WASHINGTON – The White House unveiled the “Road to Liberty: The Men, Women, and Moments That Forged the United States” exhibit, a gift from PragerU, at an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) on Tuesday, featuring major speakers including Second Lady Usha Vance and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
PragerU’s exhibit features portraits throughout the halls of the EEOB and provides an interactive experience that commemorates the men, women, and moments that defined the American Revolution as the nation approaches its 250th birthday.
The John Adams portrait at the “Road to Liberty” exhibit that PragerU gifted to the White House. (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
Scanning a QR code fixed on a founding father’s portrait redirects to the PragerU website, where the portrait comes to life and gives a history lesson on that particular figure. For instance, the video for President John Adams can be found at this link, and videos of the other founding fathers are available at this page.
PragerU CEO Marissa Streit told Breitbart News in an exclusive statement that PragerU is “honored to contribute” to the 250th celebration of America’s independence.
PragerU CEO Marissa Streit speaks at the unveiling ceremony for the Road to Liberty Exhibit at the White House. (PragerU)
“How lucky we are to have an administration with vision, love of country, and a culture of excellence—especially as America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday. I have no doubt this milestone will be a moment of pride for every American, and we at PragerU are honored to contribute in any way we can,” she said.
Breitbart News was on hand for the unveiling ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room in the EEOB on Tuesday afternoon before touring the portraits in the halls of the building. To kick off the event, children and adults in attendance pledged allegiance to the United States before country artist Alexis Wilkins sang the National Anthem.
The Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
“Those in attendance today who have dedicated their lives to patriotic education know that there is a golden thread running through the history of Western Civilization we must teach our students to recognize and to follow,” McMahon said in her remarks.
“No matter how complicated the labyrinth of modern politics becomes, that thread will lead us through. We must cherish the principles that define America. We must share with our founders their love of freedom,” she added.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks in the Indian Treaty Room. (PragerU)
McMahon introduced Vance at the end of her remarks and highlighted the second lady’s Summer Reading Challenge to elementary and middle school students.
Vance encouraged the children in attendance to participate in the challenge and spoke glowingly of the exhibit.
“When we walk through these halls or view the many online exhibits that I enjoyed earlier today, we’re reminded that history is not static. It’s alive. It challenges us, teaches us, and calls us to reflect on who we are and who we strive to become as a country,” she said.
Second Lady Usha Vance after delivering remarks at the unveiling of the “Road to Liberty” exhibit. (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
After Vance spoke, Streit took the podium and engaged the children in PragerU’s 4th of July Declaration Ceremony for children, which aims to bring the reasons for the holiday into focus for young people. At the end of the exercise, which teaches children the concepts of “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “E Pluribus Unum,” the children signed a mock Declaration of Independence, as Wilkins sang “God Bless America.”
The exhibit spans the halls of the EEOB, paying homage to major moments in the Revolution, such as the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere’s midnight ride, and Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord exhibit pays homage to where the first battle of the American Revolution took place between the patriots and the British in Massachusetts. (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
This exhibit focuses on Paul Revere’s midnight ride to alert patriots in Lexington, Massachusetts, that the British were on their way from Boston. (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
Breitbart News caught a look at some of the 56 Founding Fathers’ portrait exhibits as well, including John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
The John Hancock portrait at the “Road to Liberty” exhibit that PragerU gifted to the White House. (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
The exhibit also features exhibits of the second and fourth First Ladies, Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison, and other women critical to the revolution.
The exhibits for Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison. (Nick Gilbertson/Breitbart News)
The unveiling comes just weeks before America’s 250th birthday on July 4.
