Elections are a foundation of American democracy. The act of campaigning for public office is nearly as old as the Republic itself, but elections and campaigns have changed over the centuries. This exhibit seeks to uncover the histories behind the artifacts that became the symbols of the campaigns, the parties, and the people they represented. It also illuminates the contexts that tie these items together throughout political history, yet make them distinct in their own eras. The artifacts showcased all fit under headers that divide them by form, giving them a mutual context. Click on any given artifact to find out more about its specific history. Taken all together, these objects demonstrate political shifts over the course of West Virginia's history.