Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America

alexander hamilton “Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America” was a traveling panel exhibit that examined Hamilton’s central role during the Revolutionary War and Founding period (1774–1804) in creating the economic, constitutional, social, journalistic, political, and foreign policy templates for modern America. The exhibit acquainted visitors with a statesman and visionary whose life inspired discussion and controversy and shaped the America we live in 200 years after his death.The traveling exhibition was based on a major exhibition of the same title on display at The New-York Historical Society from September 10, 2004 until February 28, 2005.

Two copies of the exhibit traveled to 40 libraries around the country between September 2005 and March 2009. Each copy consisted of six colorful, freestanding, 18-foot-long photo panels. Each section examined a different period in Hamilton’s life, from his birth through his experience in the American Revolution and his career in politics, to the infamous duel with Aaron Burr that fatally wounded him, and the legacy he left in many arenas of government.

Libraries and National Park Historic Sites selected for the tour hosted the exhibition for a six-week period. Participating libraries were expected to present at least one program for library patrons and community members that featured a lecture/discussion by a scholar on exhibition themes. All showings of the exhibition were free and open to the public.

The selected sites for this traveling exhibition have been chosen. View a complete list of sites.

“Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America” was organized by The New-York Historical Society external link, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History external link, and the ALA  Public Programs Office and funded by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities external link (NEH).


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