A Tip for Tour Guides
Here’s a site worth bookmarking
Official painting of George Washington, first United States president, by Gilbert Stuart (1796). http://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.2001.13, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33579
I just used it to verify some
info on artist Gilbert Stuart
As some of my fellow tour guides know, the Historical Marker Database is one of my favorite go-to sites for research.
Why? It saved me time again just the other day, when I passed by the Gilbert Stuart House near 5th and Chestnut Street in Philadelphia … and the Signer’s Garden … on the way home from taking some photos.
I stopped, because I usually carry the above photo of the George Washington “Lansdowne Portrait” and show it on tours when I talk about the “President’s House” at Sixth and Market Streets.
Why? I think the backkground looks very similar to the “bow window” there. I also believe Washington wanted that window installed, because it helped him make a marvelous impression while greeting visitors to his weekly levees.
A perfect place to look presidential
Let’s face it, the man looked great, he was tall and powerful, and women just loved him.
Until I read through the captions, though, I did not realize Ann Willing Bingham is the person who asked him to sit for the portrait. I would have guessed that it was her aunt, Elizabeth Powel, and I’d have been wrong.
What I love about this historical marker website: I didn’t have to take a bunch of photos of captions. Or write them all down.
Instead, I just came home and looked up all the info I wanted at this URL …
https://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?Search=County&County=Philadelphia%20County&State=Pennsylvania
I entered “Gilbert Stuart House” and went right to: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=9227
My advice: if there’s a place in Philly … or anywhere else … that you think has info you need, just check out the Historical Marker Database. It’s easy peasy. And a real time-saver.
Note: A version of this story also ran in the Dec. 1 issue of Tour Talk, published by the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Willing_Powel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Willing_Bingham
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=9227
https://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?Search=County&County=Philadelphia%20County&State=Pennsylvania