Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Visit the Collection

Field Trips

A field trip to the Gilder Lehrman Collection gives students the unique opportunity to learn American history through original documents, up close with no display cases! This exciting experience creates tangible links to the past as students connect with historical materials.

First Fridays

Teachers, please join us on the first Friday of each month, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., to explore documents from key moments in American history. Learn the fascinating stories behind the documents and enjoy a glass of wine while you chat with our curators and other educators. This is a free program and space is limited to 40 people.

For more information about our First Fridays, please contact Allison Kraft, kraft@gilderlehrman.org or (646) 366-9666 ext. 138.