WorthPoint » American Presidential Experience

William Jennings Bryan Items from the 1908 Democratic Convention

Tom Carrier — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:25:02 +0000

By Tom Carrier
WorthPoint Worthologist

WorthPoint was a sponsor of the American Presidential Experience in Denver, Colo., earlier this year. This travelling road show of the American presidency was set up just outside Invesco Stadium in Denver as part of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Inside were exhibits such as a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, the C-SPAN rolling studio, and campaign memorabilia of the past. One of the exhibits was a collection belonging to Mark Evans of Collectors Archives that featured the political items of the 1908 Democratic National Convention which was held, as it happens, in Denver as well.

That year, William Jennings Bryan was nominated for president rather overwhelmingly, but he left the nomination of his vice president completely up to the convention. The convention chose John W. Kern of Indiana as the vice presidential nominee. So, the Democratic ticket of Bryan and Kern was set for 1908 at a time when colorful and elaborate convention badges were the norm.

John Olsen, curator for the exhibit and WorthPoint Worthologist for political buttons, shows off some of the more unusual convention badges, such as the delegate badge for the Maryland delegation. In gold and black—colors from the Maryland state flag—a bow tie made from a small silk American flag with a pin featuring the coat-of-arms of Maryland in the center. It also features a black and gold rosette at the top with an American flag in the center. The gold filigree along the sides and bottom with the words “Delegate, National Democratic Convention, Denver, July 7th, 1908” sewn on silk really emphasizes the extravagance of only one of the many convention badges.

Alongside the convention badges were individual ones created specifically for Bryan Clubs. These were local organizations created to promote presidential candidates of the time. The badge for the Lincoln Bryan Club of Denver is an elaborate red, white, blue and silver silk oversized delegate badge complete with a very detailed button featuring William Jennings Bryan and the issues of the day added to the ribbon.

The centerpiece of the collection was the oversized photo image of William Jennings Bryan as a political button in perfect condition. “That button in that condition is worth easily over $2,000,” Olsen says.

In addition to the delegate buttons and pins are the tickets. Yes, everyone needed a ticket to attend the convention, even the delegate. A different ticket was issued for each day of the convention. Today, the specially manufactured elaborate credentials serve the same purpose, except the tickets of 1908 came with a coupon or stub. You presented the ticket and, like the movies today, the coupon was torn off by the convention staff as you entered the convention floor. “Now, (a) convention ticket would be more valuable if it had its original stub attached to it,” Olsen says. A complete ticket with stub in good condition would be worth about $50, but one without would be worth about half that.

While Bryan lost the election in 1908 to William Howard Taft, the items from his campaign and the 1908 convention that nominated him remain very popular and valuable political collectibles. It just goes to show that even in defeat, you can still be called on to serve your country as a valued collectible.

Watch a video of Tom Carrier talking with John Olsen about the 1908 National Democratic Convention by clicking here.

Tom Carrier is a general Worthologist, with an expertise in a wide variety of subjects.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles.

Warlick Ready for ‘Obamabilia’ Madness

Michael Barnes — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:51:08 +0000

Before the election in 2008, WorthPoint Worthologist and presidential memorabilia expert Jim Warlick’s Button Poll predicted that Barack Obama would become the 44th president of the United States based on sales of the candidate’s collectibles.

On Jan. 20, Warlick’s forecast—as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream of racial unity and reconciliation—will come to fruition as the inauguration of America’s first president of African-American descent is held on the Capitol steps before the eyes of the world. Obama’s unprecedented presidency will resonate throughout history, and undoubtedly, the material evidence of his victory, swearing-in and presidency will be treasured for generations to come.

As the owner, producer and curator of the American Presidential Experience’s InauguralFest and with his store, Political Americana, located literally just down the street from the White House, rest assured that Warlick will be at the center of Tuesday’s events (and the inevitable flood of “Obamabilia”) as an estimated crowd of two to five million will be in Washington, D.C., as Obama takes the oath of office.

Crystal paperweight with 2009 inaugural seal

Presidential memorabilia, like many collectibles, can serve as social barometers and indicators of an ongoing narrative describing the times we lived in, are living in and will live in as the future approaches. It is little wonder, then, that “Obamabilia” speaks to messages of hope and change in a dark economic and geopolitical climate.

Jim Warlick’s work in the political-collectibles field as a retailer and an acknowledged authority has helped to preserve this ongoing narrative. From saving campaign literature in childhood to selling buttons at the 1980 Democratic National Convention and on through the opening of his Political Americana store, Warlick’s involvement with political collecting has been lifelong. He has parlayed his keen understanding of the presidency’s significance into a success measured more in the preservation of America’s political heritage and the extension of the presidential experience to everyday Americans than in sales or personal gratification.

Autographed Obama picture

“I’ve always been a student of American political history,” says Warlick. “Being a part of political campaigns and collecting early American political memorabilia, I’ve learned more about American history than I ever did in school. Collecting and documenting political memorabilia is a great way to preserve American history for future generations to share and learn from.”

Those visiting D.C. next week will have an opportunity to share in Warlick’s passion as part of the larger festivities that will be occurring throughout the nation’s capital not only at his Political Americana and five official souvenir store locations selling inauguration memorabilia, but also at the American Presidential Experience’s InauguralFest. As did visitors to the American Presidential Experience in Denver last August during the Democratic National Convention, those attending InauguralFest will get a hands-on look at three centuries worth of presidential memorabilia and collectibles including scale-model replicas of Air Force One and the Oval Office.

A John-John pose in the Oval Office replica

From an exhibit of First Ladies’ gowns to one of the infamous Florida voting machines that introduced the phrase “hanging chads” to the world, the range of exhibits that Warlick has curated tells not only the story of the American presidency but also of the nation itself—a story that will reach one of its defining climaxes as the son of a white Kansas woman and a black Kenyan man accedes to the most powerful office in the world.

First Ladies' gowns

It is a historic moment in American history, and Jim Warlick will be there as it happens to collect, identify and share the significant artifacts that will capture the spirit of this turning point in our national, cultural and social narrative.

The American Presidential Experience’s InauguralFest is located at the old Washington Convention Site at 1001 H. St. NW Washington, DC (Metro Center subway stop). It is open every day from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 16 through Jan. 23 and from 9 a.m.-5.p.m. Jan. 24. For tickets and further information, visit the InauguralFest Web site.

The Political Americana store is located at 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. Four other locations selling official inauguration memorabilia are in Washington, Virginia and Maryland. Visit www.officialsouvenirs.com, www.politicalamericana.com , email info [at] officialsouvenirs [dot] com, or call 202-737-7730 for more information.

Other articles about Jim Warlick and political collectibles:

Jim’s WorthPoint Worthologist profile

Jim’s WorthPoint blogs

Warlick profile by Mark Jaffe

Top Obama collectibles

The American Presidential Experience

WorthPoint at the American Presidential Experience (video)

Jim Warlick’s Political Americana (video)

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

The Weekend at the American Presidential Experience

Sandra Lee Stuart — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:10:51 +0000

Observations from Thom Pattie in and around the American Presidential Experience in Denver—Saturday

One great thing about presidential election years, people pay more attention to history. Who was the 10th president of the United States and what was happening in his years in office? The American Presidential Experience brings history into real time for the generations visiting the event. The stroll that grandparents, children and grandchildren take through 300 years of history not only is it educational, the interaction is fantastic, and some of the stories are unbelievable.

My favorite display is the walk of the presidents with its portraits of the commanders in chief, brief explanations of what happened during their term and their nicknames.

The people of Denver are great, and we are learning a lot about local and regional history.

Did you know?

On Aug. 1, 1876, (28 days after the centennial of the United States), President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state and earning it the moniker “Centennial State.”

The cheeseburger was invented in Denver by Louis Ballast who operated the Humpty Dumpty Barrel drive-in. He applied for a patent on his now-famous invention in 1935. It has been speculated that he wasn’t the first person to add cheese to a hamburger, but nobody has an earlier patent, and no evidence to debunk his claim has emerged.

The last Democratic convention held in Denver was in 1908. It was staged to promote Denver’s prominence and to signify the city’s participation on the national, political and socioeconomic stage.

P.S. By the way, the 10th president of the United States was JOHN TYLER, nicknamed “His Accidency” because as vice president, he took office upon the death of President William Henry Harrison. Born: March 29, 1790, Charles City County, Va. Died: Jan. 18, 1862, in Richmond, Va. Tyler was the first president to be the subject of a serious impeachment attempt. On Jan. 10, 1843, the House turned down a resolution of impeachment, which charged Tyler with gross usurpation of power. The final vote was 127 to 83.

Thom Pattie, WorthPoint’s Chief Worthologist

Additional Stories on the American Presidential Experience and Jim Warlick

Sandra Lee Stuart — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:07:45 +0000

Jim Warlick picks out some political collectibles featured in the Worthopedia.
WorthPoint’s cameras capture Air Force One (replica) “flying the highway” to INVESCO field in Denver.

A popular exhibit at the American Presidential Experience is the Cool Kids Art Contest at the WorthPoint exhibit. The contest rules were to draw a picture of the person or people who put the gold coins in the Salvation Army kettles in Denver last Christmas.

Chief Worthologist Thom Pattie writes about things that happened over the weekend at the American Presidential Experience.

Political collectibles – Almost fifty years ago, President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy both autographed a dinner program for a young political activist in Seattle. In Denver, (at the American Presidential Experience) he brought it to Worthologist Tom Carrier to evaluate. Dinner at Camelot,

From – AntiquesPublicity.com

acenh — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:04:54 +0000

Atlantique City Antiques & Collectibles Show returns Oct. 18-19

Published August 28th, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Atlantique City Antiques & Collectibles Show will host selections from “The American Presidential Experience,” a sweeping exhibit dazzling audiences this week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The exhibit for the Oct. 18-19 antiques show is made possible though a special partnership between Atlantique City and WorthPoint.com, the Internet’s largest social network for researching the worth of antiques and collectibles.

In addition to the exhibit, special “Worthologists” will be on hand to discuss political memorabilia and offer their expert advice.

“America’s presidential campaigns and political memorabilia are an important part of our history and culture,” Atlantique City Show Producer Eric Bradley said. “The American Presidential Experience is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness a fascinating display of political pop culture. It’s a wonderful addition to an extraordinary line up of quality dealers and antiques.”

More than 400 of America’s finest dealers fill the Atlantic City Convention Center with 19th and early 20th century antiques, fine art, jewelry, toys and pop culture collectibles. Atlantique City is the only antiques show in the world to offer free furniture delivery within a 200-mile radius of the show and the original provider of free celebrity appraisals.

WorthPoint recently agreed to acquire GoAntiques Inc., the oldest antiques and collectibles website and a significant online network for buying and selling antiques and collectibles. Its network includes 600,000 items from more than 1,300 dealers in 31 countries and the world’s largest antiques and collectibles price guide, PriceMiner®.

“The new, bigger WorthPoint will have more than 1 million visitors a month to our combined web pages,” said WorthPoint CEO Will Seippel. “Atlantique City is one of the largest indoor antiques and collectibles shows and it has been a destination for collectors for more than two decades. We complement each other in important ways to better serve collectors,” Seippel said. “It’s a great partnership.”

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to tour The American Presidential Experience during its stay in Denver this week. Visitors to the Presidential Experience can have their pictures taken sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office, walk through the cabin of Air Force One, see collections of historical flags, presidential documents and First Lady Inaugural Ball gowns, hear some of the greatest presidential speeches in history, meet the authors of presidential biographies and books about the presidency. Visitors can also take a guided tour of the bus that has served as the C-SPAN mobile production studio during this year’s presidential campaign.

Advance tickets to Atlantique City are now $15 for Saturday, $10 for Sunday or $25 for a weekend pass. All advance ticket buyers are admitted at 9 a.m. Saturday at no extra charge – a full hour before the box office opens! The box office opens at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and prices are an additional $5 per ticket.

What: The American Presidential Experience at Atlantique City Antiques & Collectibles Show
When: Saturday, Oct.18 & Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, Hours: Saturday: 9 a.m.*-6 pm.; Sunday 10 a.m. -5 p.m.
Where: Atlantic City Convention Center, One Miss America Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Press Contact: Eric Bradley
800-726-9966, ext. 13331
Eric [dot] bradley [at] fwpubs [dot] com

Political Collectibles: “Honest Old Abe” Ribbon

acenh — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:05:17 +0000

Mathew Brady’s photographs of Abraham Lincoln have long been popular collectibles. Brady’s familiar photo of Lincoln’s bearded face adorns every five-dollar bill and penny coin.

But Lincoln was not always bearded. An 1860 presidential campaign ribbon brought to the WorthPoint exhibit at the American Presidential Experience has a photograph of a Lincoln who appears much younger than when he was photographed by Brady during the Civil War. (Brady’s portrait of Lincoln on the five-dollar bill was taken in 1864).

Beardless Lincoln

The Lincoln campaign ribbon ribbon bears the slogan “Honest Old Abe,” which was the name of Lincoln’s campaign theme song. The ribbon also has an unusual American flag with stars and stripes to represent the original 13 states.

Lincoln campaign ribbon

Lincoln won the Republican presidential nomination at the party’s national convention in Chicago in May. Curiously, he made no speeches between May and November except for a brief address at a campaign meeting in Springfield, Ill.

The Lincoln campaign ribbon has been passed down through the Robson family for generations. It was given to James Gordon Robson during the campaign. Robson lived in Saxon, Ill., at the time. Robson served in the Union army during the Civil War. Some of Robson’s descendants moved to Colorado after the Civil War, and the Lincoln campaign ribbon is now in the possession of Barb and Dale Robson, who live in Golden, just outside Denver.

The Lincoln campaign ribbon shows little signs of wear or fading, even though it is almost 150 years old. Worthologist Tom Carrier, who specializes in American political memorabilia and American flags, puts the value of the Robsons’ Lincoln campaign ribbon at $2,600 to $3,500. “This is a pretty conservative estimate, Carrier says. “It could easily go for twice this amount or more at auction.”

WorthPoint — The premier Web site for art, antiques & collectibles

Political Collectibles: “Honest Old Abe” Pictured in1860 Campaign

acenh — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:55:57 +0000

Mathew Brady’s photographs of Abraham Lincoln have long been popular collectibles. Brady’s familiar photo of Lincoln’s bearded face adorns every five-dollar bill and penny coin.

But Lincoln was not always bearded. An 1860 presidential campaign ribbon brought to the WorthPoint exhibit at the American Presidential Experience has a photograph of a beardless Lincoln who appears much younger than when he was photographed by Brady during the Civil War. (Brady’s portrait of Lincoln on the five-dollar bill was taken in 1864).

The Lincoln campaign ribbon has been passed down through the Robson family for generations. It was given to James Gordon Robson during the campaign. Robson lived in Saxon, Ill., at the time. Robson served in the Union army during the Civil War. Some of Robson’s descendents moved to Colorado after the Civil War, and the Lincoln campaign ribbon is now in the possession of Barb and Dale Robson, who live in Golden, just outside Denver.

The Lincoln campaign ribbon shows little signs of wear or fading, even though it is almost 150 years old. Worthologist Tom Carrier, who specializes in American political memorabilia and American flags, puts the value of the Robsons’ Lincoln campaign button at $2,600 to $3,500. “This is a pretty conservative estimate, Carrier says. “It could easily go for twice this amount or more at auction.”

WorthPoint — The premier Web site for art, antiques & collectibles

Presidential Autographs & Land Grants

Alison Harder — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:02:23 +0000

Tom Carrier learns how to distinguish authentic autographs from close copies at the American Presidential Experience in Denver.

Videographer – Anthony Keel
Editor – Alison Harder

WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

WorthPoint at the American Presidential Experience

Alison Harder — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:39:31 +0000

WorthPoint Worthologists evaluate items at the American Presidential Experience in Denver.

Videographer – Anthony Keel
Editor – Alison Harder

WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Great to Watch WorthPoint at the American Presidential Experience by Lisa Olken

Marc — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:34:27 +0000

One of the very best sites at the American Presidential Experience is WorthPoint’s antiques and collectibles booth. Take it from me, a PBS producer; they have the stories to tell and the unique collectibles to back it up!

As my booth is right next door, I have a firsthand look at WorthPoint’s bustling action and unique displays. They have teamed up with the Salvation Army to exhibit an extraordinary collection of gold coins. It so happens that during the 2007 Christmas season, anonymous donors dropped six very expensive gold coins in the Salvation Army red kettles.

To thank these benevolent coin-givers, WorthPoint is co-sponsoring the Salvation Army’s Cool Kids Art Contest where children draw pictures of what giving and generosity means to them. The pictures range from words of “Thank You” to rainbows, flags and people holding hands. The gold coins will be auctioned off and the proceeds donated. WorthPoint is helping the Salvation Army take the coins to auction this October.

There are three Worthologists on hand that happily provide detailed information and interesting stories about antiques and collectibles. One specializes in political and White House memorabilia and is an expert on flags, and the two other Worthologists are generalists. This week, they have evaluated dozens of collectibles from silver-plated eyeglass coins to Civil War memorabilia and an original 1959 John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy signed program brochure . . . to name just a few.

I had an 1863 Louisiana $100 bill, and even though it was only a reproduction, they were happy to provide me with information on where it possibly came from and other fascinating details One woman in line told me that fake money used to be inside cereal boxes—even the people in line are interesting!

The highlight of the WorthPoint booth was speaking with Worthologist Tom Carrier, a vexillologist or flag expert. As this political season heats up, I wanted to know more about political flags. Mr. Carrier happily shared his love of flags and told me that flags represent the communities that created them. Flags are about history, geography and encompass all the social sciences. His flag infatuation began with John F. Kennedy’s funeral. He vividly recalled how his eyes were fixated on the waving presidential flag behind the caisson.

Outdated flags are a highly sought-after collectible. When countries experience coups or geographical border change, when corporations merge or when a new party comes into office, flags change their colors and stripes.

Perhaps the most interesting story Tom Carrier shared was about our own American flag. He said that it was more of an afterthought for the 1777 Continental Congress than a declaration, and there was no provision as to how the alternating stripes and the blue field of stars should look. The American flag was primarily used for official business and was not part of our popular culture until the Civil War. Nowadays, it’s symbol of all things American.

WorthPoint’s antiques and collectibles booth is extraordinary in so many ways. There is their fabulous wealth of knowledge, the Salvation Army gold-coin collection and the children’s drawing contest. There is something for everyone.

WorthPoint on KUSA’s Colorado & Company

WorthPoint Staff — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:29:24 +0000

See Worthologists Jim Warlick and Christopher Kent on 9News’ Colorado & Company talking about American Presidential Experience and the Worthologists who are providing evaluations of art, antiques and collectibles at the event.

American Presidential Experience Opening Day

acenh — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:56:24 +0000

American Presidential Experience opens to the public. Denver Mayor Hickenlooper; Elbra Wedgeworth, chair of the Denver 2008 Host Committee; and WorthPoint Worthologist Jim Warlick speak at the opening ceremony. WorthPoint Worthologists will be at the event to evaluate political antiques and collectibles.

WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Flying to Denver alongside a “Collectible”

acenh — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:18:23 +0000

I was on Interstate 70 last weekend heading west toward Denver and the American Presidential Experience, an enormous nonpartisan tribute to the presidency and democracy. At the event, in addition to checking out all manner of memorabilia, collectors will bring in their political collectibles for evaluation and sale. And there I was riding with one of the biggest political collectibles of all—a replica of Air Force One.

Cruising altitude on the Interstate

But wait. I’ve gotten ahead of myself. Let me backtrack a bit.

I love aviation. I am a son of an Air Force fighter pilot and the father of an Air Force Academy cadet. We like airplanes. As a matter of fact, on August 8, I was standing in the middle of a hayfield about 10 miles west of Beaumont, Kan., next to my ultralight airplane when I got the call to shoot a video. What video, you ask? I’ll get to that in a moment. Anyway, since the beginning of this year, I have been lensing my fifth and latest documentary on ultralight aviation.

That morning I was heading to a shoot in the middle of a forest of windmills (wind generators) near Beaumont. About ten miles from the destination, I could see a fog bank developing in my path. I decided to drop down into a mown hayfield and wait out the fog.

I made a few calls on my cell phone then busied myself taking pix of my fog-enshrouded bird. Suddenly, the phone rang. It was my buddy, Steve Cannaby. Steve is in the aviation- instrument business. He is also an entrepreneur regarding things aviation and a longtime hang glider and ultralight flyer. He told me he was putting the finishing touches on an Air Force One replica that was bound for Denver that Monday. He said the sponsor —WorthPoint.com—needed someone to travel with the motorcade to document the event and get folks’ reactions as we stopped in towns along the way.

In the early days of aviation, there were no radios, no radar, no GPS—just some rudimentary road maps. So when a pilot needed to go somewhere, he would “fly the railways.” Blasting down the highway next to one of the world’s premier historical icons—Air Force One—was surreal at times. I couldn’t help to think we were “flying the highway.”

For a cameraman, it was a “target rich environment.” It is impossible to get a bad shot of this beauty. Due to constraints on length, I had to constantly restrain myself. (Even with my not shooting everything, our video editor, Alison Harder, did a marvelous job on deadline wading through the hundreds of cuts I generated). But, every time we rounded a bend in the road, I saw yet one more fabulous moving portrait contrasting the beauty of God’s favorite landscape—the Kansas plains—and the ultimate in American technical prowess—the airplane.

Soaring through the plains

I had to force myself to keep the camera on my lap at times and not shoot the entire trip door to door.

You see, to me, “Airplane Is Art.” I feel that the shape of a well-designed aircraft is like a Michelangelo sculpture. I am in the crowd who believe “if it looks good—it flies good,” and the Boeing 707 that Cannaby’s Air Force One replicates was a good flier.

Apparently, I’m not the Lone Ranger when it comes to admiring Air Force One because at every stop we made in every small town, we drew a crowd. Some were half-wondering if President Bush was going to step out at any moment. They all were impressed with the plane’s size, beautiful colors and sheer majesty. A continuing theme I heard was how proud Air Force One makes people feel about their country. And that pride crosses party lines and is above politics. And they wanted to take pictures in front of it.

For a photo collection, taking a picture of Air Force One

At times during the two-day trek, I would turn the wheel over to my sound man, Steve Ewing. Then I’d grab the camera and stick my upper body out through the sunroof to get some moving shots of Air Force One whipping down the highway. On reaching Denver, we were halted at a stop light. Nearby, there was a smiling young man in a van with his wife and family, all looking incredulously at our motorcade. He said, “I’ve never seen an aircraft driving down Federal Boulevard before.”

Surprised by a plane on the boulevard

And I have to admit, neither have I.

Please visit our American Presidential Experience special feature for more information and stories about this exciting event.

WorthPoint—the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

American Presidential Experience Opens in Denver

acenh — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:46:25 +0000

The American Presidential Experience, which is co-sponsored by WorthPoint, opened its eight-day run at INVESCO Field in Denver Friday. The traveling exhibit’s visit was timed to coincidence with the 2008 the Democratic National Convention, which opens on Monday in the Mile High City. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to tour the Presidential Experience during its stay in Denver.

Denver’s Mayor John Hickenlooper opening the American Presidential Experience

Visitors to the Presidential Experience can have their pictures taken sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office, walk through the cabin of Air Force One, see collections of historical flags, presidential documents and First Lady Inaugural Ball gowns, hear some of the greatest presidential speeches in history, meet the authors of presidential biographies and books about the presidency. Visitors can also take a guided tour of the bus that has served as the C-SPAN mobile production studio during this year’s presidential campaign.

Air Force One on exhibit

The WorthPoint display is proving to be a popular attraction. Worthologists Thom Pattie and Tom Carrier are busy helping visitors learn more about the history and value of political memorabilia they’ve brought to the event. WorthPoint and the Salvation Army are hosting a “Cool Kids Art Contest,” which is attracting a steady stream of families with children and groups of students from Denver-area elementary schools.

WorthPoint welcomes collectors

Air Force One Lands in Denver

Joe Verrengia — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:57:08 +0000

The last 100 yards were the toughest.

On Tuesday, Steve Cannaby’s careful re-creation of Air Force One was just a short taxiway from the gates of Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mike High where Barack Obama will accept the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. But like many journeys, there were a few unexpected twists and turns at the end.

The full-scale Air Force One replica is part of the American Presidential Experience, the largest traveling exhibit of presidential memorabilia. The exhibit will be at INVESCO Field from August 22 through August 29. WorthPoint is a sponsor of the event.

Visitors to the exhibit also can bring campaign buttons and other political collectibles to be evaluated by Worthologists Thom Pattie, Tom Carrier, Jim Warlick and Christopher Kent and even sell their collections in daily auctions.

But first, Cannaby had to get his airplane in place. He and his driver, Donald Snare, jumped out to assess the obvious problem. After cruising 540 miles of prairie, when they arrived at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the long truck loaded with half of a commercial airplane could not negotiate three tight corners into the stadium’s Parking Lot D.

It didn’t help that the twisty access ramp was landscaped with several trees. Stadium crews also left an obstacle course of a forklift, mobile generator and hydraulic lift in their only path.

Oh, and then there were the half-dozen television networks and papers, such as The Denver Post, there to record the aircraft’s arrival under a broiling August sun.

But no pressure . . .

Cannaby and Snare rummaged in their truck and did a quick reconnaissance of the neighborhood. Within minutes, they had scavenged an assortment of lumber scraps and assembled a trio of small ramps over traffic islands and concrete curbs. Snare revved his diesel and rocked the flatbed back and forth. Soon he had executed an effective—if not exactly textbook—25-point turn into the parking lot that is designed to handle the vehicles of 76,125 Broncos fans who cram the stadium.

But, apparently, not a jetliner.

The replica of Air Force One after it arrived Tuesday at Denver’s INVESCO Field’s Parking Lot D.

It was a sweaty conclusion to an otherwise agreeable ride across the Great Plains. Cannaby loves seeing the faces of other drivers when they glance over and realize they are passing something that looks like . . . but can’t be . . . but must be . . . a famous aircraft like Air Force One.

And then, they wonder, “Why is it on a truck? And, why is it cut in half?”

“They’re stunned. They just do a double take,” Cannaby said.

“You can see families in their cars. Everybody looks. Somebody dives into the backseat, and things start flying. You know they are trying to find their camera.”

Cannaby is president of Nu-Tek, which repairs gyros and other aircraft instruments. But he also creates aircraft replicas and simulators as a commercial hobby. His firm completed the Air Force One replica in a month.

The Denver journey started from his factory in Augusta, Kan., a rural town east of Wichita. On Sunday, Cannaby hosted a party themed like a state dinner at the White House for his friends and supporters. They didn’t leave until 11:30 am on Monday. The truck followed Interstate 35 north to Salina, Kan., where it turned west on I-70 toward Denver. Their route was limited to just a few miles of local streets in Denver because the oversized load straddles two lanes.

The convoy rolled at speeds up to 65 mph. But they stopped frequently for promotional events, video opportunities and rest stops.

In Salina, the local chamber of commerce held a reception to mark the aircraft’s passage. They parked at the local Wal-Mart where a gawker caused a fender-bender accident.

“The guy kept looking back at the airplane,” Cannaby said. “It was like bumper cars.”

Steve Cannaby, president of Nu-Tek, speaks to the media at Denver’s INVESCO Field moments after his replica of Air Force One arrived by truck from his factory in Augusta, Kan.

The aircraft simulates the Boeing 707 that was used as Air Force One starting with Richard Nixon. George W. Bush was the last president to ride on it as it was flown to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California to be decommissioned.

In reality, it is a Boeing 727 that was used by the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign. Cannaby said the aircraft has the same interior dimensions and cockpit features as a 707, so the replica is accurate.

The aircraft was in service until May as a charter jet for the Los Angeles Lakers and other NBA teams. Cannaby acquired it, sliced it just in front of the wingspan and gutted the interior. With the help of curators at the Reagan Library, his team re-created interior elements of Air Force One, including the cockpit, staterooms and communications center.

Besides the aircraft, the American Presidential Experience is displaying one of 25 original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Harry Truman’s Lincoln limousine, a full-sized replica of the Oval Office and a variety of memorabilia ranging from shoes, chairs and other personal effects of several presidents, including those of Jefferson, Lincoln and Wilson.

WorthPoint CEO and founder, Will Seippel, will join the Worthologists at the event.

Please visit our American Presidential Experience special feature page for more information and stories about this exciting event.

Joe Verrengia is a WorthPoint writer writer who lives in Denver.

Air Force One Lands at INVESCO Field

Joe Verrengia — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:49:35 +0000