{"product_id":"the-promise-of-a-nation-commemorating-250-years-of-patriotism-resilience-and-aspirations-from-the-national-collection-9781588348098","title":"The Promise of a Nation: Commemorating 250 Years of Patriotism, Resilience, and Aspirations from the National Collection","description":"\u003cb\u003eCelebrate 250 years of American history--and witness the nation's decade-by-decade evolution--in this gorgeously illustrated volume featuring more than 600 Smithsonian objects.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe 250th anniversary of the United States marks a major milestone, representing two-and-a-half centuries of upholding democracy, building communities, defining freedom, and working to become a more perfect union. In \u003ci\u003eThe Promise of Our Nation, \u003c\/i\u003eSmithsonian curators share aspirational stories that have shaped the nation in chapters representing each decade from the 1770s to the 2020s. Smithsonian objects help bring each decade to life and personalize the history, from George Washington's sword (1770s) to an African American volunteer fire company badge (1860s) to Marian Anderson's attire worn at her Lincoln Memorial concert (1930s) to Space Shuttle \u003ci\u003eDiscovery \u003c\/i\u003e(1990s). \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEach chapter begins with a timeline of major events and census data, followed by an essay that considers American history through a meaningful and often unexpected lens. Gorgeous full spreads feature spotlight objects that tell decade-specific stories and offer important insight into each decade and the American story. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe nation's semiquincentennial is an opportunity to reflect on the past with care and curiousity. The scope of American history is vast, but \u003ci\u003eThe Promise of Our Nation \u003c\/i\u003edistills it into compelling narratives that speak to the strength and aspirations of the American people and inspire optimism for what comes next.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Smithsonian Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/14\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781588348098\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 348\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs","brand":"Smithsonian Institution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52259624386741,"sku":"9781588348098","price":34.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_63323f32-6a07-47e0-836d-72c0d3587ac4.jpg?v=1771342527","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-promise-of-a-nation-commemorating-250-years-of-patriotism-resilience-and-aspirations-from-the-national-collection-9781588348098","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}