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![]() The entry hallway to the exhibit has a large mural as well as several interactive exhibits and some artifacts.
![]() One enters the exhibit by passing under two life-sized French voyageurs carrying a canoe. This represents the expansion of European interests in the New World in the mid-eighteenth century. The exhibit clearly shows that the French and Indian war was a conflict between three powerful forces: British, French and Native American.
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Close-up of the surrender document written in French with Col. Washington's signature along with Col. James Mackey's signature and that of the French commander Display of soldier with a painting of the funeral of Gen. Braddock in the background (also shown below) with Col. Washington reading the funeral service Below is a model of the forested battlefield just past the crossing of the Monongahela River where Gen. Braddock was defeated by the French and their Indian allies After Braddock's defeated army left western Pennsylvania and Virginia for Philadelphia, the central British frontier was left open to attacks by the enemy. This is what prompted Gov. Dinwiddie of Virginia to order the reformation of the Virginia Regiment with Col. George Washington as its commander. The next several years would bring a bloody war to the backcountry.
This part of the exhibit displays information about the battle to win Canada and of the French personalities involved. The soldier is shown here furling the French flag symbolizing defeat. This photo also gives some indication of the maps on display; there are many contemporary maps shown. Below is the area depicting the occupation of Canada.
Since the French and Indian War was part of a large multi-continent war between Great Britain and France, the exhibit has an area covering the conflict on other continents. Here a British sailor in blue coat is waiting for his daily portion while the background painting shows a battle on another continent. Although George III is presented as the victorious British monarch, it was his grandfather, George II, who reigned during the French and Indian War. George II died in 1760, the year after the fall of Quebec to Gen. Wolfe at the Plains of Abraham effectively ending the French and Indian War although Montreal did not fall until the next year.
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Some thoughts on the exhibitThe exhibit is somewhat limited by the difficulty in finding artifacts directly connected to the French and Indian War. There are very few that exist so one is left with having to use eighteenth century artifacts that are similar to what one would expect to see used in the war. Another problem is that if one is going to cover the larger, world-wide conflict of the Seven Years war and also give space to the relationship between the American conflict and the coming American Revolution, one must limit time and space spent on the American battles and colonial personalities. Thus there is much that is not covered. ![]() One must be careful to view all the small text panels or story boards to get a good understanding of the war. Unfortunately, the panels are relatively small with small type so one can bypass them when looking at the larger paintings and mannequins.
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This exhibit was at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, through July 2007. Apparently, it is not scheduled to appear anywhere else after that. It is a production of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh with funding from many sources including Mellon Financial Corp and Ford Foundation. Handout provided by the French and Indian War 250, Inc. (This is a very large full color .pdf file that gives information on how one can participate in the 250th anniversary of this pivotal event of American history.) Information on the schedule for this and other French and Indian War exhibits/events can be found at http://www.frenchandindianwar250.org/partners/events_calendar.aspx
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