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From the Chairman

The National Museum of American History has an energetic advocate in Secretary Lawrence M. Small, who has committed the Smithsonian to "being the most extensive, nationwide provider of authoritative experiences that connect the American people to their history and to their scientific and cultural heritage." What better vehicle for fulfilling this mission than this Museum, which shares the roots and the lessons of American's rich heritage with a broad audience?

We have far-reaching and extremely positive changes planned for America's essential museum. Our aim is to reorganize the exhibitions and public spaces, creating new orientation facilities and programs for our visitors. The transformed Museum will be more personally rewarding, more compelling, and more powerful for our visitors. We will present more exhibitions and increase the number of educational programs we offer. We will leverage the potential of information technology and the Internet so that our impact extends beyond the Museum's walls. At the same time, we will continue providing high-quality care and conservation of the collections and investing in new scholarship to bring the collections to life.

Kenneth E. Behring's historic and unprecedented gift is a statement of great confidence in the Museum's potential for expanded service to the public. Mr. Behring's own life exemplifies the opportunity of America. We are proud that he chose the National Museum of American History as a focus for his philanthropy, and we deeply appreciate his commitment to work with us to achieve our goals.

We are also gratified by the impressive early response to our Capital Campaign, Who Is Responsible for America? With the leadership of Honorary Campaign Chair Nancy Kassebaum Baker and Chairman Paul H. O'Neill, the involvement of the Museum's Board, and the dedication of Museum staff, we will build on these accomplishments in the coming year.

With the generous involvement of members, donors, and partners, we can reach our goals while sustaining our reputation for excellence and our commitment to sharing the American experience with the public. I invite you, your family, and your associates to join us in our mission and become a "Friend of American History."

Ivan Selin