There are 5 boxes, all with the theme of "East meets West" and the time frame is 1849 to 1870.  That was the "Gold Rush" era, also the connecting of the East Coast with the West Coast via Rail at Promontory Point Utah on May 10, 1869.

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The American Fancy Room

 

            The American Fancy Room refers to the period of taste in the federal period that featured an array of brilliantly decorated objects.  It was designed to activate the senses, stimulate the emotions and please the eye.  The room was designed and made by Peter Kendall.  The hanging shelf painted by Mary Grady O’Brien.  The pitchers on the shelf are by Lee Ann Wessel, and the platter by Lucy Coles.  The Chests on the left side of the room are by James Hastrich, and the Blanket chest on the right was made by Mark Murphy, and painted by Mary Grady O’Brien.  The Pitcher and teapot are by Lee Ann Wessel.  The Chair was painted by Mary Grady O’Brien, and the Jacob Maentel paintings are by Laurie Ben Dov.  The quilt if by Kate Adams, and was draped by Corky Anderson.

 

 

The Covered Wagon

 

            The Covered Wagon was designed and built by Ina Lyon.  The mother and child are by Shirley Whitworth.  The Covered Wagon was built by Ina from specs for a full size wagon.  The scenery was also created by Ina Lyon.

 

 

San Francisco China Town

 

            San Francisco in 1849 was created by Ina Lyon.  The two large figures are by Cat Wingler, and the man in the distance, carrying buckets, is by Ina Lyon.  The scenery was painted by Ina, and the laundry and side walk was also created by Ina.  San Francisco was mostly a tent city at that point.  There were wooden buildings around the “ Center of Town ”, consisting mostly of bars, brothels and hotels.  One had to bring one’s own pillow and sheets.  They were generally not supplied.

 

The Gold Mine

 

            The Gold Mine was created by Tori West, and the old miner by Shirley Whitworth.  It shows the difficult terrain and hardships these miners endured.

 

 

The Golden Spike - Promontory Point, Utah

 

            The Golden Spike driven at Promontory Point Utah, May 10, 1869 is a three dimensional reproduction of a famous photograph taken that day as part of the celebration of the successful joining of the train tracks which would forever join the East and West of the United States.  Since the photograph was taken in black and white, and aged to sepia, Ina tried to reproduce that effect.  Ina reproduced the two engines, the Union Pacific’s Engine No. 119 on the right, (it uses coal for fuel and therefore had a straight smokestack), and the Central Pacific engine Jupiter on the left, (it uses wood for fuel, and therefore the smokestack is round and covered by a screen to catch sparks).