History

Throughout the nation’s history, the Empire State has been a significant force in national events-politically, socially, economically, industrially, and militarily. Six men from New York State have been elected President of the United States and countless others played critical roles as national and world leaders. Numerous reform movements including abolition, temperance, and women’s suffrage found support within the state. As one of the wealthiest and most populist states in the nation, New York has contributed the men, money, and materiel necessary for the national defense. The state’s strategic location has made it a target of military action from the colonial wars along the frontier in the 17th and 18th centuries to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center in New York City. The political collections on the New York State Museum encompass this broad spectrum of topics and materials and preserve the artifacts for generations to come.