Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America Homepage"

History Explorer Podcast: Underwater Archaeology

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:55:45 GMT

In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, curator Paul Johnston discusses the field of underwater archaeology and how the study of shipwrecks can add to our understanding of many areas and eras in US history. The resource includes a teachers guide and student worksheet.

On the Water Collection Search

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:17:33 GMT

This interactive collection search contains objects that are featured in the exhibition On the Water: Stories from Maritime America. Representing a broad sweep of American maritime history, these objects were collected over more than a century and reflect broad patterns of technological, economic, social, and cultural change.

Life on the Water

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:10:40 GMT

For hundreds of years, seacoasts, rivers, lakes, and canals have had a big impact on the ways America has changed as a country. By using this OurStory module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, children and adults can enjoy exploring lighthouses and the maritime history of the United States together through children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities. Focused around Keep the Lighthouse Burning, Abbie, a work of children's literature about a teenage girl who becomes a hero by running her father's lighthouse during a storm, the module includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration.

America on the Move Homepage

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:12:13 GMT

This online exhibition explores the role of transportation in American history. Students will learn about communities wrestling with the changes that new transportation networks brought; how cities change, suburbs expand, and farms and factories become part of regional, national and international economies; and hear the stories of people who travel for work and pleasure, and move to new homes. This online exhibition also includes an interactive collection search, thematic essays by museum staff and guest curators, interactive games and learning resources for the classroom and home.

The website includes the following subsections: Transportation in America before 1876; Community Dreams (Santa Craz, California); Delivering the Goods (Watsonville, California); A Streetcar City (Washington, D.C.); People on the Move; the Connected City (New York, New York); Crossing the Country; Americans Adopt the Auto; Lives on the Railroad (Salisbury, North Carolina); The People's Highway: Route 66; Roadside Communities (Ring's Rest, Muirkirk, Maryland); Family Camping (York Beach, Maine); On the School Bus (Martinsburg, Indiana); Suburban Strip (Sandy Boulevard, Portland, Oregon); City and Suburb (Chicago and Park Forest, Illinois); On the Interstate (I-10); Transforming the Waterfront (San Francisco, California and Oakland, California); and Going Global (Los Angeles, California)

Van Valen’s Gold Rush Journey

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:08:48 GMT

Investigate the authentic journal of Alex Van Valen, a man who set sail in 1849 to stake his claim in the California gold fields, to discover what life was like during the gold rush. This dynamic project from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History includes student questions to help guide research, rich primary sources, images of artifacts and background information. The student materials can be completed on paper or using the interactive PDF format that allows students to create beautiful publications from their research. The teacher guide includes suggested discussion questions for the introduction and conclusion classes, answers to the student questions, a sheet of Frequently Asked Questions about the gold rush journal, and a summary of what Smithsonian curators learned about the journal's author. Although intended as a project, elements of the site could also be used independently to develop historical research skills.