The project is believed to be one of the largest single textile conservation undertakings by a museum RELATED VIDEO CNN's Jonathan Aiken has the story of the most famous American flag and efforts to help it survive the test of time Windows Media 28K 80K

Aging flag gets $18 million makeover

May 30, 1999
Web posted at: 11:03 p.m. EDT (0303 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every school child knows the story: After a night of bombardment by the British during the War of 1812, the Stars and Stripes still flew over Fort McHenry, a sight that stirred Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Few people realize that the original flag that inspired the U.S. national anthem still exists. But in a major public exhibition that opened last week, the Smithsonian Museum of American History unfurled the historic banner as it undergoes an $18 million restoration.

The project is believed to be one of the largest single textile conservation undertakings by a museum, according to the Smithsonian.

It involves microscopic inspection of the flag's fabric and the removal by hand of nearly two million stitches from a previous restoration effort, when the flag was sewn onto a backing of heavy linen.

The process should produce dramatic results. "When we remove the stitches we immediately get a much brighter red color," said Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss, conservator for the restoration project. "So taking away these faded stitches will improve the color without having to do anything else."

The restoration of the flag will take approximately three years and cost $18 million

Museum guests can observe the progress of the restoration, as well as view an exhibition about the history of the 185-year-old flag. Although the flag restoration work is conducted behind glass walls, visitors have a great view of the years melting away.

"You can get closer to the flag in this exhibit than you've ever been able to get to it in any previous exhibit," said Lonn Taylor of the Smithsonian.

Working in a climate-controlled, pressurized lab inside the museum, conservationists are inspecting, repairing and cleaning every inch of the flag, without touching it. They work on their stomachs, from a scaffold suspended just six inches (15 centimeters) over the wool and cotton banner, which is being rolled out, a little at a time.

More than three years will be required to restore the three-story banner completely, but it could have taken longer. The flag measures 30 feet (10 meters) by 34 feet (11 meters), but originally extended 42 feet (13 meters) in length.

"We also have had a lot of losses over the years from a practice called souveniring. People were given mementos of the flag," said Thomassen-Krauss.

The Star-Spangled Banner -- which has 15 stripes and 15 stars, one for each state as mandated by the Congress of 1794 -- has been on view almost continuously since it came to the Smithsonian Institution in 1907. Already timeworn, it has deteriorated further from exposure to light, pollution and temperature fluctuations.

There also will be a new permanent exhibition, set to open in 2002, to coincide with the reinstallation of the flag.