Our treasures can also remind us that there were diverse peoples in the State throughout history. The Native American objects remind us of this. These include a covered basket , a beaded bag and hat, and a woven cradle. These objects are not from the pre-contact period. They remind us that Native Americans have always been living in Vermont and still retain a rich culture.
History can teach many different kinds of lessons.
That the Ku Klux Klan was an active force in Vermont with a membership numbering in the thousands is often a surprise to people. The Klan was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In a state where there are few African Americans or Jews, the KKK's target became immigrant nationalities, many of whom were Roman Catholics. Members marched down city streets and rallied in great throngs in fields and on fairgrounds. Actions within the Klan itself proved to be its undoing.