July 2006 – Page 12

An exciting day

Reopening today after six years are the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The two share the Patent Office building in Washington and the building itself was always part of the attraction. Its construction began in the 1830s and, among much else, it served as the first American history exhibit hall — it displayed the Declaration of Independence, for example, and Washington’s tent. The Patent Office was also the site of Lincoln’s second inaugural ball (1865). For NewMexiKen, it was satisfying just to walk its halls (I worked three blocks away for six years and often went there during lunch.)

Now the building has been refurbished and the museums re-done. The reviews have been singing praises. I can’t wait to return.

Eye Level will be blogging the opening today.

Oh, Canada

Today is Canada Day, a holiday in that country celebrating its formation independent from Britain on this date in 1867. The holiday was called Dominion Day until 1982 (in Quebec Le Jour de la Confédération). Three British colonies were joined to form Canada — Canada (which included Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Gettysburg: The First Day

The largest and arguably most significant military engagement in North American history began in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on this date in 1863.

In a daring venture, Confederate general Robert E. Lee moved his Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania in June, hoping for a decisive victory on Union soil. Trying to catch up, the Union Army of the Potomac, under new commander George Meade, moved north and west toward the Confederates, who were widely dispersed. Learning the Union Army was on the move, Lee began to consolidate his forces.

On June 30, Union cavalry led by John Buford skirmished with a small Confederate contingent just west of Gettysburg. Buford, realizing that the field provided good defensive ground, determined to hold the Confederates until the main body of the army came up.

Gettysburg Day One On July 1, a larger Confederate force moved east toward Gettysburg and met resistance from Buford’s dismounted cavalry, soon joined by the First Corps. The battle ebbed and flowed during the day as troops from both sides moved to the action. Ultimately, Confederate forces arriving from the north were able to flank the Union troops and force them through the town. The Confederates failed to keep the initiative, however, and the Union was able to dig in on the ridge south and east — Cemetery Ridge.

Fifteen thousand Americans were casualties that day.

Map: National Park Service

It’s the birthday

… of Olivia de Havilland, 90 today. Miss de Havilland was nominated for an acting Oscar five times, winning for To Each His Own and The Heiress. She lost the best supporting actress Oscar for Gone With the Wind to Hattie McDaniel.

… of Jamie Farr. Cpl. Klinger is 72.

… of Famous Amos. Wally Amos is 70.

… of Deborah Harry of Blondie. She’s 61.

… of Dan Aykroyd. Louis Winthorpe III is 54. Aykroyd was nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for Driving Miss Daisy.

Diana, Princess of Wales, would have been 45 today.

Don’t drink a fifth on the fourth

NewMexiKen read many years ago that traffic fatalities were not particularly more significant on holiday weekends than any other days. Safety advocates just had us all thinking they were with their public service advertising campaigns and police check points.

A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety confirms this. For the period 1986 through 2002 there were an average of 117 traffic fatalities a day in the United States. And, while July 4 was the worst day of the year with an average of 161 fatalities, 158 people were killed on any given Saturday. July 4 is the only date in the year less safe than any Saturday.

The worst dates:
July 4 — 161
July 3 — 149
December 23 — 145
August 3 — 142
January 1 — 142

Days of the week:
Sunday — 132
Monday — 96
Tuesday — 95
Wednesday — 98
Thursday — 105
Friday — 133
Saturday — 158

Of course, maybe the holidays remain relatively safe because of all the attention placed on them.

Source: The New York Times