A majestic American eagle clutches two 32-star flags and carries a pennant in its beak declaring "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Overhead, sun rays and a laurel sprig shine down, while beneath, another laurel sprig sits over a shield celebrating the "Anniversary of the Nation's...
The History Department at the New York State Museum cares for and interprets over 4 million artifacts, researches the state’s history, and disseminates this history through books, articles, exhibitions, public programs, and social media. The History Department works with scholars, municipal historians, curators, archivists, librarians, and members of the public around the state to interpret the past and collect for the future.
The New York State Museum History Collections are vast – from an 18th century colonial Dutch armchair to a Norden bombsite from WWII to a painting by Romare Bearden. The artifacts in our collection tell the stories of the people of New York State. To better manage these collections, they are divided into the categories of social history, political history, cultural history, and economic history.
Office of State History Outreach Website
Provides resources and news for historians throughout New York State