Remembering the American Revolution, 1776-2026

How have the people and events of 1776 been remembered? And how have artifacts, pictures, and even souvenirs shaped these stories? In this course we will analyze objects from and histories of the American Revolution, as well as the celebrations of the World’s Fairs of 1876 and 1926, the 1976 Bicentennial, and today's America250. We will explore how methods of commemoration and exhibition have shaped public memory across different historical and political contexts, attesting to different ideas about and attitudes towards American identity, gender roles, race, war and pacificism, rebellion and resistance. We will work with the collections of the Henry Sheldon Museum and invite members of the public to share objects or memories of the 1976 Bicentennial. This course is part of the Axinn Center for the Humanities’ Mellon Foundation Public Humanities Initiative.