Come meet Benjamin Franklin and some of his scientific friends. Learn about them through the eyes of early American portraiture. Following the introduction are three great lesson plans for teachers of language arts, science, and visual...

From the Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, this is a vast digitized archive of architectural records and papers from the influential Greene & Greene architects of southern California. Active in...

The University of Nebraska - Lincoln has created a graduate program in Textile History with an emphasis on quilt studies to nurture the appreciation of quilts as an art and for their cultural significance in history. Their International...

Noted for its collection of late 19th and early 20th century European and American collection, it is also the home of the finest collection of photographs in the SE US. There is also an active music program and continuing educational...

Many groups and women leaders worked tirelessly to advance women's rights in society, specifically the right to vote. This tireless effort paid off with the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920. Examine the early strides in the women's...

With our 24-hour news cycle, we are used to media following politician's every move. For the first women in Congress, the media coverage was just as extensive for the early 1900's. They were a novelty and American's wanted to know their...

The study resource from Khan Academy provides an overview of Period 6: 1865-1898 in American History. Reform in the Gilded Age is discussed in this lesson. This resource is designed as a review for the AP US History Test.

Bat-human imagery in ancient Central American art is often linked to religious beliefs and practices. View pictures and read descriptions of a pendant in the form of a bat-human found in a grave near Panama City in this essay. A video...

An important visual theme in many ancient American art styles is that of transformation: one thing changing into another. Most shamans have spirit alter egos who help them in this world and in the spirit world, and these alter egos are...

Discussion of whether or not the artists of the Ashcan School helped or hindered the existing stereotypes of their subjects. Interesting information on individual works.

Early American -- Still Life with Steak by Sharon Core, 2008.

From textiles to ceramics, metalwork, and architecture, Andean cultures produced art and architecture that responded to their natural environment and reflected their beliefs and social structures. Read more about the Andean culture in...

Ancient Colombians used gold to fashion some of the most visually dramatic and sophisticated works of art found anywhere in the Americas before European contact. Read about the techniques they used and view pictures in this essay.

The church of Sao Francisco, with its curving geometries and lively ornamentation, stands in sharp contrast to traditional early modern Portuguese architecture which generally favored simple plans and exteriors. View pictures and read...

This Khan Academy resource provides notes for American History. "Manifest Destiny" is explained on this resource, along with the implications associated with expansion of the North American continent.

Learn about the significance of children's portraiture in early America by studying a portrait of young Alexander Dix painted in 1795. The portrait is also a useful resource for learning about how portrait settings can be used to express...

Ash Can School artist John Sloan's painting Election Night captures the exuberance of urban politics in the early-twentieth century, and artist Henry Glitkencamp's illustration Voting Machines suggests its corrupting power. Both pieces...

Early Settlers farming

The Chinese in California, 1850-1925 illustrates nineteenth and early twentieth century Chinese immigration to California through about 8,000 images and pages of primary source materials. Included are photographs, original art, cartoons...

An audio slideshow about the work and creative process of American artist Richard Tuttle. Excellent examples of Tuttle's work made during the early, middle, and late stages of his career, with equally excellent commentary on the aspects...

[Free Registration/Login Required] African American poet Maya Angelou passed away this week. Learn about her difficult early life and rise to fame as a critically acclaimed author.

Picture of John Smibert's painting "The Bermuda Group". Site explains who is in the painting.

This site presents a pictorial timeline of technology developments.

A short interactive story for early readers based on the artist Dorothy Strait. Two paintings about powwows are presented and the story vocabulary is posted below the book. A link also takes you to a short biography.