Explore the earliest chapters of our nation’s history!
Our Main Lobby will host the exhibit Becoming the United States: Colonial America to Reconstruction from August 14 to September 11. This series from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is designed to introduce upper elementary–aged students to the beginnings of American history and the skills involved in primary source analysis. Using items from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, it explores individuals, groups, and documents that have contributed to who we are as a country and encourages students to think critically about the firsthand accounts of this era.
Stop in to the library to explore these seven panels and trace our nation’s path from the Colonial Era to end of the Civil War and beyond. This exhibit is a wonderful way to introduce students to primary sources and inspire a love of history.
To continue celebrating our nation as a part of the America 250 initiative, we invite you to our 8 Countries in 1 Day Celebration on Saturday, September 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., which will feature Colonial America. Sample food and drink from 8 different nations, play games, win prizes, and enjoy musical performances in our main lobby! This free event is for all ages and is open to everyone. No registration is required.
For more information about the exhibit or any of our America 250 events, please contact us at [email protected] or (815) 756-9568 ext. 1700.
