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Now on view at the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida is “My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design.”

“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” highlights more than three centuries of American art and design, with works ranging from contemporary furniture to Pop Art to historical photos and documents reflecting the unique history of Marion County and Florida.

The exhibition is organized into themes inspired by the lyrics of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” This patriotic anthem was written in 1831 by Massachusetts native Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), who was a student at the Andover Theological Seminary. The song debuted in public on July 4, 1831, at a children’s Independence Day celebration at the Park Street Church in Boston.

My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!

The exhibition opens with a large-scale timeline tracing Florida’s history from the American Revolution to the present day. Beginning in 1776, when Florida served as a refuge for Loyalists, the timeline culminates with Ocala native and Olympic gold medalist Erin Jackson, who was selected by her peers as a U.S. flagbearer at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. A vibrant Pop Art installation reflecting America as the “Sweet Land of Liberty” celebrates the nation’s spirit of freedom and exploration. Sitting adjacent, “Of Thee I Sing” presents images representing American lives from the 19th century to today. Nearby is the marble sculpture, “Ambassador Molly,” by Nilda Comas, symbolizing the power of community action in Marion County, where citizens united to pass legislation protecting animals from abuse.
In the middle gallery, “Land Where My Fathers Died” brings together World War I and II posters and military-related historical objects that evoke themes of patriotic service and national ideals. Also featured in this space, “Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride” highlights longstanding American craft traditions, including quilting, woodworking and Art Deco technical designs and innovations.

Spanning the second and third galleries, “From Every Mountainside” presents distinctly American landscapes — from bustling urban environments to remote natural settings — reflecting the nation’s pride in its vast and diverse terrain stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

In the third gallery, “Let Freedom Ring” explores themes of personal expression and the ways Americans come together to embody the national motto E pluribus unum, or “Out of many, one.” Rare, previously unseen historical photographs and documents highlight Ocala’s important contributions to Florida and the United States.

“91��Ƭ is the proud home of the 91��Ƭ Patriots. As such, the Appleton team selected an array of 114 iconic American treasures from over three centuries,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton Museum director. “The curated works cover art, design, music, and dance as well as united patriotism in action through our shared actions to preserve our great democracy.”

“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” is on view now through September 13 in the Appleton’s Edith-Marie Gallery on the first floor and is supported in part by Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Special Events

“Stars, Stripes and American Art & Design”
July 1-31, 2026
Admission to the Appleton is free during the month of July 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“Picturing Paradise: From John James Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen”
A Talk by Dr. Keri Watson
Saturday, July 25, 1 p.m.
The Florida landscape has provided aesthetic inspiration to artists for centuries. Titian Ramsay Peale and John James Audubon came in search of native flora and fauna, followed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Johnson Heade, George Inness, Winslow Homer, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, who were lured by its natural beauty and warm climate. This presentation offers a succinct and engaging history of Florida’s landscape painters. Free to attend.

Film Screening: “1776” (Rated G, 2h 20m, 1972)
August 1, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This adaptation of the Broadway Tony-winning musical celebrates the founding fathers’ midwifery of the Declaration of Independence, the document that would give birth to a nation. Free to attend.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 352-291-4455, or visit AppletonMuseum.org.