Are Americans living in a new gilded age? See what the numbers say.
Category Archives: An Age of Realism
How the Gilded Age’s Top 1 Percent Thrived on Corruption
Learn more about the bribery, fraud, and corruption which ran rampant during the Gilded Age
Study Finds Microplastics Inside Fruits and Vegetables
Microplastics, as its name suggests, are tiny pieces of plastic. As such, they can be found EVERYWHERE. Even fruits and vegetables are not out of microplastic’s reach.
Edith Wharton’s World
In this brief biography, guest curators Eleanor Dwight and
Viola Hopkins Winner share details of the life of Edith Wharton.
The Klondike Gold Rush
Read about the Klondike Gold Rush, which lured tens of thousands of gold-seekers into the harsh Yukon Territory, including Jack London.
Before there was coronavirus, there was yellow fever. Fear of it once gripped D.C.
At the turn of the 20th century, fear of a viral epidemic gripped the nation. Learn about yellow fever and how it spread.
About Mark Twain
Learn about Mark Twain’s life through this collection of texts, photos, illustrations, and other media.
Burger King’s plant-based Whopper gets glowing review – from a meat lobbyist
The burger wars are heating up as those in the meat industry realize the potential of lab-grown meat. Read more about why substitutes for traditionally farmed meat are gaining traction.
Why being a foodie isn’t ‘elitist’
In this opinion piece, Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation, outlines why sustainable farming is the opposite of elitist.
Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC’s ‘Other Half’
This segment discusses the work Jacob Riis did, the tactics he used to communicate his message, and the books others have written about him. View the images Riis took and choose a book excerpt to read.
5 Things You May Not Know About the Men Who Built America
Check out this list to learn some interesting facts about Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
11 Outlandish Ways Aristocrats Displayed Their Wealth During the Gilded Age
Imagine having a bathroom of gold or rerouting an entire train track and moving a town in order to avoid the sight of train smoke. These weren’t the actions of finicky royals, but instead a reality for tycoons and socialites during the Gilded Age. Read more about the outrageous ways people spent their money.
Was Jack London “the Steve Jobs of his day”?
More than a “writer of dog books,” Jack London’s other interests and contributions to society are not typically recognized. A small museum is looking to change that.
At Gilded Age “Poverty Parties,” the Rich Felt Free
At “Poverty Parties” during the Gilded Age, the rich would transform from riches to rags to “free” themselves from the constraints of society. Read more about the insensitive parties that took place at a time of significant income disparity.
Susan B. Anthony and the Long Push for Women’s Suffrage
For almost 100 years before women gained the right to vote, suffragists fought to win that right. Watch the video to learn more about Susan B. Anthony’s role at this time.
Opulence in the “Gilded Age,” 1890
In the late 19th century, some families in the United States grew fabulously rich from the country’s industrialization. Read about the “Gilded Age,” Mark Twain’s term for the excesses of wealthy people during this period.
The Poison Supper Club That Made Our Food Safe
Would you volunteer to eat a dinner you knew was poisoned? That was exactly what a group of 12 volunteers did in the early 1900s. Watch the video to learn more about what they ate and how this influenced the food we eat today.
Are We Living in the Gilded Age 2.0 ?
The Gilden Age, as its name suggests, was appealing on the surface, but many objectionable qualities laid below the exterior. Compare our current time period to the late 1800s.
Raising Money for the Hungry With Empty Bowls
Communities across the nation take part in Empty Bowls, a grassroots movement meant to fundraise for people who are food insecure. Learn more about ways this movement is bringing about meaningful change.
America’s homelessness crisis
Homelessness takes many forms and has many causes. It affects over half a million people in the United States alone, and that number is on the rise. Learn about the depth of the problem and what is being done to combat it.