends of combination tomahawks and peace pipes—an ingenious artifact type unique to America. The dual symbolism of a tool for both peace and war carries a heavy message. This difficult history stands as one of the profound "Terrible Ironies" explored in that Journey to Liberty song.
The Stone Engraving and The Rights of Man
The centerpiece of the current NSSAR library exhibitions is an exceedingly rare 1823 William J. Stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence—one of only about three dozen surviving parchment impressions. Because of its extreme light sensitivity, it is on public display for a limited window through Labor Day of this year.
Interestingly, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams received their official copies of the Stone Engraving about two years before they both passed away on July 4, 1826—the exact 50th anniversary of the Declaration's adoption. The creation of the Declaration is a core subject of the songs "Beating Heart of Liberty" and "Ideals That Transcend."
Just beyond the interior door of the Library sits an unassuming display featuring a 1791 London volume of Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man. Paine was a staunch supporter of the French Revolution, just one of over a hundred global independence movements and foundational charters over the last 250 years directly or indirectly shaped by the U.S. Declaration of Independence. This movement is at the center of the song “Freedom’s Flame.”
Today, over half of the nations represented at the United Nations utilize a foundational "declaration of independence" or similar framing document. While direct legal influence has varied, the Declaration's core assertion—that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed—remains the foundational spark for modern global anti-colonial and democratic movements.
The Stamp Act
Among the paper artifacts is a beautifully preserved, embossed tax stamp—one of very few surviving examples from the Stamp Act. Depending on the specific circumstance and document type, some stamps of the era were inked rather than embossed. The colonial grassroots response to the Stamp Act is explored in the opening Journey to Liberty track, "New World." While inspecting this small, fragile, artistically embossed seal, I recalled that it had triggered “a public outrage that would reshape a continent.” For me, this paper fragment is a reminder that logical actions from one point of view may become a catalyst for devastating reactions on the part of someone who sees things differently.
A Lifelong Friendship: George Washington and Dr. James Craik
Another unique display highlights Dr. James Craik, who first met a young George Washington during the French and Indian War. Craik forged a lifelong friendship with Washington, served in vital medical capacities throughout the conflict, and ultimately attended the General as his personal physician during his final hours at Mount Vernon.
A small, exquisite locket painting of a middle-aged Dr. Craik by renowned American artist Charles Willson Peale (who also painted iconic portraits of Washington and other Revolutionary-era patriots) is featured in the collection. Apparently painted during the Valley Forge encampment, it was thought to be created as a gift for Dr. Craik's wife.
The passing of George Washington at the end of Journey to Liberty: Washington's Final Testament was made more poignant for me by understanding the long-term love and respect that Dr. Craik had for him. Though the medical treatments he administered to his friend were harsh, ineffective, and even contributory to the General’s passing, they represent the best he had to offer. I wonder if some of my own efforts in other endeavors, though well-meaning, may reflect a similar (though hopefully not terminal) effect on those I care about.
Phillis Wheatley
The remarkable story and poetry of Phillis Wheatley are also represented. Her experiences highlight the stark contrasts within the enslaved population—where daily conditions varied widely—and capture moments of human connection, such as when George Washington personally expressed his appreciation for a poem she composed in his honor. Wheatley was the first African American and the third American woman to be published in the colonies.
Confronting the grim realities of slavery during the Revolutionary era forces us to look past simple mythmaking. The founders' high ideals were deeply compromised by the terrible institution they left intact, proving that the promise of liberty was not fulfilled for everyone at the nation's birth. Recognizing that contradiction is painful, as is described in the song “Terrible Ironies,” but that pain challenges and reminds us to keep striving to make those foundational promises a reality for all people today.
Daily Life, Foreign Aid, and the Working Iron of War
Other objects in the Library are grounded in the mundane to gritty realities of the era:
Daily Life and Military Service: Period currency and an antique billfold offer a window into 18th-century commerce, while surviving military documents provide a direct connection to both well-known patriots, such as George Washington, and lesser-known individuals who made critical contributions to the cause. The latter includes brothers Asahel and Eber Wood, African American soldiers who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill (the battle is the subject of the song "No Longer Dueling Words"), and Daniel Shays, whose 1786–87 rebellion became a catalyst for creating the U.S. Constitution, as is noted in the song “A Rising Sun.”
The Tools of Conflict: Artifacts like Spanish-provided pistols remind us of critical early foreign aid that helped sustain colonial military operations. A beautifully preserved 6-pound field cannon—weighing roughly 600 pounds—stands as a testament to the artillery workhorses used by both American and British forces. Prized for its mobility across uneven colonial terrain, its sleek lines and craftsmanship belie the gruesome devastation it was engineered to deliver. Also, a soldier's powder horn from a failed battle that ended in a miraculous retreat is a quiet reminder that even after failure, miracles can still happen to bring eventual victory.
Beneath the Banners: A Hidden Foundation
As I was leaving the Library, I paused to observe the various Revolutionary-era flags I had passed under when entering the building. Each has a story to tell, but standing beneath those banners brought to mind the words of another Journey to Liberty song.
Recalling the lyrics, "Let the nation long remember, when its banners are unfurled, that the heart of every mother built the heart of all the world," I thought of the countless, often-overlooked sacrifices made by wives and mothers during the American Revolution. Their endurance and unseen labor truly form the hidden foundation of our liberty, making it a fitting reflection with which to conclude my visit.
If you are ever in the Louisville, Kentucky area—perhaps taking in the iconic baseball experience at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory—take a few hours to slip across the street and explore the NSSAR Library and Museum. Photographs and narrative can only communicate so much, and there is truly nothing quite like experiencing it for yourself. If you've read this far, I believe you'll be glad you did. And tell them Steve Mortensen sent you!
Explore more background, documents, discussion questions, narration, and lyrics in the Journey to Liberty Discovery Companion.