Join us this summer for special FREE showings of historical movies straight from the Smithsonian Channel in honor of America's 250th. Enjoy a different movie everyday of the week.
Where: The Journey Theater in the William Woodward Mississippi River Center
When: 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM daily
MONDAY A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is known by all, treasured for its powerful melody and stirring lyrics. And yet, only about 40% of U.S. citizens know all the words. And even fewer know their meaning. Join us as we travel back to 1814, when Washington D.C. was under British attack during the “Second War of Independence,” and the very bricks and mortar of American democracy were reduced to smoking rubble. We examine the battle that inspired witness Francis Scott Key to immortalize its final moments, then reveal how his poem transformed into an anthem.
Tuesday America in Color: Titans of Industry
America is still a rural nation in 1910. Most homes don’t have electricity, and less than one percent of the population owns a car. But that changes with the rise of Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison, who help foster the economic and technological booms of the early 20th century. Through colorized archival footage and personal home movies, explore the business relationships that transformed America and glimpse into powerful friendships that lasted a lifetime.
Wednesday America in Color: Small Town Life
At the turn of the 20th century, two-thirds of Americans live in small towns, but by the 1960s, only a third remain. Some are lured to cities by the promise of opportunity and money, while others move there to escape racism and intolerance. Through it all, the myth of these quaint, harmonious communities continues to burn powerfully in the minds of many. This is the story of small town America, from soap box derbies and Will Rogers’ charm to postwar poverty and the Great Migration, presented in color.
Thursday Epic Yellowstone: Down the River Wild
Yellowstone River is the longest undammed river in the contiguous 48 states, flowing with a wildness that is both violent and vital to the creatures that are drawn to its banks. From Yellowstone Lake, North America’s largest high-elevation body of water, to the Missouri River, follow its nearly 700-mile journey over falls and through canyons into America’s heartland. See how Yellowstone’s bison, otters, coyotes, and thrill-seekers adapt to—and thrive in—these wild, untamed waters.
Friday She The People: Votes For Women
Today, it seems incredible that just a century ago, American women had no voice in democracy. Just as remarkable is that it took over 70 years of campaigns, marches, hunger strikes, and arrests to pass the constitutional amendment guaranteeing them the right to vote. Witness the decades-long fight for suffrage by heroic women who fought to claim their rights as citizens, told through rarely seen footage, expert opinions, and dozens of historic objects from the Smithsonian Institution. The legacy of their quest continues to shape our democracy.
Saturday & Sunday America in Color: Coming to America
For many immigrants, their first sight of the U.S. is the Statue of Liberty. The iconic structure promises sanctuary, hope, and a fresh start, but they soon learn that America’s arms are not always open. Colorized rare home movies and archival footage reveal the amazing stories of ordinary people who share the same dream. From Caribbean immigrants who settled in Harlem to Italian “radicals” shipped back home to celebrities such as Albert Einstein, see how America changed as immigrants brought new cultures from the margins to the mainstream.
All films courtesy of:
