The 1929 Wall Street collapse plunged Americans into a period of great uncertainty as unemployment skyrocketed, banks failed, and housing foreclosures hit record highs. President Herbert Hoover put it succinctly: "About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends." Hope in Hard Times shares how ordinary people worked for change in their communities, pulling together to find ways to deal with the crisis. A billy club used during the 1934 "Battle of Smith Cove," WPA artifacts, and everyday items are among some of the objects showcased in this exhibition. The paintings and sketches of Ronald Debs Ginther, also featured in the exhibition, comprise one of the most complete visual records of the Great Depression.