May 27 is Memorial Day in the U.S., which is supposed to be a time to remember Americans who have died while serving in the military, but ends up being more about weddings and BBQs, even though the weather is always rainy and crappy. I didn’t think there would be a museum dedicated to this federal holiday, but believe it or not, there is one in upstate New York. The town of Waterloo is the birthplace of Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day. In 1865, a local druggist named Henry C. Wells proposed that Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War be commemorated for their sacrifice. An 1830s Italianate-style residence houses the museum. Each room tells the story of the holiday’s origins; the people responsible for its founding in Waterloo; and the changing face and meaning in the present day. And of course the place is open today. It might be a bit random, but I expect every holiday to have its own museum from now on. Groundhog Day Museum, anyone?
National Memorial Day Museum
