"Fire!"
One word neatly sums up the first several chapters of this look at the carriages and cars that various presidents have used. At the time of the writing (1971) many of the early carriages had been damaged or destroyed by fire. Despite this and the lack of pictures Mr. Collins does an excellent job of using Presidential correspondence and newspaper reports to provide us with the early history.
The pung sleigh (a boxy body on simple runners) that George Washington used in 1776 is maintained by the Henry Ford Museum and the Powel coach that he rode in is kept at Mount Vernon. Both are rather plain, especially when compared to European coaches of the time. Correspondence shows that Washington preferred 'a genteel plain Chariot with neat Harness' however he eventually was convinced that his status required a more prestigious look. The hammercloth and saddle cloths for the postillions were eventually made of leopard skin, trimmed in red and gold lace. Only a few bits and pieces of the carriages who carried America's first president still exist.
The author, Herbert Ridgeway Collins, was the Associate Curator at the Smithsonian Institution during the writing of this book in 1971. As a result he knows where the bodies, or in this case, carriage bodies, are. Mr. Collins tells you where you can view the existing carriages driven by Presidents and where the remaining bits and pieces are stored of those destroyed by time. It is interesting that European carriages of royalty have been preserved so well throughout time but American culture really hasn't been interested in preserving the carriages of our leaders.
A few other interesting tidbits from the book:
In February of 1864 a fire destroyed the White House stables and they were rebuilt by 1869. However it was President Taft that converted the stables into a garage. He was the first President that was provide a vehicle, prior to that only carriage and horses were provided.
Dwight D. Eisenhower had the trunk of his car broken into and a spare tire stolen during a visit to DC after being President.
The author, Herbert Ridgeway Collins, was the Associate Curator at the Smithsonian Institution during the writing of this book in 1971. As a result he knows where the bodies, or in this case, carriage bodies, are. Mr. Collins tells you where you can view the existing carriages driven by Presidents and where the remaining bits and pieces are stored of those destroyed by time. It is interesting that European carriages of royalty have been preserved so well throughout time but American culture really hasn't been interested in preserving the carriages of our leaders.
A few other interesting tidbits from the book:
In February of 1864 a fire destroyed the White House stables and they were rebuilt by 1869. However it was President Taft that converted the stables into a garage. He was the first President that was provide a vehicle, prior to that only carriage and horses were provided.
Dwight D. Eisenhower had the trunk of his car broken into and a spare tire stolen during a visit to DC after being President.
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