ALBANY, N.Y. — As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the New York State Museum is inviting visitors to explore the people, events and movements that helped shape both New York and the country through its newest exhibition.

Related: New dinosaur exhibit brings prehistoric adventure to New York State Museum

The museum’s “Revolutionary New York” exhibit is now open, offering a look at more than 250 years of history through the stories of everyday New Yorkers whose actions helped define the nation.

The exhibit spans centuries of history, beginning with the American Revolution and continuing through major milestones including the women’s suffrage movement, the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for LGBTQ rights. Museum leaders say the goal is to show how New Yorkers from all walks of life have influenced the country’s past and continue to shape its future.

More than 200 artifacts are featured throughout the exhibit, helping bring those stories to life. Among the most notable is a Revolutionary War-era gunboat discovered beneath the World Trade Center site during the post-9/11 rebuilding effort.

Jennifer Saunders, director of the New York State Museum, said visitors should leave with the understanding that history is made by ordinary people.

“I think what I’d like folks to take away from the exhibit is that everyday New Yorkers make history,” Saunders said. “The people who fought in the war were everyday New Yorkers. The folks who have fought for freedoms ever since the Declaration of Independence have been everyday New Yorkers. It’s based on the choices and actions that we take that we make history.”

Museum officials say the exhibit is about more than reflecting on the past. They hope visitors will recognize the impact individuals can have on their communities and the nation through their own actions.

The “Revolutionary New York” exhibit is now open at the New York State Museum and is expected to remain on display for at least the next three years.

Related: Fort Ticonderoga brings America’s revolutionary story to life ahead of America 250

For Related Stories: WNYT  New York State Museum  New York  Museum  Jennifer Saunders  CRL  Capital Region Lifestyle  Capital Region  Benny Nezaj  America 250