Blog

Joseph West Moore's "Picturesque Washington": A Snapshot of D.C. in the 1880s

With detailed prints and intriguing articles, Picturesque Washington by Joseph West Moore exposed 19th century readers to all parts of their expanding, booming capital city. Moore went beyond just ...

Report Upon the Colorado River

Prior to the Civil War, much of the American West was still unexplored and undocumented by the United States. In order to determine whether the Colorado River had potential to become a major shippi...

Oyster Harvesting in Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay has been considered one of the most productive oyster growing areas in the world. In fact, one translation of the word "Chesapeake" from the Algonquian language is “Great Shellfi...

Samuel Augustus Mitchell and 19th Century Map Publishing

While working as a schoolteacher, Samuel Augustus Mitchell Sr. became frustrated with the low quality and inaccuracy of school geography textbooks of the period, and thus set out to rectify this pr...

Four Western Surveys and the Romance of the Wild West

Between 1867 and 1879, Congress authorized and funded four significant surveys of the West, the Powell Survey, the King Survey, the Wheeler Survey, and the Hayden Survey. These published maps, trav...

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

Stephen Douglas touted his Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 as a peaceful settlement of national issues, but what it produced was a prelude to the Civil War. The conflict over slavery in the territory o...

"I Want YOU!" - James Montgomery Flagg

James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960) was one of the most prominent poster artists during the first half of the 20th century. His unique and influential art captured the hearts of Americans and encour...

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Join us in celebrating this holiday season with Americana antiques and one-of-a-kind offerings! Enjoy one-stop-shopping at The Great Republic-- perfect for all members of your family, work colleagu...

How to Care for Your Antique Silver

Silver, used for decades in formal house decorating, is a unique precious metal that can hold its value over years. Most antique silver pieces have been passed along as family heirlooms or collecte...

Build Your Americana Collection

Build an Americana collection, today! We showcase some pieces that can be considered the basics for a quality Americana collection. We compare these with the pieces that are more rare and sought-a...