READING, PA.- The Reading Public Museum invites guests to the new exhibition, Spirits of the Passage: The Story of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, exploring the transatlantic slave trade through a display of nearly 150 historical objects, many salvaged from sunken ships. This exhibition runs from Saturday, January 24, through Sunday, May 3, 2015 in the 2nd floor Temporary Galleries.

This exhibition, sponsored locally by The Historic Abraham Lincoln Hotel, was developed in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and the turning point it represented for thousands of enslaved people at a pivotal point in the American Civil War. It’s the first exhibit of its kind to examine the entire history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade from the 16th through 19th centuries, while also presenting the most up-to-date research and discoveries to the public. These include the latest marine archaeological discoveries from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, new research on key African societies and an exploration of the slave trade’s modern day legacies.

Spirits of the Passage allows guests to see authentic artifacts from the wreck of an actual slave ship, such as restraints, tools, plates and trade goods, as well as dozens of other objects from West African societies that show the uniqueness of the individual cultures they represent. These include religious objects, bronze- and beadwork, pottery and jewelry. These compelling artifacts create a provocative picture of this tragic era, while also engendering a sense of pride in the legacy of strength these enslaved people left behind.

John Graydon Smith, Reading Public Museum Director and CEO said, “This is a powerful exhibition that should be seen by families, school and church groups, and people of all ages. Everyone needs to understand America’s heritage of the largest forced migration in history and the stories of those who lived through it.”

Spirits of the Passage was produced in partnership by Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida and the Frazier Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.