In 1857, in Boston, the American publisher Moses Dresser Phillips hosted a dinner party filled with leading literary figures. The group sat from three in the afternoon until eight at night. Phillips would describe it as “the richest time intellectually by all odds I have ever had.” But it was more than just great conversation. A seed was planted—and a magazine was launched. It was to focus on literature, culture, and, most importantly, the abolition of slavery. The men called it The Atlantic Monthly, a title since shortened to The Atlantic. More than a century later, the magazine is still going strong, still championing racial justice and civil rights. In this multi-platform exhibition, The Atlantic’s celebrated authors are showcased online and in the National Portrait Gallery’s halls. —Elena Clavarino