Help Kids Engage with American History at War of 1812 Exhibits and Events

America Recognizes the
200th Anniversary of the War of 1812

National Portrait Gallery Features
"1812: A Nation Emerges" Exhibit

 

A model of Old Ironsides is featured at the "1812: A Nation Emerges"
exhibit. Photo by Evelyn Hockstein for The New York Times.

Museums, organizations, and cities across the country are hosting a myriad of events and exhibits to commemorate the anniversary of the War of 1812. You can help young people engage with this significant historical chapter by checking out events in your area or other locations where you may be traveling this summer.

Of particular interest to those who can make it to Washington, D.C. is the "1812: A Nation Emerges" exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, which helps visitors see the dramatic consequences of the war. As Edward Rothstein writes in The New York Times article "A Legacy Far Beyond the National Anthem" about the exhibit, "[The War of 1812] shaped a sense of American identity. The Revolutionary War established independence, but the War of 1812 forged a nation."

To read the entire article about this very special exhibit, click here. The exhibit will continue through January 2012. For further details, visit the National Portrait Museum's website. 

Learn More About the War of 1812 in Our White House!

A go-to resource for discovering more about America's history is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House. 

"Struggling to Stand"
Copyright (c) 2008 by Wendell Minor

Our White House includes numerous articles, stories, and illustrations dedicated to helping young people learn about and understand the War of 1812. Be sure to share with young people Wendell Minor's stunning illustration "Struggling to Stand," Ralph Ketcham's essay "The White House Prepares for War: 1812," and Susan Cooper's imaginative letter written by a British soldier about the burning of the White House. 

You may also want to check out the exclusive articles and education resources available on the companion website OurWhiteHouse.org. Articles, discussion questions, and activity suggestions include: 

• "Primary Sources: Dolley Madison's Letter to Her Sister About the Burning of the White House" 
• "Star Spangled Presidents" by Helen Kampion
• "Presidential Fact Files" 
• "First Lady Fact Files"

Our White House is available
in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press.
Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!