Museum Open

The New-York Historical Society will be open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 from 10am to 6pm

Captain John Ericsson 121st Birthday Anniversary Plaquette

Captain John Ericsson 121st Birthday Anniversary Plaquette
Captain John Ericsson 121st Birthday Anniversary Plaquette
Title
Captain John Ericsson 121st Birthday Anniversary Plaquette
Date 
1924
Medium 
Bronze
Dimensions 
Overall: 2 15/16 x 4 x 1/2 in. ( 7.4 x 10.1 x 1.2 cm )
Description 
Bronze struck rectangualar plaquette with arched top; obverse bears four round medallions with male bust portraits labelled, from left to right: "C.S.BUSHNELL," "CAPTAIN JOHN ERICSSON," "J.F.WINSLOW," and "J.A.GRISWOLD"; striped shield enclosed by laurel wreath above; image of iron-clad turreted battleship below; inscription beneath: "CAPTAIN JOHN ERICSSON,/RESIDED HERE AT 95 FRANKLIN STREET 1844 - 1864/HE DESIGNED IN 1861, THE FIRST IRON CLAD TURRETED BATTLESHIP, "MONITOR"/THE CONTRACT WAS OBTAINED FROM THE GOVERNMENT BY CORNELIUS/S. BUSHNELL OF NEW HAVEN, CONN., WHO, WITH JOHN F. WINSLOW AND/JOHN A. GRISWOLD OF TROY, N.Y., FINANCED ITS CONSTRUCTION./IT WAS BUILT IN 100 WORKING DAYS./ON MARCH 9TH 1862 THE "MONITOR" UNDER JOHN L. WORDEN, COMMANDER,/ALBAN C. STIMERS, CHIEF ENGINEER, ARRIVED AT HAMPTON ROADS, VA., AND/AFTER A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT, ENDED THE CAREER OF THE "MERRIMAC,"/WHICH ON THE PRECEDING DAY HAD SUNK THE U.S.S. "CUMBERLAND" AND/"CONGRESS." THE TIDE OF WAR WAS TURNED, AND THE DESIGN OF THE/"MONITOR" REVOLUTIONIZED THE NAVIES OF THE WORLD."; in exergue: "AMERICAN SCENIC AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY CUSTODIAN." Reverse bears inscription: "BRONZE TABLET UNVEILED ON JULY 31ST 1924/THE 121ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF/Capt. John Ericsson/UNDER THE AUSPICES OF/THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ENGINEERS AND INDUSTRY/ASSOCIATED WITH/THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION WASHINGTON D.C./Compliments of/Great American/Insurance Company/New York." Four bulbous supports at corners.
Credit Line 
Gift of Alfred M.F. Kiddle
Object Number 
1940.31
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.