I am a friend of Sharlot Hall Museum's interim director and wrote to
ask him if the piece of hard tack is still in the museum's
collections.  He wrote:  "Yes we still have it. It lives in an acid
free box in storage with temp and humidity control. No problems so
far. Surprising it lived the 85 or so years before it got to us."

So, yes, a piece of baked goods can last that long under the right conditions!

Martha Katz-Hyman

On 10/10/06, Melanie LaBorwit <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >
>
> I remember when I was Museum Director at the City of Las Vegas Museum and
> Rough Riders Memorial Collection( in Las Vegas, New Mexico) , and visited
> the Spanish- American War memorabilia at the Sharlot Hall museum in
> Prescott, Arizona, that they had a similar piece of hard tack biscuit.
> They definitely did not use plastic for storage, but I don't recall any
> special treatment.   You might try contacting them.   >
>
> Melanie LaBorwit>
> Education Coordinator>
> Indian Pueblo Cultural Center>
> Albuquerque , New Mexico 87113>
> 505-724-3500 x 3600>
> [log in to unmask]>
> www.indianpueblo.org

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