McKinley-Roosevelt Tin "Dinner Pail" Candle Lantern, 1900

Summary

Late-nineteenth-century political parties rallied their supporters by holding torchlight parades. In the evening, marchers lit up the street carrying torches, lamps and lanterns. Many of these political lanterns glowed with the names of the candidates, slogans and patriotic symbols. By 1900, torchlight parades were becoming a thing of the past. Still, backers of Republican William McKinley would have used this lantern at some nighttime festivity.

Late-nineteenth-century political parties rallied their supporters by holding torchlight parades. In the evening, marchers lit up the street carrying torches, lamps and lanterns. Many of these political lanterns glowed with the names of the candidates, slogans and patriotic symbols. By 1900, torchlight parades were becoming a thing of the past. Still, backers of Republican William McKinley would have used this lantern at some nighttime festivity.

Artifact

Lantern (Lighting device)

Date Made

1900

Subject Date

1900

Place of Creation

United States 

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

69.145.17

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Tin (Metal)
Wire
Wood (Plant Material)

Dimensions

Height: 8.75 in

Diameter: 6 in

Inscriptions

McKINLEY / AND / ROOSEVELT / FOUR YEARS MORE / OF THE / FULL DINNER PAIL

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