What has America received as gifts from other nations?
October 18, 2009 9:24 PM Subscribe
What publicly owned items/monuments/etc in the US were gifts from other nations?
Curiosity brought on by finding out that the current US Senate gavel was provided by the Republic of India when the old one broke under Nixon's hand. The Statue of Liberty's well-known as a gift from Revolutionary France, and most Presidents have used the Resolute Desk, gifted by Queen Victoria. What else is there that's in public/ceremonial/governmental use that other nations gave to the USA? I don't just mean things that have been donated/gifted and are now part of, say, the Smithsonian's archives; I'm looking for things like the gavel and Resolute Desk that have been integrated into the normal proceedings or ceremonies of government, or public monuments and the like.
Curiosity brought on by finding out that the current US Senate gavel was provided by the Republic of India when the old one broke under Nixon's hand. The Statue of Liberty's well-known as a gift from Revolutionary France, and most Presidents have used the Resolute Desk, gifted by Queen Victoria. What else is there that's in public/ceremonial/governmental use that other nations gave to the USA? I don't just mean things that have been donated/gifted and are now part of, say, the Smithsonian's archives; I'm looking for things like the gavel and Resolute Desk that have been integrated into the normal proceedings or ceremonies of government, or public monuments and the like.
Best answer: Cherry trees on the Potomac, gift from Japan before WW2. After Pearl Harbor cutting them down was allegeduly mooted.
posted by mokuba at 9:48 PM on October 18, 2009
posted by mokuba at 9:48 PM on October 18, 2009
Best answer: Yes, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France though the pedestal and the island it is on were paid for by the US people, including pennies from children.
Also a British scientist named James Smithson gave almost his whole estate to the US government to "Establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men". The weird thing is he never stepped foot in the US. This is how the Smithsonian Institution got started.
posted by CollegeNelson at 9:53 PM on October 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Also a British scientist named James Smithson gave almost his whole estate to the US government to "Establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men". The weird thing is he never stepped foot in the US. This is how the Smithsonian Institution got started.
posted by CollegeNelson at 9:53 PM on October 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
I am almost positive that the original London Bridge was moved, piece-by-piece to somewhere in Arizona. However, my memory is failing on whether or not it was a 'gift'.
posted by AlliKat75 at 10:07 PM on October 18, 2009
posted by AlliKat75 at 10:07 PM on October 18, 2009
OT: Not a gift, AlliKat75. According to wikipedia, the price was US$2,460,000 in 1968.
posted by pompomtom at 10:24 PM on October 18, 2009
posted by pompomtom at 10:24 PM on October 18, 2009
Best answer: Cleopatra's Needle - a gift from Egypt!
posted by bahama mama at 10:55 PM on October 18, 2009
posted by bahama mama at 10:55 PM on October 18, 2009
Best answer: Every year the Province of Nova Scotia donates the giant Christmas Tree on display in Boston Common.
In 1917, a munitions ship exploded in Halifax Harbor—to this day the world's largest accidental man-made explosion. The extent of the damage and number of casualties were so severe that the local authorities were quickly overwhelmed treating the injured and dead. Upon receiving word of the tragedy, a train was sent from Boston filled with doctors, nurses & supplies.
The tree is the province's way of saying "thank you" to the city.
If you feel like getting teary-eyed, you should read that Wiki link about the explosion. The levels of heroism on display that day still give me goosebumps.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:34 AM on October 19, 2009 [3 favorites]
In 1917, a munitions ship exploded in Halifax Harbor—to this day the world's largest accidental man-made explosion. The extent of the damage and number of casualties were so severe that the local authorities were quickly overwhelmed treating the injured and dead. Upon receiving word of the tragedy, a train was sent from Boston filled with doctors, nurses & supplies.
The tree is the province's way of saying "thank you" to the city.
If you feel like getting teary-eyed, you should read that Wiki link about the explosion. The levels of heroism on display that day still give me goosebumps.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:34 AM on October 19, 2009 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Cleopatra's Needle - a gift from Egypt!
Similarly, the Temple of Dendur at the Met in NYC was a gift from Egypt for helping to fund the movement of various temples out of the path of the Aswan Dam. Other cities vying for it included DC (at the Smithsonian) and Memphis, TN and Cairo, IL.
posted by smackfu at 6:08 AM on October 19, 2009
Similarly, the Temple of Dendur at the Met in NYC was a gift from Egypt for helping to fund the movement of various temples out of the path of the Aswan Dam. Other cities vying for it included DC (at the Smithsonian) and Memphis, TN and Cairo, IL.
posted by smackfu at 6:08 AM on October 19, 2009
re: the temple an Egyptian co-worker said this was the biggest crock. Egypt was giving 1 temple away for each one saved.
posted by mokuba at 10:50 PM on October 19, 2009
posted by mokuba at 10:50 PM on October 19, 2009
Guess it depends: are there other gift temples out there? I know there's other Cleopatra's Needles in London and Paris.
posted by smackfu at 6:28 AM on October 20, 2009
posted by smackfu at 6:28 AM on October 20, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/tributes/teardrop.asp
posted by slateyness at 9:32 PM on October 18, 2009