101 Objects that made America

The November issue of Smithsonian magazine features what the magazine calls the "101 Objects that Made America."  The objects were selected from the 137 million artifacts in the museum's collection. Like any project of this kind, the list includes both the obvious and not-so obvious.  The former include the Bald Eagle, a gold nugget, and the Model T.  The latter include Pueblo jars, a suitcase from Japanese internment, and R2-D2.

I found all the objects fascinating, but here are seventeen that especially resonated with me:

• Neil Armstrong's Spacesuit
• Lewis and Clark's compass
• Remington typewriter
• Louis Armstrong's trumpet
• Justice O'Connor's robe
• Lincoln's top hat
• Appomattox table and chairs
• Greensboro lunch counter
• Levi's jeans
• Morse telegraph
• Stagecoach
• Negro League baseball
• Teddy bear
• M*A*S*H sign
• Geronimo portrait
• Thomas Jefferson's desk
• Star-Spangled Banner