Roots of the Americas Exhibit Opening

An exhibition opening examines how native plants and crops shaped culture, ecology and daily life across the Americas before and after European contact.

Roots of the Americas Exhibit Opening takes place Thursday, February 26 at the Kislak Center at the University of Miami, presented by University of Miami Libraries. Drawing from the Jay I. Kislak Collection of the Early Americas, Exploration and Navigation, the exhibition explores the historical significance of crops such as corn, cacao, tobacco and medicinal plants, highlighting the deep relationships Indigenous communities developed with these resources long before colonization.

The exhibition also traces how these plants entered global trade networks following European contact, reshaping economies, landscapes and cultural practices throughout the hemisphere. By connecting botanical knowledge to histories of agriculture, exchange and colonialism, Roots of the Americas offers insight into how these legacies continue to influence contemporary foodways and cultural identity.