11/04, Albany Institute of History and Art
History comes to life at the Albany Institute of History and Art, and nowhere is it more vividly tangible than at the oldest museum in New York State. As America acknowledges the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the museum is presenting the prescient exhibit, Albany, c. 1776, an immersive look at Albany and Upstate New York during the Revolutionary era.
“The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence offers an important opportunity to reflect on the nation’s founding and the many people and communities whose experiences shaped its history,” says Executive Director Kayla Carlsen.
Opening on November 4, Albany, c. 1776, utilizes the museum’s richly preserved collections to shed light on Revolutionary-era Albany. “Objects have a remarkable ability to tell stories that might otherwise be overlooked in the historical record,” says Diane Shewchuk, Douglas Lloyd Cohn Director of Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator at the Albany Institute of History & Art.
“By drawing on our collections, this exhibition offers a closer look at the region’s divided loyalties, its role in the struggle for independence, and the everyday experiences of people whose lives were shaped by the Revolution,” she continues.
Albany, c. 1776, will be accompanied by educational and public programs designed to engage audiences of all ages, the first event beginning with a free opening reception on Friday, November 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., as part of Albany’s First Friday. Visitors are welcome to join the museum in celebrating the exhibition’s opening.
In observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, from 10 to 5 p.m., the Albany Institute will offer a Family Free Day. The day will offer free museum admission, family activities, and storytelling inspired by Albany, c. 1776, including Stories from the Longhouse on the customs and beliefs of the Haudenosaunee people with Perry Ground and The Origin of Yankee Doodle & Tales from Revolutionary Albany with Jonathan Kruk.
“To include many voices in the history of the United States and the history of Albany is fantastic,” says Ground. “It reminds people that it wasn’t one group of people or voices that was making this history; it was a lot of people and different voices.”
On Saturday, November 21, at 2 p.m., historian Dr. Nancy Siegel will present a lecture and book signing for Political Appetites: The Power of Food in Revolutionary America, free with museum admission. After the program is a ticketed LiberTea Party. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience the foods, drinks, and traditions of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Albany. The afternoon will feature Liberty Tea, historic fare, and period music performed by the Musicians of Ma’alwyck.
Continuing the Revolutionary-themed events includes Spirit of 1776, a multi-day series of events exploring the era’s densely packed history, along with youth and family programs, scholarly lectures, book talks, teacher professional development, school programs supporting social studies curricula, and citizenship test preparation using the museum’s collections.
At 230 years old, the museum itself is a venue fitting for the exhibition, a building solidly intertwined with the very ebb and flow of American history. Established in 1791, the museum traces its origins to the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts, and Manufactures, the first scientific organization in New York State.
The Institute's first president, Robert R. Livingston, served on the Committee of Five charged with drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and later administered the presidential oath of office to George Washington in 1789.
“As one of the oldest museums in the country, the Albany Institute has a meaningful connection to this history,” says Executive Director Kayla Carlsen. “Through our collections, we can bring the story of Revolutionary-era Albany to life and encourage visitors to consider how the events of 250 years ago continue to resonate today.”
For exhibition information, program details, and tickets, visit www.albanyinstitute.org.