Lost Histories of Muslims in America | The Great Muslim American Road Trip

The presence of Muslims in America dates back to before the founding of the United States. This documentary clip begins with a tour of the Missouri History Museum, where scholar Edward Curtis describes the different major waves of immigration of Muslims to the United States and is then followed by a look at two of the most prominent but lesser-known American Muslims in US history: Estevanico who trekked from Florida to New Mexico in the 16th century as well as Hadj Ali, the Arab Muslim who was hired by the US government to blaze trails westward in the 19th century.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will aim to…

• Describe the different waves of Muslim immigration to the United States, including the main reasons Muslims immigrated.
• Examine the biographies of lesser-known Muslims in early America, including Hajji Ali and Estevanico The Moor, and speculate as to why these histories are “lost” or seldom discussed.
• Understand the history of the ice cream cone and other foods introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair and trace the global origins and impacts of foods that are thought of as quintessentially “American.”
• Engage with a Google Earth story to gain a better understanding of the two primary lost history stories referenced in the film.