Audubon: Birdman for a Fledgling Nation

Using reproductions of works of art, historic documents, and artifacts, our Teen Leader high school interns have created an exhibition that celebrates the beauty and legacy of John James Audubon’s magnificent watercolors created for his book The Birds of America.

From their exploration of primary documents, as well as classroom and Museum learning, the Teen Leaders curated an exhibition that transports visitors back to the early 19th century and shows why Audubon remains a national icon. The showcase will feature highlights from the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library collections as well as outdoor gardens planted with herbs and flowers to attract birds for visitors to enjoy. Venture out to Governors Island to enjoy this pop-up exhibition and explore the wildlife that inhabits this green space located in New York Harbor.

Audubon: Birdman for a Fledgling Nation will be open on Saturdays and Sundays all summer and is free to the public. The exhibition will offer drop-in programming designed and operated by the Teen Leaders.  The Student Historian Teen Leaders Program is a comprehensive internship and youth development program that provides students with vocational and academic training, public speaking and leadership skills, and an increased understanding of American art and history.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website