The Things We Keep

Statue of Liberty souvenir, made in 1885

The word "souvenir," in French, means "to remember." At first, it was things like locks of George Washington's hair and pieces of Plymouth Rock, but soon people began to realize that there were only so many actual pieces of such things available, and that, as we chipped away at them they would soon disappear. And so the souvenir industry was born. Washington's National Museum of American History exhibit Souvenir Nation: Relics, Keepsakes, and Curios includes mementos from way back and all over (video): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23497138