REDLANDS — To celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Arrowhead Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and A.K. Smiley Public Library will present a special national traveling exhibit, the “American Revolution Experience,” opening Aug. 28 in the library’s Assembly Room at 125 W. Vine St.
The pop-up exhibition features display panels and interactive digital kiosks using storytelling, illustration, artifacts and firsthand accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the nation's founding.
Created through a collaboration between the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the exhibit is made possible through matching funds from the National Park Service.
The exhibit runs through Sept. 15. Admission is free and open to all ages.
Viewing hours are:
Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Labor Day closure: Closed Sunday, Sept. 6, and Monday, Sept. 7.
The traveling exhibit features 12 panels highlighting thematic connections among individuals from the Revolutionary era. Three interactive kiosks provide access to digital biographies, historical context on the Revolutionary War and information about visiting related historical sites today.
The “American Revolution Experience” invites visitors to consider the choices faced by members of the Revolutionary generation as tensions mounted during the 1770s—whether ordinary citizens would risk their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of liberty or remain loyal subjects of the British Crown.
The exhibit presents diverse viewpoints and experiences, highlighting the journeys of Patriots and Loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations, and international allies. Rather than focusing solely on generals and famous statesmen, it introduces visitors to drummer boys, military mapmakers and other ordinary people living through world-changing events.
For more information, contact A.K. Smiley Public Library Director Don McCue by email at dmccue@akspl.org or call 909-798-7565.