By Douglas V. Gibbs
Six Freedom Trucks remain in motion, traveling America from sea to shining sea. The one I visited was in Pendleton, Oregon during the Round-Up event. I was stunned that at 9:30 am, a half hour after the truck’s access opened for the day, we were told we were the first ones to visit. The whole time my wife and I were the only people inside the traveling museum, exploring its interior for more than an hour. The two young people outside the truck who served as the guardians of the entrance were fantastic to talk to, and the interior of the truck was amazing. In fact, it was more than I expected. The good news is that if you can’t catch a truck in your area, the website for it has all of the features available online, as well.
When you walk in, you are greeted by George Washington. His painting comes alive and delivers a message about America. As you look around the walls are adorned with history about tensions escalating in the early colonies, leading to the Declaration of Independence. There is a George vs. George display (King George vs. George Washington) as well as various pictorials and information panels regarding events and persons from the early years of our American Republic. The displays go over everything from the Royal Proclamation of Rebellion and Sedition issued by The Crown to George Washington’s spectacles.
America’s Christian heritage is also discussed, and while the Geneva Bible is not mentioned (that I saw), which came over with the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620, the Aitken Bible is (The Bible of the Revolution). It was printed after the ability to purchase Bibles from Britain was cut off by the British government.
An interactive map of the original colonies allows the visitor to learn about each of the colonies with a simple touch on the screen. Early colonies like Jamestown are also explored on displays, along with the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay.
A large focus on the Revolutionary Period and the Constitution fills the heart of the traveling museum. Displays discuss the battle among delegates in Philadelphia over whether or not to declare independence, Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense,” and there is even an interactive quiz of ten questions from the citizenship exam (which both my wife and I scored 100% on, though I admit my wife needed clues from me for two of her questions).
America’s expansion westward dominates one of the interactive displays, discussing:
- The Northwest Ordinance
- Louisiana Purchase
- Lewis and Clark Expedition
- The Oregon Trail
- Mexican-American War
- The Oregon Territory
- The California Gold Rush
- The Santa Fe Trail
- The Transcontinental Railroad
- The Additions of Hawaii and Alaska
Other displays go into detail about how each colony became a state, what was going on in other parts of the world during that time, and key events during the Revolutionary War.
Washington’s Spies dominated one section, with even details about the route of the Culper Spy Ring. One can even attempt to decipher the secret code they used. As each of the Washington’s Spies displays reveal, espionage played a critical role in winning the American Revolution.
Particular care inside the Freedom Trucks is also paid to the making of the Declaration of Independence. The Committee of Five is discussed, the debate over the Declaration and the vote for independence (a fantastic presentation of that very debate is available at no cost at the replica of Independence Hall in Buena Park’s Knott’s Berry Farm in California, too – learn about Walter Knotts’ journey to build it HERE), and there is even a full display inside the Freedom Truck of the Declaration of Independence that allows you to sign your own name to the iconic Founding Document. A number of storyboards and interactive displays are dedicated to that blessed event in 1776, with one display going over three important principles from the Declaration: Equality, Liberty and Consent of the Governed.
The Revolutionary War comes alive with storyboards and interactive displays that takes you through the entire war, battle by battle if you so desire. Letters from the Revolution, word by word, are provided on one display (often from names you’ve never heard of before), and after all of the battles and information from the Revolutionary War are provided, the final storyboard titled “Victory on the Battlefield” goes over Yorktown, and the Treaty of Paris.
The depiction of the sun on the top of George Washington’s chair during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 comes alive with the story about Benjamin Franklin’s allegorical comments regarding if America is a rising sun, or a setting one – as he observed that chair.
RELATED: THE RISING SUN – A TALE OF CONSTITUTION DAY
The words of the Constitution then come alive on the displays, from “We the People,” to displays explaining the importance of our Natural Rights to the Founding Fathers in their endeavors. Various personages are explored during the Revolutionary Period and the Constitutional Convention period, with detailed explanations regarding more than the Founding Fathers. Women of the Revolutionary Period, Black Patriots, Clergymen, and even members of the Native Population as they were related to our early founding are all explored in the displays. The section of the traveling museum dedicated to the Constitution also provides a full display of the document itself, the United States Constitution. I did notice there was no section discussing Elizabeth Powel, probably the most important woman during that period – or at least that is my opinion.
The Federalist Papers are discussed, the ratification process and the formation and approval of the Bill of Rights, and each of the first seven articles with individual examinations. The Promise of Liberty and our Natural Rights are discussed at length, as is the institution of slavery and its role, impact and ultimately emancipation after the War Between the States.
Overall, the experience inside the Freedom Truck was wonderful – and as I said, the displays are available also online (links above and HERE hopefully give you full access to those displays and videos).
After exiting the truck, my wife and I got pictures outside in front of the truck and told the pair of young people sitting at the nearby table that it was definitely more than we expected. Then again, considering it came from President Trump, we shouldn’t have been so surprised.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
