When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Americans: who has the right to vote, what are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, and whose voices will be heard? Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories.
Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program and is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This Museum on Main Street adaptation has many of the same dynamic features, including historical and contemporary audio visual and multimedia content telling the story of democracy in America.
Every collecting museum or archive holds more objects than can be displayed at any one time. Have you ever wondered what might be behind the locked doors of a museum’s storage area? Join the Historic Capitol Museum as we unbox a few items from our own collections and invite other institutions to share their historic objects and stories with our virtual guests on Zoom.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the record number of women serving in elected positions this year, and the historic inauguration of the first woman vice president, we will look back at artifacts and archival records that share the stories of Florida women in politics. Curatorial Supervisor Lea Ellen Thornton from the Museum of Florida History will share a sneak peek at the objects that will be part of their forthcoming exhibition Beyond the Vote: Florida Women's Activism.
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how a Smithsonian exhibit travels to the Museum. Then, the tour guide will take you “inside” the exhibit room to hear a few of the special stories and view the interesting artifacts in Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.
Register for the Virtual Experience
Join Museum Student Ambassador Leah “inside” the exhibit room for a brand-new program designed for virtual Museum visitors in Grades 6 through 12. She will share her favorite stories and artifacts in the Smithsonian's Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.
Engaged citizens are the cornerstone of American democracy. While the rights and responsibilities of citizenship are certainly not trivial, the Historic Capitol Museum quiz master wants to know if you have what it takes. Are you the office elections expert, or perpetually in a state of Constitution confusion? Democracy demands public participation, so consider spending your lunch break with us for this fun single-player session of democracy trivia! Prizes will be awarded for the most points received.
When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence, they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Floridians: who has the right to vote, what are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, and whose voices will be heard? This talk by Dr. Steve Noll is a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in Florida stories spanning over 300 years. Participants must register in advance for this program.
The Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit and related programming are brought to you by Florida Humanities and the Smithsonian Institution. We thank The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for their generous support of this initiative and the Pulitzer Prizes for their partnership.
