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EXHIBITS
IN THOMAS V. MIKE MILLER, JR. SENATE BUILDING
by Nadine Shapiro
On January 9 the Thomas V.
Mike Miller, Jr. Senate Building opened its doors, just in time for the
opening of the 2001 session of the General Assembly. The exterior of the
Miller Building blends seamlessly into the State House complex. A commanding
and brilliant interior, including a four story atrium, marble floors and
high ceilings, is a work of art in itself, while being home to many art
objects including the stunning 1903 Tiffany dome which was originally in
the old Court of Appeals Building and an exquisitely crafted marble mosaic
of the Great Seal. The building showcases a number of exhibits about Maryland's
rich historical and cultural heritage, most of which were designed and
installed by Archives' staff.
The first floor gallery presents
From Private Fortunes to Public Gifts: Treasures of the Peabody Art
Collection of the Maryland State Archives. This exhibition illustrates
the evolution of this state-owned art collection by highlighting key players
and important acquisitions through the display and juxtaposition of rare
public records, sculptures, paintings and art objects. It features carefully
selected objects from one of the most significant 19th/20th American art
collections, along with documents from the State Archives and the Peabody
Institute. Featured are objects such as Francis B. Mayer's Annapolis
in 1750, on display for the first time in 50 years, the 1784 act making
the Marquis de Lafayette and his male heirs forever citizens of Maryland,
and the Congressional Medal presented to George Peabody in 1867, on loan
from the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody, Massachusetts.
On the second floor gallery,
the exhibit A Priceless Legacy: Charles Carroll of Carrollton's Papers
and the History of Maryland celebrates a great Maryland family whose
members have significantly |
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