Amber Waves: Transforming Grain, Transforming America in the 19th and 20th Centuries
December 13, 2019 - July 2021 (extended because of COVID-19)
Grains such as wheat, corn, barley, oats, rice and others have been critical in American history. This exhibit focuses on the advancements in grain production and how they impacted American society during the 19th and 20th centuries. Several areas that chronicle the symbiotic relationship between grain and the American culture were technology, labor, alcohol, economy, politics, science, and ritual. The displayed artifacts, images, and multimedia illustrate these changes in the field, kitchen, and across industry.
This CIA student-researched exhibit was curated by Professor Beth Forrest’s Food History class as part of the Applied Food Studies program. Special thanks to Archivist Nicole Semenchuk, Donald and Barbara Tober, and all of the patrons that made this exhibit possible.
