What's Going On? California and the Vietnam Era

The landmark exhibition "What's Going On?" is a timely examination of the impact of the Vietnam conflict on California. Due to California's location, its numerous military installations, and its central role in political activism, the state was greatly affected by the war. In turn, these events reflected the national experience and redefined what it meant to be an American. "What's Going On?" centers on events in California from the 1950s Cold War to the present, with emphasis on the tumultuous years from the escalation of the Vietnam War in 1965 through the war's end in 1975. The exhibition includes historical artifacts, photographs and documents interwoven with oral histories featuring stories from veterans and former refugees.

The "What's Going On? - California and the Vietnam Era " exhibition tour was organized by the California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA) in concert with the Oakland Museum of California. CERA is a network of professionally operated museums and cultural organizations that collaborate to create and tour smaller, affordable, high quality exhibitions that enhance civic engagement and human understanding. CERA is generously supported by The William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the California Council for the Humanities.