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The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects: Uncovering the Nation's Past through Iconic Artifacts

Hugh Reed

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The Smithsonian Institution is home to one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of artifacts and specimens. Its vast holdings include everything from dinosaur fossils to space shuttle components, and from ancient Egyptian mummies to American flags. In 2015, the Smithsonian published a book titled The History of America in 101 Objects, which showcased some of the most iconic artifacts in its collection.

The book is organized into 10 chapters, each of which focuses on a different era of American history. The objects featured in the book range from the mundane to the extraordinary, and each one tells a unique story about the people and events that have shaped the United States.

The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects

by Richard Kurin

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	107343 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	757 pages

Chapter 1: The First Americans (10,000 BCE - 1607 CE)

Clovis point: A stone tool used by Paleo-Indians to hunt large game.
Clovis point
10,000 BCE - 9000 BCE
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Mississippian copper plate: A ceremonial object that was used by the Mississippian culture in the southeastern United States.
Mississippian copper plate
1200 CE - 1600 CE
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Chapter 2: The Colonial Era (1607 - 1763)

Jamestown Bible: The first Bible printed in the American colonies.
Jamestown Bible
1607
Colonial Williamsburg
Mayflower Compact: The governing document of the Plymouth Colony, which was signed by the Pilgrims in 1620.
Mayflower Compact
1620
Pilgrim Hall Museum

Chapter 3: The Revolution (1763 - 1789)

Declaration of Independence: The document that declared the American colonies' independence from Great Britain.
Declaration of Independence
1776
National Archives and Records Administration
Constitution of the United States: The governing document of the United States.
Constitution of the United States
1787
National Archives and Records Administration