Library of Congress historian Marvin Kranz describes the Pension Building in Washington, DC, used as the site for McKinley's First Inaugural Ball.

Library of Congress historian Marvin Kranz describes Ulysses S. Grant's Second Inaugural Ball, at which the weather was so cold that the guests wore their coats while dancing and canaries brought in for decoration dropped over dead.

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, traces the history and status of African Americans in Illinois, beginning with the early years of North American exploration and continuing on to the Civil War.

John Mack Faragher of Yale University discusses the significance of religion to antebellum settlers in Illinois. He looks at the diversity of sects represented and the importance of religion in community-forming.

To view this clip, select "Religion on the Illinois Frontier" under "Religion and Culture Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum very briefly describes the role of politics as entertainment in the antebellum U.S.

To view this clip, select "Antebellum Politics as Popular Entertainment" under "Political Development Video."

Eric Foner of Columbia University describes the role of politics in antebellum U.S. culture, focusing on its role as popular culture and entertainment.

To view this clip, select "19th-Century American Political Culture" under "Political Development Video."

John Mack Faragher of Yale University considers the importance of singing as a pastime for antebellum frontier families and the view of frontier life that surviving lyrics provide. He examines particularly the views of death and mortality presented in many lyrics.

To view this clip, select "Singing on the Illinois Frontier" under "Frontier Settlement Video."

Cultural resources manager of the Anacostia Museum Portia James displays and discusses a tourist's map from post-World War I or -World War II which specified hotels, restaurants, and other businesses where African Americans could receive service free of discrimination and segregation.

To view this clip, select "Scholars," followed by "Portia James." Next, select one of the two Windows Media options.

Aircraft restorer Karl Heinzel and curator Dorothy Cochrane look at Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega aircraft, discussing its construction and the technological developments it represents. They discuss why aircraft are selected and restored for museum collections as examples of specific moments in history and technological advancement.

Historians Monica Smith and Will Eastman outline the invention and development of the electric guitar in the 20th century.