Merced County Courthouse Museum will open a Smithsonian traveling exhibit entitled, “The Way We Worked,” on Thursday, May 1 at 5:00 p.m. Adapted from an original exhibition developed by the National Archives and Records Administration, “The Way We Worked” explores how work has become a central element in American culture. It traces the many changes that have affected the workforce and work environments over the past 150 years, including the growth of manufacturing and increasing use of technology.

The exhibition draws from the Archives’ rich collections, including historical photographs, archival accounts of workers, film, audio and interactive, to tell the compelling story of how work impacts our individual lives and the historical and cultural fabric of our communities.

“We are very pleased to be able to bring ‘The Way We Worked’ to Merced,” said Sarah Lim, Courthouse Museum Director. “It allows our community the opportunity to explore this fascinating aspect of our labor history while celebrating hard-working Americans’ stories of hope, strength, dedication, unity, and bravery.”

At the exhibit opening reception on May 1, UC Merced labor history professor Mario Sifuentez will give a presentation on “The Making of the Working Class” at 6 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, please contact the Courthouse Museum at 723-2401.