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Virtual programs are offered through the Senior Learning Network and other partners.
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Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
Tuesday, February 18, 2:00 pm
“All in all, he’s a riddle that must puzzle the devil.”- Davy Crockett
Today, Martin Van Buren is an obscure man, often little more than a footnote. In pre-Civil War America, however, it was impossible not to have an opinion of him. Van Buren was central to the creation of America’s political parties and to the largest crisis of his time, slavery. The above quote is from Davy Crockett, one of many Americans trying to understand the Red Fox of Kinderhook.
Join us as we learn about this historic site, Lindenwald, an estate he purchased in his hometown of Kinderhook in 1839. After his presidency, Lindenwald became not only a family home, but a political base.
“We Return Fighting”
The Harlem Hell fighters in World War I National Museum of the United State Army
Tuesday, February 25, 2:00 pm
On Dec. 27, 1917, the all-Black 369th Infantry Regiment docked in Brest, France. In the 191 days the men spent on the front lines no ground was lost and no man was captured. Their actions earned them the nickname “Hellfighters.” Explore the commitment, challenges, and bravery of the Harlem Hellfighters. Learn how their actions, along with the thousands of other Black World War I veterans, contributed to the Allied victory. Examine the legacy of their service and its impact on the civil rights movement.
Exploring The Southwest
The Coronado Expedition of 1540
Tuesday, March 4, 2:00 pm
Join us at the Coronado National Monument in Arizona, as we discuss The Coronado Expedition of 1540-1542, which was the first major Spanish exploration of the American Southwest. It begins with a look at the life and times of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the leader of the expedition. We then cover the logistics and route they took and end with a look at the effects of the Colombian Exchange on our lives today.
Black Homesteaders in Nebraska
Audacious Dreams
Tuesday, March 11, 2:00 pm
The Homestead Act of 1862 provided African Americans with the prospect of land and home ownership, an attractive alternative to racial violence and social disenfranchisement in the post-Reconstruction South. In Nebraska, independent Black homesteaders built successful farms from eastern tallgrass prairies to the arid Sandhills in the west. Black homesteaders also created intentional communities like Audacious. There, homesteaders built a post office, a church, school and formed an unbeatable baseball team. While Audacious succumbed to plummeting crop prices and prolonged droughts, its residents’ hard work and determination remain an inspiration today. In this lesson, a park ranger will discuss with students how Nebraska’s geography and history shaped and was shaped by the experiences of Black homesteaders.
Everglades National Park
Join us for another fun trip to the Everglades!
Tuesday, March 18, 2:00 pm
Located at the confluence of temperate North America and the tropical Caribbean, Everglades National Park is home to representative flora from both climes. The optimal growing conditions that are prevalent throughout south Florida foster a lush growth of plant life that sustains a diverse complex of flora. The Everglades host a number of endemic and legally protected species. Although nine distinct ecosystems have been identified within Everglades National Park, their boundaries overlap within the dynamic landscape, which is subject to the elements of south Florida. Join us as we learn about out the plants, animals, adaptations and life cycles of these beautiful lands.
Monuments Men
National Museum of the U.S. Army
Tuesday, March 25, 2:00 pm
During World War II, a team of historians, museum professionals, scholars, architects, and archivists came together to protect European cultural sites from war damage. Known as the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section, the team spread out throughout Europe and the Pacific to ensure that sites of cultural significance would be preserved and protected for future generations. This work earned them the nickname the Monuments Men.
Learn more about the commitment, accomplishments, and sacrifices of the Monuments Men. Understand how their determination and dedication to duty protected and secured European and Japanese cultural history and heritage during World War II.