Roots of a Nation

Experience the beginning of America through Revolutionary War-era artifacts, documents, and artwork. This collection, never before exhibited in the Midwest, will fire your imagination and bring the birth of our nation to life.

Exhibit Overview

This special exhibition of items from The Claude and Inez Harkins Freedom Collection presents an up-close and personal encounter with the beginning of the United States of America.  In partnership with the Missouri Society – Sons of the Revolution, Mid-Continent Public Library will exhibit such items as a shoe buckle presented to Washington as a gift for his first inaugural and an important 1777 engraved powder horn depicting Philadelphia Harbor during the celebration of the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

Flags feature prominently in the exhibition, including four documented 18th-century, 13 star flags, one of which belonged to Pierre L’Enfant, the architect of Washington, D.C.  Among the artworks in the display are the Jennie Brownscombe painting, “Examining the Flag”, depicting Betsy Ross presenting the completed “stars and stripes,” and several historically significant depictions of George Washington.

Exhibit Information

Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. / Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. / Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. / Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.

Midwest Genealogy Center • 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road • Independence, MO 64055 • (816) 252-7228