Well, I guess it was safe there

 

National Treasure writers/producers/fans, take note.

A historical and magnificent large painting/mural of George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River before the attack on Trenton was "rediscovered" -- even though it was kind of known that it was stuck in the basement somewhere.  The artist was George Harding.

Long-lost mural of George Washington found rolled up in a basement

Here's the coolest part:

"As [historian] Millen dug deeper, she learned the painting, measuring nearly 16 feet by 10 feet, was supposed to have been the centerpiece for a new museum at the New Jersey state park, which was scheduled to open for America’s Bicentennial in 1976.

Except Millen never recalled seeing the artwork at the visitor center museum when she volunteered there. “I’m getting old enough where I’m thinking, ‘Was it there and I forgot it was there?’” said the 65-year-old historian.

But Millen hadn’t forgotten. She located an old article that told what had happened: The mural was too big for the new structure, so it was never displayed there. Instead, it was rescued by volunteer conservators as the old opera house was being torn down and then stored at Ringwood State Park in New Jersey, located about 80 miles away on the New York state line.

“I contacted the park and asked if it was still there,” Millen said. “One of the historians went to the basement of a building and found it rolled up next to Christmas decorations, still on the sawhorses where it had been placed in 1971.” "

Can't wait to see it (I hope I get the chance). 

"The Washington Crossing Park Association is raising $60,000 to save the Harding mural, which this time will go in a new visitor center being constructed for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 2026."

If you want to contribute to the restoration, go here:

Washington Crossing Park Association

And if you do donate, I salute you.