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Voices and Votes: Democracy in America: Exhibit

For Smithsonian exhibition summer 2022

The Smithsonian Exhibit

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide, and is based on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History exhibition American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.

"As a citizen, you need to know how to be a part of it, how to express your self and not just by voting" 
Sandra Day O'Conner, 2021

This summer Atlantic Cape Community College will be hosting the Smithsonian Institute’s traveling exhibit Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.  The exhibit--which is based on an exhibition by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.—tells the story of American democracy from its seedling stages during the American Revolution era to its developing stages in the Jackson and Civil War years to its full bloom in the 20th and 21st centuries. Disenfranchised farmers, people breaking from the shackles of slavery, silenced wives and mothers, teenagers conscripted into war, and numerous other groups have all demanded a voice in the nation’s policies and direction. Through six-foot, fully illustrated storyboards; interactive digital technology; and dozens of unique artifacts from the Smithsonian collections, visitors to the exhibit will hear the voices of Americans who demanded or derided increasing democracy in the U.S. and learn how a nation styled as a republic gradually became more democratic.

For additional details see Voices and Votes: Democracy in America at Atlantic Cape Community College

The exhibit opens to the general public July 11th and runs through August 13th at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Mays Landing campus (G building/Student Center).  The exhibit will be open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 7pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Admission is free.

  This is a unique opportunity to experience a Smithsonian exhibit locally in Atlantic County!

View campus map      Take a campus virtual tour

The Atlantic Cape Art Gallery is hosting an exhibit Voting and Votes In America in conjunction with the Smithsonian exhibit

Smithsonian logo         

Voices and Votes:  Democracy in America was developed by the National Museum of American History.  The exhibition was adapted for travel by Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils across the country.  Support of Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.


Democracy Conversation Project

The  Research Guide Youth, Power and Policy, part of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities program, the Democracy Conversation Project contains materials that cover the history of youth activism, current, and proposed activism for social justice, voter rights, immigration and youth participation in Democracy.