Smithsonian Exhibition at the Union Hotel

Sackets Harbor has the honor of hosting a traveling Smithsonian exhibition entitled Voices and Votes: Democracy in America from Saturday, May 18, through Saturday, June 29, at the (former) Union Hotel, at 401 West Main Street.

The free exhibition is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 3 pm, and on Saturdays, from 10 am to 4 pm. Throughout its six weeks in Sackets Harbor, Voices and Votes will feature a number of additional programming, from weekly discussion groups and one-off presentations to live music performances and storytelling events.

When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence, they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Americans: who has the right to vote, what are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, and whose voices will be heard? Voices and Votes: Democracy in America will be a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories.

Voices and Votes is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This Museum on Main Street (MoMS) adaptation will have many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia programs with short games and additional footage, photos, and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is presented by the Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street in cooperation with the Museum Association of New York (MANY), the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, and Hay Memorial Library.

For more information on the exhibition, please contact the Sackets Harbor Battlefield by phone at 315-646-3634 or visit their website.