Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West

Explore how a diverse range of religious practices shaped the American West and how the American West shaped religion.

Through art, objects, panels and displays, Acts of Faith offers both a feast for the senses as well as posing thought-provoking questions about the past, present and future of religious diversity in the nation. No singular narrative can explain the history of religion in the American West. Acts of Faith embraces a multi-faceted perspective that explores the many ways that diverse religious practices and spirituality impacted peoples’ lives in the West spanning more than 200 years.​​

Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West is a traveling exhibition curated by the New-York Historical Society and developed in partnership with the Eiteljorg Museum. Eiteljorg’s former director of religion and culture initiatives, Jessica Nelson, Ph.D. wrote the companion book, Religion and the American West: Violence, Belief, and Resilience from 1800 to Today. Nelson has also curated an additional section of the exhibition.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website

Image credit:  Tom Kiefer, "Nuevos Testamentos," photograph, 25.75 x 26.8 inches, Purchased by the Eiteljorg Museum.​