Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963; Elections; Campaign insignia; Campaign paraphernalia; Nineteen sixties; Political collectibles
“Flasher pins” like this one showed two images when the pin moved from one position to another. Created for the presidential election in 1960, this one features a picture of candidate John F. Kennedy and “the man for the 1960s” on the other...
This guitar is signed by Chuck Berry, one of the most influential musicians from the early days of Rock ‘n Roll, known for such hits as, “Rock and Roll Music” and “Johnny B Goode.” He played a Gibson guitar that looked like this one. This...
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865; Flags
In a time before email and cell phones, armies relied on flags to pass on information. Flags passed on orders, told one regiment from another, or told one army from another. This particular flag was one of a set put around a boundary of a...
In the early eighteenth century, "circus" meant a one person or one animal performance that usually moved from town to town entertaining travelers and local people. Circuses, like many other kinds of popular entertainment, were...
One of the most important Jewish religious celebrations is Passover, or Pesach. Observed during the spring, Passover is an eight day event commemorating the freedom of Jewish peoples from slavery in Egypt. It is an occasion when Jews spend time...
Buddha was once a living man named Siddhartha Gautama, a wealthy and privileged man. When he was 29 years old, Siddhartha asked his driver to take him to a local village so he could see how the common people lived. Shocked by the poverty and...
Holidays -- Mexico; Mexico -- Social life and customs; All Souls' Day; Skeletons; Sculpture; Aztecs; Aztecs -- Religion; Aztecs -- Social life and customs
This skeleton, dressed in the clothing and accessories of an Aztec warrior, honors the roots of the Mexican celebration, El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This unique celebration grew from the blending of Aztec beliefs about death with...
China; China -- History -- Han dynasty, 202 B.C.-220 A.D.; Lions; Lions in art; Sculpture
Chinese lions may not look much like actual lions from Africa, but they share many characteristics with mythical lions found in folklore traditions around the world. According to Chinese belief, lions chase away evil spirits and bring good luck,...
The city of St. Louis held a World’s Fair to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. Also known as the 1904 World’s Fair, the centennial event was really one year late since the United States purchased the Louisiana territory...
Kansas City Monarchs (Baseball team); Negro leagues; Baseball; Autographs; 1920s
Because African-Americans weren't allowed to play in professional baseball leagues, they formed their own leagues in the 1920s, giving the African-American community a sense of racial pride, self-awareness and a chance to play one of America's...
Islam; Islam -- Customs and practices; Rugs, Prayer
Can you guess how this rug is used? It's not for home decoration, but for prayer. Rugs, such as this, are an important part of a religion called Islam. Islam is one of the world's major religions. Muslims, followers of Islam, are found in over 120...
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; Presidents -- United States; Dolls
Sometimes life-like figures, like this one, make it easier to imagine people we have not met or people who died before we were even born. This one, Harry S. Truman, became the 33rd president of the United States in 1945 following the death of...
Great Britain; Stoves; Great Britain -- Social life and customs; Tea; Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901
In Victorian times, the teapot was filled with boiling water in the kitchen and then transported to the drawing room. The pot was set on a trivet, a stand used to hold pots of food over heat, above a spirit lamp to keep the water hot. The tea was...
The name of the trilobite preserved here is Phacops rana. It is one of the most well known of the North American trilobites, and many times one of the best preserved. Its head is almost totally made up of eyes so the animal could see in all...
The Atlantic blue crab is a common site in both the coastal waters and finer restaurants along the eastern seaboard of the United States. The meat of these crabs is highly prized so these creatures are heavily fished to meet the demands of the...
The Sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales and can grow up to sixty six feet. It can be found in oceans world wide. Its head alone equals about one third of its entire body. These water living mammals can dive to at least 3,300 feet,...
What to do on a cold or rainy day? Chemistry sets like this one from the 1940s provided countless experiments for kids to learn about atoms and molecules as well as the natural world. Toy laboratories like this one, as well as other educational...
At almost 39 inches long, the “Columbus” was one of the largest toy ocean liners produced in the mid-1920s by the German company Marklin. They were one of the world’s finest toy makers, famous for their tin toys and toy trains. Although the...
Dolls; toys; Japan; Dolls -- Japan; Japan -- Social life and customs; International relations; Cultural relations
In 1927, children in the United States sent over 12,000 dolls, with voices that said mama," to Japanese school children as a gesture of friendship. Japan responded by sending Miss Shimane and her sisters as a thank you. First, a national...
Toys; E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, in his adventure on Earth (Motion picture); Nineteen eighties
E.T. was a 1982 movie directed by Steven Spielberg about a "gentle, long-fingered alien" who is accidentally stranded on earth with one goal--to return home. He is befriended by a 10-year old, his brother and sister and their friends....
