The Cold War

The Cold War

This exhibition examines some of the major events of the Cold War. Between 1945 and 1991, the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (also known as the USSR) battled for global dominance. 

 

The Cold War was a confrontation between two different economic and political systems: The US was a capitalist democracy, which emphasized individual liberty and privately owned farms and businesses. The USSR was communist, emphasizing the collective good and state-controlled businesses. Although there were few direct battles, the US and the USSR engaged in political maneuvering, built up arms, provided economic aid to rival factions, and supported proxy wars in other nations, dividing the world into American or Soviet spheres of influence. 

Cold War exhibition set up

  • Purchase: $1,950

  • Rent: $495

Table of Contents:

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

Size: Seven freestanding retractable panels, each 33" x 81", requiring 21 running feet for display.

Purchase Information: Your institution may purchase a copy of this exhibition for permanent use for $1,950. This includes all panels, supplemental material, and carrying bags for each panel. A travel case is available as a separate purchase.

Purchase Exhibition

Rental Information: $495 for a four-week display period

Rent Your Copy

More information can be found in the Cold War Exhibition Guide. 

Exhibition Resources

These resources have been curated to offer documents, videos, reading suggestions, and more for the Cold War exhibition. More classroom resources are available in the Cold War Educator's Guide. 

Historical Documents

Spotlights on Primary Sources

The Gilder Lehrman Collection contains many documents related to the Cold War. The following Spotlights on Primary Sources highlight selected documents and provide a brief description and summary of the context, a transcript and image of the featured document, and discussion questions. Spotlights prompt critical analysis of primary sources and a better understanding of historical context. They also serve as excellent classroom or public forum discussion activities and they can be printed as activity sheets.

Selected Essays

Guided Readings

History Now Essays

History Now, the online journal of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, offers the latest in historical scholarship to K−12 teachers, students, and general readers. Each issue is organized around a major topic in American history and features short, informative essays by leading scholars.

Additional Essays

Videos

Inside the Vault

Each month, Inside the Vault highlights unique primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. 

  • “Fight the Red Menace”: On the December 2, 2021, episode of Inside the Vault, Professor Victoria Phillips discussed selected trading cards from the Fight the Red Menace: Children’s Crusade against Communism series. In 1951, the Bowman Bubblegum Company issued forty-eight trading cards as part of a propaganda initiative to teach American children about the threatened spread of communism. Each card features a dramatic, colorful depiction of American military heroes and victories or Communist villains and their atrocities. The text on the reverse uses strong language to focus on the threat posed by Communism, building on fears of infiltration at home and military attacks from abroad.
  • “Harry Truman and the Rise of ‘Pathological Liar’ Joseph McCarthy”: On December 7, 2023, our curators were joined by Dr. Barbara Perry of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center to discuss Harry Truman and McCarthyism. In February 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy accused more than 200 staff at the Department of State of being members of the Communist Party. How did President Harry Truman respond to the attack on his administration? 

 Lectures and Webinars

Books

Books for Further Reading

Each of the following books has been featured in an episode of the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s Book Breaks program.

Online Courses

Gilder Lehrman Online Courses 

  • The Global Cold War (Jeremi Suri, University of Texas at Austin): This course examines the origins, strategy, and consequences of the Cold War from a global perspective.
  • The 1960s in Historical Perspective (Michael Flamm, Ohio Wesleyan University; Michael Kazin, Georgetown University): This course explores the myths and memories that constitute our perceptions of the 1960s.
  • The Vietnam War (Fredrik Logevall, Harvard University): This course covers the long struggle for Vietnam waged between 1940 and 1975, with particular attention to the period of direct American involvement

Click here to explore the full catalog of Self-Paced Courses and History U courses.

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

Setup Guide & FAQ

If you need more information, please fill out this traveling exhibitions inquiry form. We strive to respond to inquiries within one business day. 

Setup Guide

General Information

What are the costs?
• To Rent: $495/four weeks for most exhibitions; $995/four weeks for Freedom: A History of the United States
• To Buy: Alexander Hamilton, Frederick Douglass, and World War I are available for $1,875. Becoming the US, Cold War, Declaration 1776, Immigration, Who Can Vote, and World War II are available for $1,950. Freedom: A History of US is available for $2,950. A wheeled travel case is available as a separate purchase for $500.

Do I need to pay sales tax?
State sales tax laws vary. You may be liable for sales taxes. The Gilder Lehrman Institute will contact you about your potential sales tax obligations.

How can I pay?
We can accept credit cards, checks, or purchase orders, but we cannot currently accept bank transfers.

Do you offer any discounts or grants?
Unfortunately, we cannot offer any discounts or grants at this time. We recommend Donors Choose for schools needing financial assistance to rent or purchase an exhibition.

How do you ship the exhibitions?
Exhibitions are shipped in wheeled cases measuring 15 x 15 x 40 inches and weighing approximately 90 pounds. FedEx handles all shipping. Once your exhibition has shipped, you will receive a tracking number.

How do I set up the exhibition?
We include detailed setup instructions with each rental. Please note that different exhibitions have slightly different setup instructions, so make sure you refer to the correct type of exhibition.

What happens if something breaks after I receive my exhibition?
We are always here to help you troubleshoot or order new parts. The venue will bear the costs of replacement parts due to venue error or excessive wear and tear.

Purchase

What materials are included in my exhibition purchase?
With your purchase, we order a brand new exhibition to send you. Each panel comes in its own zipped sleeve for storage and transport. You will also receive all the supplementary materials you would receive with a rental, including the Exhibition Guide and setup instructions.

What are the dimensions of the exhibition?
Seven freestanding retractable panels, each 33" x 81", requiring a minimum of 15–18 running feet for display.

Does my purchased exhibition come with the travel/storage case?
The travel/storage case is a separate purchase. You can add a case for your exhibition for an additional $500 on the same menu where you bought the exhibition. All exhibitions can fit into one case except Freedom: A History of the US, which needs two.

Is shipping included in the purchase price?
Yes!

Can I purchase a “used” exhibition instead of a new one for a lower price?
Unfortunately, this is not currently an option, as all of our existing exhibitions are part of our rental stock. If your school needs financial assistance to purchase an exhibition, we recommend checking out Donors Choose.

How long will it take to receive my exhibition?
Once we receive payment, please allow 2 weeks to print and ship your new exhibition. Exhibition orders are not sent for printing until we receive payment in full.

Rental

How long is the rental period?
4 weeks. Please let us know if you would like a longer booking period, and we will do our best to accommodate you! However, we cannot offer discounts for shortened booking periods.

How far in advance should I book my rental?
It is best to book 2–3 months before your desired rental date, but we can accept bookings up to a year in advance. Please note that we do not ship exhibitions until they have been paid in full, so keep this in mind when booking your exhibition.

What is included in my rental fee?
The rental cost is a flat fee that covers shipping, the exhibition, and supplemental materials. Extra charges will only occur if a venue damages an exhibition.

Can I bring the exhibition to multiple venues during my rental period?
Exhibitions are limited to the location booked in the contract. While you’re free to move the exhibition to different buildings or rooms within your contracted location, we do not allow any circulation of the exhibition otherwise. If you need to feature an exhibition at various locations, we recommend purchasing it rather than renting it.

Can I reschedule my rental?
If your new rental dates are available, we will happily reschedule your rental, provided the exhibition has not already shipped to you.

How do I ship the exhibition back to you?
We’ll send you a FedEx label up to 10 days before the end of your display period and set up a pickup appointment for your exhibition return. Please remove any labels from the case before attaching the new one, and let our team know if there are any special instructions for FedEx.