Boston Tea Party chest

As family legend tells it, the morning after the Boston Tea Party, a teenage patriot named John Robinson was looking for souvenirs from the lively events of the evening before. He found an empty tea chest and plucked it from the shores of the harbor, hauled it home and hid the contraband away.

More than two centuries later, city and museum officials showed off the tea chest on Wednesday on the site where colonists threw crates of tea into Boston Harbor on Dec. 16, 1773.

From the Boston Globe. A few more details over at Reuters.

Right or not? We'll see -- a lot depends on that family tradition, and if it's purely oral . . .

In any event, don't forget that Rhode Islanders beat the Boston boys to the punch with the burning of the Gaspee.

PS Also note the recent case of the fake banner bought by Gettysburg -- a fantasy piece made two years ago by a contemporary folk artist that made its way into the antiques trade, gaining value each time it changed hands. Iconic pieces have a way of commanding belief, whether deserved or not.

Posted by David on January 7, 2005 9:45 PM