Link to Legacies Home Page Link to National Museum of American History About Legacies Tour the Exhibit Most Intriguing Objects Most Popular Objects Take the Collector Quiz A Treasure House A Shrine to the Famous A Palace of Progress A Mirror of America From Artifacts to America Exhibit Search Buy the Book Smithsonian Press--Legacies--2Shrine to the Famous--Hatchet presented to Davy Crockett in 1835

Legacies: Collecting America's History at the Smithsonian, by Steven Lubar and Kathleen M. Kendrick
You are here: Shrine to the Famous > Frontier Heroes

Hatchet presented to Davy Crockett in 1835
Hatchet presented to Davy Crockett in 1835

A frontiersman-turned-congressman from Tennessee, Crockett gained fame for his tall tales of pioneer life. On the campaign trail Crockett received various gifts from political supporters, including this silver hatchet from the Young Men of Philadelphia. Its inscription—"Go Ahead Crockett"—echoed Crockett's famous motto, "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." Crockett eventually abandoned politics and plunged back into the wilderness he loved, ending up in Texas. After he died defending the Alamo in 1836, popular legend immortalized him as a frontier superhero. His silver hatchet was among the historical relics transferred to the Smithsonian from the Patent Office in 1883.

See also: Political Campaign Memorabilia

Return to the Legacies Home Page

Privacy  |  Terms of Use