General Peyton March, who served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff during World War I, sits with family and guests at a Georgetown–Washington and Lee football game in Washington, D.C. The American flag draped across the front places the scene firmly in its time, when military leaders were well-known public figures and often appeared at major social events. College football was becoming a popular national pastime, drawing crowds that mixed military officers, civic leaders, and civilians.
Huge flag being carried by a large group of men in a G.A.R. parade in Washington, D.C.
1915 photograph shows a huge American flag being carried through the streets of Washington, D.C., during a Grand Army of the Republic parade made up of Civil War veterans. Dozens of men are needed just to support the flag, underscoring how large and symbolic these public displays had become.
Deaf children of St. Rita's School, Cincinnati, OH, singing the Star Spangled Banner in sign language
1918 photograph shows deaf students from St. Rita’s School in Cincinnati signing the Star-Spangled Banner in front of a large American flag. Taken during the final year of World War I, the children’s use of sign language shows how national traditions were adapted so everyone could take part. A quiet look at inclusion and shared identity during a time when public unity mattered deeply.
The Great Parade, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
1897 stereograph shows the Great Parade along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., with massive crowds packed along the street and sidewalks. Events like this were central to public life in the nation’s capital, turning major avenues into gathering places for civic celebration and national display. Americans came together in person to mark important moments, long before radio or television, also reflecting the popularity of stereographs, which brought scenes from Washington to viewers across the country.
Parade of Civil War veterans and children carrying American and Alaska flags
A patriotic parade moving down a busy main street, with marchers carrying American flags past stores and restaurants. Signs for a U.S. Navy Yard and a Great Northern Railway office highlight how military activity and rail transportation shaped local life and commerce. Spectators line the sidewalks while cars and bicycles share the road, capturing a moment when older traditions and modern life overlapped.