Created to celebrate the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1826 visit during the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this painted sign—originally from South Hadley and measuring 36 × 56 inches​​—is a remarkable expression of early American patriotism.

​In ​Stars and Stripes: Patriotic Motifs in American Folk Art, author Deborah Harding writes, “Many folk art experts consider this piece to be the most important patriotic image to be discovered in recent years.”​

As we observe Independence Day, this extraordinary work offers a glimpse into how Americans marked the nation’s history 200 years ago.