All upcoming American History programs

Gary J. Walters, the longest-serving chief usher in White House history, reflects on extraordinary moments from his 37 years of service, working closely with each first family from Presidents Nixon through George W. Bush. Drawing from his book White House Memories 1970–2007, he offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into major events, including Watergate and Nixon’s final day, Queen Elizabeth II’s Bicentennial visit, the first papal visit, Election Day tensions, presidential transitions, and a detailed account of the White House on September 11, 2001.

Step beyond the monuments and virtually explore one of D.C.’s most dynamic neighborhoods with Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours. Journey east of the Anacostia River through a rich visual narrative of historic homes, cultural landmarks, and powerful stories that reveal a neighborhood defined by resilience and reinvention. Trace Anacostia’s evolution from its early roots through its transformation into a center of Black culture, activism, and civic life. Along the way, encounter preserved 19th-century rowhouses, ambitious preservation efforts, and a thriving arts scene that continues to shape the neighborhood today.

The range of emotions evoked by the sound of ringing reflects a deep connection with the human spirit, one that operates on different levels in different faiths. Featuring the scholarship of ethnomusicologist Jeffrey Wayne Cupchik on Tibetan singing bowl music, reflections on the role of bells in the Hindu-American soundscape from Nikhil Mandalaparthy, and a jingle dress dancing demonstration from Jocelyn, Ryanne, and Prairie Rose White with the scholarship of Brenda Child, this free program illuminates the power of bells, chimes, and jingles to connect us to the divine—and even to heal—as we celebrate faith in harmony.

Few American cities are as deeply entwined with the birth of the nation as Boston. From village greens where militias first mustered to crowded wharves and meetinghouses alive with revolutionary debate, trace the dramatic opening chapters of the American Revolution. Guided by historian Fred Zilian on this 4-day tour, explore the landscapes, landmarks, and ideas that transformed a cluster of colonial towns into the epicenter of a struggle for independence.

Allied success on D-Day is well known, but the strategy behind Operation Overlord is less familiar. Military historian Kevin Weddle examines how the Allies developed their plan for invading Europe, highlighting the intense debates and uneasy compromises between American and British leaders. Despite clashing views and strained cooperation, they ultimately forged a unified strategy that enabled the massive June 6, 1944 cross-channel invasion—the largest and most complex amphibious operation in history.

Once the largest urban center north of Mexico, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois, stands as one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in North America. At its peak, ca. 950–1350, Cahokia was a thriving city of tens of thousands, defined by monumental earthworks, sophisticated planning, and far-reaching influence. Today it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Site interpreter Angela Cooper places Cahokia within the broader story of Indigenous North America, outlining its deep historical roots and the shared traditions of the Mississippian world.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a prodigy in vaudeville, trailblazer in desegregating Las Vegas, and global superstar who shone in Hollywood and on Broadway. Performer and educator Aaron Reeder examines how Davis’s artistry intersected with questions of race, religion, and identity in 20th-century America and the contradictions of fame that defined his career. Reeder explores Davis’ life and legacy through rare recordings, archival images, and performance excerpts.

Loyalists, Americans from all social backgrounds who opposed independence and supported Britain, lost nearly everything after the Revolution. Historian Richard Bell reexamines their experiences, challenging stereotypes that cast them as wealthy, cowardly elites. Using their experiences as examples, Bell examines why these men and women chose to remain loyal to Britain, what their experience of the Revolution was like, and how their lives changed once the patriots won the war.

Jazz crosses lines of race, class, geography, politics, religion, and genre. In this three-part lecture series, explore the origins and proliferation of jazz, from its beginnings in New Orleans, Chicago, New York, and Kansas City to its most recent appearances in Europe and Asia. Musicology professor Anna Harwell Celenza shares recordings of blues, Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, and fusion to reveal what makes jazz vital to America’s multifaceted identity as she demonstrates how jazz has never stopped changing.

Georgia O’Keeffe, a pioneering American modernist, became renowned for her bold paintings of flowers, bones, New York skyscrapers, and the New Mexico desert. Her partnership with photographer Alfred Stieglitz helped shape her artistic identity and public recognition. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar follows her path from early training to her breakthrough at Gallery 291, her Lake George period, travels to Palo Duro Canyon and Hawaii, and her final move to New Mexico, offering a critical study of her major works and legacy. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)