“A Banner Decade”
New York State Capitol
September 2010 – May 2011

This exhibition celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the New York State Battle Flag Preservation Project, the collaboration between the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs’ New York State Military Museum to preserve the state’s historic battle flag collection. The exhibit features nine conserved Civil War flags from the collection that highlight the Flag Project’s efforts since 2000.

In 2000, State Parks textile conservators began treating those flags in greatest need of conservation, working from the smallest sizes to the largest, in preparation for the proposed flag archive facility. Although textile conservators have conserved over 500 flags from 2000-2010, nearly 75-percent of the collection, including about half of the Civil War flags, still awaits preservation and proper storage.

From 2000-2010, New York State invested over one million dollars preserving historic and fragile banners from the New York State Battle Flag Collection. Public support, via donations and the Flag Sponsorship Program, has also contributed to the Flag Project’s success. Without state funding the future of these sacred banners is uncertain. Now, more than ever, we need your support to preserve the collection. As eyewitnesses to our state’s struggle to preserve our national liberties, the flag collection and its future are at stake. With your support we can continue to preserve these sacred banners.  

Exhibit Gallery, view to the south	Exhibit Gallery, view to the northeast

The nine flags included in the exhibit are:

61st New York Volunteer Infantry - national color
125th New York Volunteer Infantry - guidon
77th New York Volunteer Infantry - regimental color
115th New York Volunteer Infantry - camp color (2002.0009)
46th New York Volunteer Infantry - regimental color
114th New York Volunteer Infantry - national color
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, VI Corps designating flag (2007.0014)
97th New York Volunteer Infantry - flank marker
18th Cavalry, New York Volunteers - flank marker (2003.0109)

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