Featured Era

1850 – 1877
  • Full Steam to Freedom

    Explore the story of the Civil War through the eyes of Robert Smalls, who was born in South Carolina as a slave and became one of the early African Americans to serve in the U.S. Congress. Find out more about his daring escape from slavery.

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    Seven Miles to Freedom

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    Seven Miles to Freedom

    by Janet Halfmann
  • A Letter to Abraham Lincoln

    Have you ever thought about writing to the President? Well 11-year-old Grace Bedell did. She wrote to Abraham Lincoln and asked him to make a change. Read Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers and explore her actual letter to find out what happened.

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    Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers book cover

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    Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers

    by Karen B. Winnick
  • Slavelife and the Underground Railroad

    During the 1800s, over 100,000 slaves in America sought freedom by running away from their owners. A slave who tried to escape risked punishment, capture and return to slavery, or even death for their escape attempt. These brave Black Americans followed secret routes known as the Underground Railroad as they traveled north toward free states and Canada or south to Mexico. The Underground Railroad consisted of a network of people working to help bring slaves to freedom. Like the escaping slaves, they too faced great danger but continued to help because they believed slavery was wrong.

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    Follow the Drinking Gourd book cover

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    Follow the Drinking Gourd

    by Jeanette Winter
  • Great Women of Our Pasts

    Have you ever thought about the women who have shaped who you are today? Have you thought about the sacrifices they made, the obstacles they overcame, or the memorable times in history they have lived through?

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    Seven Brave Women book cover

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    Seven Brave Women

    by Betsy Hearne
Smithsonian's History Explorer