Contains images and artifacts related to the American Revolution, including paintings, sketches, engravings, political cartoons, photographs, and excerpts from an audio documentary. Subjects include the Founding Fathers, British taxation policies, The Boston Massacre, and The Declaration of Independence.
[enter]

Contains images of 14 different paper currencies from the Revolution Era (reproductions).
[enter]

Contains images and artifacts related to the the early years of The United States, up to the Civil War. Subjects include the Articles of Confederation, Lewis and Clark, early Westward expansion and the acquisition of new lands, and American slavery.
[enter]

African American spirituals, usually with a Christian religious theme, served many purposes. Sometimes they provided comfort and eased the boredom of daily tasks. They were an expression of spiritual devotion and a yearning for freedom from bondage. Sometimes they were a means of releasing pent up emotions and expressing sorrow, or of passing along information about the Underground Railroad. Many spirituals survive from oral tradition and continue to be performed and recorded in modern times.
[enter]

Beginning in the late 1930s, the American government took an interest in preserving the stories of the aging population of African American former slaves. Thousands of interviews were conducted as part of the Federal Writers Project. In later years, some interviews were conducted in which the audio was recorded.
[enter]

The purpose of this section is to educate about the power of imagery in the stereotyping of race. By understanding how it happened, we can recognize it happening now. Once aware, we can make a conscious effort to avoid the messy thinking stereotyping promotes that leads to fear, prejudice, hate, and discrimination. Increasing sensitivy to these stereotypes can promote racial tolerance. Ultimately, civilivation depends on learning to value the racial and cultural diversity of our histories, our nations, and the world in which we live.
[enter]