The late 1800s was a period of weak Presidents, political machines and corruption. The public reaction was to increase governmental powers and to set up the reforms of the Progressive Era in the early 1900s.

A few decades after the Civil War, the United States emerged to become the Industrial giant of the 1900s. How did the U.S. make so many changes so fast? Who were the leaders? And what were some of the effects?

For the second part of this series, topics include: U.S. Navy code breaking, which started with the creation of OP-20-G under Laurence Safford; Agnes Driscoll, a master cryptographer who was responsible for training Navy code breakers in advance of WWII; Joseph Rochefort, who was in charge of Station Hypo in Honolulu; the breaking of the Japanese naval code JN-25 by Rochefort's group; the Battle of the Coral Sea; the Battle of Midway; and what happened to Joseph Rochefort (no good deed goes unpunished).

The third course in this series includes: the use of code breaking in U.S. submarine warfare; the shooting down of Yamamoto; Japanese Army Codes; MacArthur's use of signals intelligence in the New Guinea campaign; the Navajo code talkers; other U.S. encryption means; the sinking of the USS Indianapolis; and did we have prior knowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack- could we have had prior knowledge?

Discover how and why Mardi Graas traveled around the world from a quasi-religious festival in pagan Rome with days of riotous eating, drinking, chariot races and unbridled lust and ended up becoming a week-long festival in New Orleans.

Hear an insider's story about the design and construction of Walt Disney World. Before Walt Disney died in 1966, he assembled a dedicated team to create Walt Disney World made up of people who had worked with him since the 1950s in California. After Walt's death, team members would ask each other, what would Walt do? This question was asked countless times during the design and construction of the park. It was asked about issues involving quality, creativity, safety, and the guest experience. The answer was always - do the right thing. Speaker and Author Mike Miller was the engineer who served the team during construction from 1968 to 1971.

First Man on the Moon is an inspiring story of heroic risk-taking and humble dedication to advancing humanity's adventure in space.

Everyone knows Neil Armstrong was the first to set foot on the moon. But this modest and unassuming man was determined to stay out of the spotlight, so the rare combination of talent, luck, and experience that led to his successful command of Apollo 11 is not widely known.

Now, for the first time, NOVA presents an intimate portrait through interviews with Armstrong's family and friends, many of whom have never spoken publicly before. Join us for a viewing of this special program and explore the man behind the myth, and hear about his unsung achievements as a Navy combat veteran and pioneer of high speed flight.

In its groundbreaking exploration of this quietly effective man, NOVA explores his achievements following Apollo, which included his leading role in the inquiry into the Challenger disaster and efforts to encourage young people to share his lifelong passion for flight.

In 1970 Marion County had a population of 70,560 compared to a population of 331,298 in 2018. Increased population brings progress as well as challenges. Join us as we remember Marion County 50 years ago through the stories of those who lived and worked here.

Panelists include Barbara Brooks, Rev. Lorenzo Edwards, Paul Ferguson, Brent Malaver, and Margaret Hankinson Spontak. Discussion will be moderated by Nate Gilman and will conclude with time for questions from the audience.

At 10:56 p.m. EST, on July 20, 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 240,000 miles from Earth, spoke these words to more than a billion people listening at home: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Join Rich as he leads a community discussion, inviting people of all ages to talk about personal experiences from this historical event. Where were you? What were you doing? Participants will have the opportunity to share memories and remembrances, and are invited to bring to class with them any memorabilia or tangible items to show and tell. All are welcome to come and share thoughts in this open environment.

This "Cradle to Grave(s)" PowerPoint presentation reveals all of the contributions Sacajawea added to the successful completion to the Jefferson sponsored "Journey of Discovery" in 1815.

It shows the people involved, the obstacles they had to overcome, and relates the loyalty given by this young Native American girl who was an indentured slave, bought and paid for in an Indian game of chance, yet grew to be the key, respected ingredient by Lewis & Clark during that dangerous mission for which she was paid nothing and suffered much.

This course will cover the following topics: The war in the west, the rise of Grant; the Peninsula Campaign, McClellan vs. Lee; Anietam, Shiloh; Union Leadership incompetence, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Topics include:

3/19- Building Armies
As both sides build armies, the war in the west is in full swing. As the border states remain in flux, Ulysses s. Grant emerges from nowhere to take command of the Union forces. The battles of Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson cement his early reputation. His partnership with William Tecumseh Sherman is initiated.

3/26- Anietam, Shiloh
George Brinton McCllellan takes command of the Army of the Potomac and Joe Johnston commands the Confederate army. Richmond is now the capital of the Confederate nation. The Peninsula campaign ensues. With Johnston wounded, Robt. E. Lee takes command of the Army of Northern Virginia. In the West, the horrific battle of Shiloh takes place.

4/2- The Peninsula Campaign
Lee gets the better of McClellan and forces him back down the Peninsula. McClellan is replaced. A second battle of Bull Run or Manassas takes place on practically the same ground that the first major takes place. Little Mac is back and stops Lee and his army in a confederate invasion of the border state of Maryland.

4/9- Union Leadership Incompetence
Little Mac is replaced again and his replacements are worse. For the union forces, the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville bring Northern morale to its nadir.

This course will cover: Gettysburg and Vicksburg; Grant comes east; Grant on the move; Stalemate, Appomattox, and the Lincoln assassination.

Come hear how Grant and Sherman secure the last Confederate stronghold in the west. Robert E. Lee decides to invade the North a second time. How Grant is called east and becomes the commander of all Northern armies, and opposes Lee for only 11 months, but both mens' reputations as great Generals are secured.

Hear how Lincoln finally has a general who understands the correct strategy to defeat the army of Northern Virginia. And, how peace comes at Appomattox Courthouse in April of 1865, and that Lincoln is assassinated less than a week after the hostilities end.

This PowerPoint presentation highlights the greatest Native American Chiefs who traveled and ruled in America throughout our history. From birth to death, their exploits and travails fill the screen in living color.

What their treatment was from the U.S. Government; the promises and treaties that were made and broken; the suffering and plans for extinction or removal of the tribes; the heartbreak of a homeland found and lost.

This PowerPoint presentation of one of the lingering historical mysteries has been about knowing who gave Benjamin Franklin the incriminating letters for which Franklin was publicly and humiliatingly disgraced and made "Persona non grata" in England.

The letters caused an up-roar in both England and the Colonies; a duel to the death, and the naming of Franklin as the "First American."

It’s late June 1863, two enormous armies began marching toward one another in what will become the largest battle in western hemisphere history. America’s greatest military mind versus America herself. This battle that will forever change a nation will lose more lives than any other American war and the future of these United States will be decided on land owned by a freed slave in an idyllic sleepy little town named Gettysburg.

Ulysses Grant lead the Union forces to complete victory over all the Confederate forces he faced in both the Western Theater and the Eastern Theater of the Civil War.

Why was this modest and unassuming man able to bring about the end of the American Civil War, while other Union Generals failed to do so. Jerry Colen, will be here to discuss this with you and to help you see that Grant was, indeed the perfect man to lead the Union to victory.

Prof. Didier uses more than 65 images to tell the stories of the ladies who were America’s first CEOs of the service industry and the true story of the woman who made a fortune selling young girls into sexual slavery.

Our constitution has served the American people for 228 years with only 27 amendments.

This course will view the 18th century setting in which the framers developed the constitution, the elements of the constitution they created, the selling of the constitution to the original 13 states and evaluate how the constitution has worked out for the American people these past 228 years.

Note: All participants will receive a 150-page folio of materials, as part of the course.

Join Emmett Coyne for two sessions discussing slavery as one of the key issues that has shaped America. The Preamble had four objectives. One was "to ensure domestic tranquility."

The Founding Fathers, in sanctioning slavery, ensured not tranquility as tension. The subject of slavery is not for children primarily as adults. Most adults have little to poor analysis of slavery in school, yet we experience its effects today. The future is in our hands, not ignorance or denial.