President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Page Act into law in 1875. This law prohibited Chinese women from immigrating to the United States. It was the first federal immigration restriction to be enacted into law following the Civil War. In this program, Historian and Curator Nick Sacco will discuss the history of Chinese immigration to the United States, debates over immigration during Grant's presidency, and Grant's own evolution in his thinking towards Chinese people during his world tour. 

The 2024 outdoor evening concert series will feature Americana music through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. To begin the season, guitarist Patrick Rafferty will perform a program of early American guitar music. Soprano Arianna Aerie will join him for a set of 19^th century American classics. Along with a wide range of musical styles, the program will also feature a variety of early guitars and the music that was written for them.