Building the Erie Canal

In this video segment adapted from American Experience, learn about the construction of the Erie Canal, the biggest public works project of its time.

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Building the Erie Canal

In this lesson designed to enhance literacy skills, students look at how the construction of the Erie Canal brought about major changes within United States, particularly in New York City, upstate New York, and the Midwest.

Historical Archeology at Ashland: Artifacts in a Privy

During archaeological survey at Ashland, the estate of politician, farmer, and horse breeder Henry Clay in Lexington, Kentucky, historic archaeologists discovered an old privy used from 1860 to the 1920s. Filled with thousands of artifacts, it was remarkable for the number and variety of ceramic vessels it produced: more than 900 in all.

Mission US: Flight to Freedom

Students play this interactive adventure game and assume the role of Lucy. As the game opens, Lucy is a young slave on the King family’s plantation outside of Lexington.

Ripley Ohio - Freedom's Landing

In this video from ThinkTV Dayton, travel to Ripley, Ohio, on the Ohio River to learn about one of the early stops on the Underground Railroad, a slave's route to freedom.

Transcontinental Railroad Recruits Chinese Laborers

This video segment adapted from American Experience examines the participation of Chinese laborers in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad during the 1860s.

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Westward Expansion, 1860–1890

This interactive map produced for Teachers' Domain tracks trends in the growth of population, transportation networks and agriculture in the United States in the 30-year period between 1860 and 1890.