New-York Historical Society

September 22, 2023 - February 25, 2024

VIRTUAL TOUR

Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West

The United States pushed westward in the 1800s. Many tales are told about this decisive era, but you may not have heard the stories ahead. They concern religion.  

What part did religion play in this century of expansion and conquest? How was the promise of religious liberty tested as westward expansion made the nation more diverse?  

Acts of Faith explores these questions through the experiences of the continent’s many peoples. Their stories shed light on how religion became a vital and contested part of American life.  

ENTER

Lead support for Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West  is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Major support is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Research for this exhibition was supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

Exhibitions at New-York Historical are made possible by Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang, the Saunders Trust for American History, the Seymour Neuman Endowed Fund, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. WNET is the media sponsor.