The museum recently acquired this souvenir of the 1907 Jamestown Exposition from a donor who accidentally dug it up on his property. The item is one of hundreds of items marketed to Exposition visitors by vendors attempting to make a profit off the world's fair. Among other Exposition items in the museum's collection include dinnerware, tea sets, tapestries, song and poetry books, and post cards.
The fair was supposed to be a celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement. As a result, Native American themes were strongly present at the fair, particularly in the form of Pocahontas, her father Powhatan, and English explorer John Smith. However, ignorance of real Native American culture and the Jamestown settlement was just as prevalent.
1 comment:
I have a Hampton Roads Jamestown Exposition Tomahawk identical to the one pictured. I’ve never seen another one like it.
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