Tracing 250 Years of American Life

Betsy Ross may or may not have sewn the first American flag, but she was commissioned by the U.S. government to make flags and uniforms for the troops. Images are courtesy of the Ridgewood Historical Society Museum.Standing in the quiet of the gallery before the first visitors arrive, I can’t help but feel the weight—and wonder—of 250 years of American history surrounding me. Every object tells its own story: a well-worn Civil War uniform, a gleaming Centennial memento, a humbl