American Artifacts visited the Library of Congress to learn about a new exhibit, "The Last Full Measure: Civil War Photographs from the Liljenquist Family." We spoke with Tom Liljenquist, who explains how – fifteen years ago – his family started collecting photographs of ordinary Union and Confederate soldiers. In 2010, the family donated more than 700 of these ambrotypes and tintypes to the Library of Congress.

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The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance on an around-the-world flight. She was called “Lady Lindy” after pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh, and the mystery surrounding her loss continues to fascinate Americans. We visited the exhibit “One Life: Amelia Earhart,” which chronicles her much-photographed life and exploits. (Amelia Earhart image courtesy of Seligman Family Foundation.)

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Using works of art, mechanical inventions, and scientific discoveries, “The Great American Hall of Wonders” exhibit examines innovation in 19th Century America. American History TV attended a press preview and toured the Smithsonian American Art Museum show with guest curator Claire Perry.

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The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC includes a permanent exhibit of Presidential Portraits. Former gallery director Marc Pachter gave American History TV a tour of a portion of the exhibit to discuss the art and politics of presidential portraits. The second half of this two-part program will air next weekend.

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The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC includes a permanent exhibit of Presidential Portraits. Former gallery director Marc Pachter gave American History TV a tour showcasing the art and politics of these portraits – with a focus on presidents Lincoln, Hoover, Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton,  Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson and both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. This is the second half of a two-part program.

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American History TV visited the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery for a look at an unprecedented gathering of portraits and objects representing the major personalities of this little-known war. Curators Sidney Hart and Rachael Penman take us on a guided tour through the collection assembled from the United States, Canada and Great Britain. The War of 1812 technically ended in a draw, but it buoyed American nationalism, birthed the national anthem and Uncle Sam, and anointed a future president in General Andrew Jackson. The exhibit, “1812: A Nation Emerges,” is open at the National Portrait Gallery until January 27, 2013.

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In this program from our 1999 "American Presidents: Life Portraits" series we focused on James Garfield's life and career. Historians discussed Garfield's military service, his election as president and assassination shortly after his inauguration. Suzanne Miller, the site manager at Garfield's home in Mentor, Ohio, talked about several of the artifacts and documents that Garfield left behind. 

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C-SPAN’s Local Content Vehicles take American History TV on the road. Throughout the weekend of May 18-20 we feature the history of Columbia, South Carolina.

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Thousands of colonists rejected the War for American Independence and many fled to the British stronghold of New York City. San Jose State University History Professor Ruma Chopra discusses the situation in the city and the perspective of those who looked upon the British as natural allies in religion, language and blood and thought the violence of rebellion was unnecessary and unlawful.

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This is a look at President Eisenhower’s views and actions in the area of civil rights, including the desegregation of the armed forces, his appointments of pro-civil rights Supreme Court justices and the dispatching of the 101st Airborne division to assist in the integration of Little Rock High School in Arkansas.  This discussion was part of a conference titled, “Ike Reconsidered: Lessons from the Eisenhower Legacy for the 21st Century,” co-hosted by Hunter College, City University of New York, the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute & the Eisenhower Foundation.

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