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The Star-Spangled Banner

The Flag that Inspired the
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Many Voices, One Nation

How did we become US?

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Museum Welcomes New Director

Story and Video

The Ruby Slippers, sequin by sequin

Draper Spark!Lab

Where museum visitors become inventors

Star-Spangled Banner

Many Voices

New Director

Ruby Slippers

Spark!Lab


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This Day In History

December 28, 1856
Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. President, is born in Staunton, Va. His image would grace the 1934 $100,000 bank note.
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Our Mission

We help people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions on a range of topics offer firsthand experiences with treasures of American history.

Collections

We collect artifacts of all kinds—from gowns to locomotives—to preserve an enduring record of our past for the American people.


News and Events

Museum Open Through January 1

During the government shutdown, our museum and other Smithsonian facilities will be open through January 1.

Museum Welcomes New Director, Anthea M. Hartig

Dr. Hartig, the museum’s 10th director and the first woman to hold that position, will begin her tenure on February 18, 2019.

American Experiments

What should good citizens do? Who changed America more? In Wallace H. Coulter Unity Square, take part in several hands-on activities that inspire active engagement in American civic life. Daily.

Films in the Warner Bros. Theater

See the museum's free signature film “We the People” or enjoy a variety of ticketed features. A selection of holiday films will be shown Dec. 21-24. Daily; check the Theater page for showtimes.

"Dear Evan Hansen" Donates Items From Musical to the National Museum of American History

In a special ceremony today, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will receive a donation of objects from the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen.

National Museum of American History Participates in Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Initiative # BecauseOfHerStory

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From Our Blog

Bringing the outdoors in . . . one squirrel at a time
Squirrels seem to be everywhere until you need a few for your Buttermilk Fried Squirrel recipe.
“Hyperlocal, ultraseasonal, uber-healthy, and utterly delicious”: Reviving indigenous food cultures
When Chef Sean Sherman began speaking about his experiences growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, he shattered all-too-common stereotypes of indigenous life in 20th-century America.
Blue, white, and red banner with an image of Admiral Dewey in center of white stripe, surrounded by laurels.
The mock battle that ended the Spanish-American War
George Dewey was promoted to the rank of rear admiral after the Battle of Manila Bay. Dewey was celebrated in American culture with songs, paintings, and public sculptures.The Spanish-American War ended with a fantastic performance.
American history must-reads of 2018
These are our most fascinating blog posts of 2018, according to our readers.
Read more stories from our blog


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5-strand faux pearl necklace

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tables set for an event in Flag Hall

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Your donation will make history.

2013-2018 Strategic Plan

Learn more about the Museum's mission and priorities for the next five years.



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Constitution Avenue, NW
Between 12th and 14th Streets
Washington, D.C.

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