Our lives are filled with ordinary objects, commonplace and unassuming. Used day after day, handled year after year, some become forlorn, fractured, or forgotten. Other items are passed down generation to generation–mother to daughter, father to son. These treasures take on near mythical qualities, cherished and precious in the tapestry of our lives. Their value is rarely monetary, altogether sentimental, and universally understood.

Arthurdale possesses its own distinct trove of treasures. As the nation’s first New Deal homestead community, objects related to Arthurdale hold tremendous national significance. But to their original owners and makers, these items carry a special personal importance. Each piece is interwoven with memories and emotions–some fond, others bittersweet.