Whilst East Lothian might seem an unlikely place for people to gather to mark 250 years of the USA, our new temporary exhibition explains why it is fitting. After all, Gifford-born John Witherspoon was the only serving clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Dunbar’s harbour was raided – without significant success – on two occasions during the Revolutionary War. The 47th Foot, a regiment which held its first parade in Musselburgh, fought at the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and Saratoga. Then of course, there are the links to The ’45, the main focus of our museum: Flora Macdonald and her husband’s service at the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge; Hugh Mercer, the Jacobite army physician who became a Brigadier General in the Continental Army; and back to John Witherspoon, who had been held prisoner by the Jacobites in 1746 after raising a company of volunteers against them.
All these links are explored in the USA 250 exhibition, along with a colourful display of panels from the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry exploring the long connections between Scotland and America.
Our exhibition was launched on Friday 3 July with a special preview for trustees and volunteers, attended by Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian, Roderick Urquhart, and East Lothian Council’s Head of Communities & Partnerships, Eamon John. Curator Arran Johnston introduced the exhibition’s main stories, and our chairman Gordon Prestoungrange presented reflections on the Diaspora Tapestry’s significance, the historical importance of the US Declaration of Independence, and his time teaching in the USA during its bicentennial year.
On Saturday 4 July, the museum was filled with a medley of American and Scottish traditional tunes, performed by Rena Gertz, Ronnie Elliot, and Fiona Johnston. We were even visited by both a British redcoat and an American militiaman from 1776, and we marked the 4th July with cakes and merriment! A few days later, we were honoured to welcome US Consul General Kathryn Porter to the museum for a special visit to the exhibition.
All told, our exhibition has had a wonderful start, so don’t miss out: open now until 30 August.
