Commemorating the visit of the Seventh Regiment and the Veteran Corps, N.G.S N.Y. to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876

Art Historical Context

In 1876, America celebrated its centennial with the grand Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, the nation's first official World's Fair. This silver medal by American artist S.C. Demarest commemorates a notable visit by the esteemed Seventh Regiment and Veteran Corps of the New York State National Guard (N.G.S.N.Y.). These elite militia units, celebrated for their Civil War service and crisp uniforms, marched in a display of patriotic pride, symbolizing the young republic's military strength and unity. Crafted in silver—a durable and prestigious medium for medals and plaquettes—the piece features intricate engravings of eagles, soldiers in profile, firearms, and coats of arms. These motifs evoke heraldry and valor, common in 19th-century American commemorative art, blending neoclassical precision with national symbolism. Demarest's design captures the era's exuberance for progress and remembrance. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Department (bequest of Harris Brisbane Dick, 1916), this modest yet evocative object offers a tangible link to a pivotal moment of national self-reflection, highlighting how everyday artifacts preserved the spirit of America's 100th birthday.