Local DAR Chapter Hosts American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit at The Flint Hills Discovery Center

The Polly Ogden Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution is excited to announce the opening of the American Revolution Experience at the Flint Hills Discovery Center on Tuesday, July 2. The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology, unique artifacts, and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation. Created through a collaboration between the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the exhibit is also made possible by generous matching funds from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program battlefield interpretation grants. The exhibit will run through Tuesday, July 9 at the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan during normal operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. There is no cost to view the American Revolution Experience in the atrium. Guests wishing to explore beyond the atrium will need to purchase a daily admission. “We are honored to be hosting this exhibit during the week of our July 4 Independence Day celebrations,” said Stephen Bridenstine, FHDC Interim Director, “I would encourage everyone in the community to come see this free exhibit firsthand, to better understand the fascinating figures who played a role in establishing this nation.” The traveling exhibit includes 12 panels highlighting thematic connections between profiled individuals and three interactive kiosks that connect to the full digital biographies, provide documentary context on the Revolutionary War, and offer information on how to visit the places tied to these individuals today. Both online and on-site, the American Revolution Experience features custom illustrations by South Carolina-based artist Dale Watson. The exhibit also draws from documents and objects in DAR’s collection and the Trust’s industry-leading digital interpretation resources. The American Revolution Experience invites visitors to consider the choice faced by members of the revolutionary generation as tensions mounted in the 1770s: Would these ordinary citizens risk their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of liberty? Or would they remain loyal subjects of the British crown, coming into conflict with neighbors and family? The exhibit surfaces diverse viewpoints and experiences, touching on the journeys — both literal and figurative — of Patriots and Loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations, and even international allies. Rather than focusing only on generals and famous statesmen, it introduces audiences to drummer boys, military mapmakers, and other ordinary people who were impacted by global events. The Flint Hills Discovery Center is among the scores of libraries, historical societies, and museums that will host the American Revolution Experience through 2025. Learn more about the American Revolution Experience traveling exhibit at https://www.battlefields.org/american-revolution-experience-traveling-exhibit-tour.

Sign up for the KCLY Digital Newspaper, The Regional