A Nation Comes of Age - 1865 to Early 1900s Period

In the years after the Civil War, the nation entered a period of rapid growth and change. Cities swelled with new immigrants drawn to expanding industries, while the completion of the transcontinental railroad opened the West to trade and settlement. Manufactured toys became widely available, though along the frontier, children—like their elders—often relied on their own resourcefulness. Traditions of play endured, from the widespread popularity of rolling hoops—produced in great numbers in places like Vermont—to the sounds of fifes and drums carried into civilian life by returning soldiers, heard again in patriotic parades and community gatherings.

 

We do not interpret Native American historyin this period. We respect that the histories and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples are best shared by the Nations and communities to whom they belong, and we encourage visitors to seek out those voices and resources directly.

 

More to Explore
National Archives - The Transcontinental Railroad
Library of Congress Guides: The Transcontinental Railroad
National Park Service - Ellis Island
National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)