As Gettysburg anniversary approaches Civil War flags displayed at Capitol
As Civil War re-enactors head to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to mark the 150th anniversary of the momentous battle that took place there on July 1-3, 1863, the state Historical Society is bringing some rare items out of its collection and putting them on display at the Capitol.
MPR News photographer Jennifer Simonson was on hand today as the flags were carefully moved and arranged.
Staff from the Minnesota Historical Society and Artserve move a remnant of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - National Flag, that was used in the Battle of Gettysburg, into a dispay case Thursday, June 27 in the rotunda at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Only the flag pole sleeve and small pieces of silk remain. It is likely that after the unit disbanded, soldiers removed small snips of the flag to take home as souvenirs, said MHS's Brian Pease.(MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson)
Garth Thompson-Vieira, left, unloads the 10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - National Flag Thursday, June 27 at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Four battle flags from the Minnesota Historical Society are always on display in flag cases in the Capitol rotunda, and about every nine months the flags are rotated to display new ones. The MHS has 48 restored flags to display. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson)
A detail of tattered silk on the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - Regimental Flag. The flag was used during the Civil War. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson)
Ann Frisina, a textile conservationist at the Minnesota Historical Society, removes a bit of dust from the mounting board of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - National Flag. The flag was used in the Battle of Gettysburg and will be on display to remember the 150th anniversary. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson)
Artserve's Dave Reimers, left, removes display information from a flag case Thursday, June 27 in the rotunda at the State Capitol in St. Paul. The 11th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - National Flag, behind him, will be replaced with the 10th. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson)
The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - National Flag, used in the Civil War, was removed from display Thursday, June 27 at the State Capitol in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson)
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