The Second American Revolution

Run Dates: June 5, 2026 – January 17, 2027

On the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we invite visitors to explore another turning point in our nation’s story through a special exhibition opening June 5. The Second American Revolution reveals how the American Civil War and the era of Reconstruction transformed the United States, ending slavery, redefining citizenship, and expanding the promise of freedom and equality.

Curated by acclaimed historian Manisha Sinha PhD, this major exhibition examines how the struggle for emancipation reshaped the Constitution and remade the American republic. Through powerful stories of courage, resistance, and political change, visitors will encounter the people who drove this transformation: freedom seekers, Black soldiers, women activists, antislavery advocates, and Abraham Lincoln himself.

Featuring extraordinary artifacts from ALPLM’s collections and loans from institutions across the country, highlights include a copy of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the pen used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, rare military records, political banners, personal letters, and compelling visual media installations.