Magazines and catalogs have encouraged a desire for fashion since the late 19th century. Serving as style guides, they spread news of trends to those eager to keep up with the latest looks. Though high fashion might be out of reach for some, looking stylish is not.

The Jackson Home, originally located in Selma, Alabama, provided refuge and solace for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others who worked, collaborated, strategized, and planned the Selma-to-Montgomery marches of 1965. The marches led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965, enshrining voting equality for all Americans as law.

There are myriad ways that we honor and preserve the memory of those we hold dear. Below is just a small sampling that shows how Americans have mourned and memorialized, from the colonial era until today.

In the early 19th century, Americans looked to canals for transportation. Artificial waterways carried people and goods over long distances with minimal power, extending water-borne commerce from seaports to inland communities. But canals were expensive to build and maintain, and floods, droughts and freezing weather interfered with operations. Railroads offered a better alternative and brought an end to America's canal era.

Ford Motor Company introduced Mercury for 1939. The mid-price make fit neatly between the economical Ford and the extravagant Lincoln, and it broadened the company's product range to better compete with General Motors and Chrysler. In the decades that followed, Mercury offered distinctive sedans, station wagons, muscle cars, and minivans. But the 21st century brought slowing sales and shifting priorities, and Mercury was discontinued in 2011.

Between 1870 and 1930, the circus was one of the most popular forms of American popular entertainment. Showmen like Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum, James Bailey and the Ringling brothers traveled across the United States and the world. They brought death-defying stunts, exotic animals, and fun to audiences everywhere. This collection of circus posters highlights the many facets of the Golden Age of the circus.

In the late 1800s, cyclists faced many challenges. Poor road conditions made travel difficult, and even on passable roads, cyclists found themselves unwanted. Wagon and carriage drivers thought bicycles and bicyclists frightened their horses, while others believed cyclists posed a danger to pedestrians. In 1880, several cycling clubs formed the League of American Wheelmen to advocate for bicyclists' rights.

In the 19th century, bicycles introduced Americans to the power of personal transportation. Early two-wheel vehicles set the pattern. High-wheelers carried riders faster and farther. Chain-driven safety bikes fueled a late-century bicycle boom. When that boom went bust, children kept riding until adults rediscovered biking's benefits in the late 20th century. This set features highlights from The Henry Ford's collection of bicycles.