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Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
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Our Mission

Empowering people to create a just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexity of our past.

Exhibitions

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

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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

Visit the Museum

We're open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and no tickets are required.

Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month! Learn about related resources from the museum, including our newest exhibition, ¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.

Smithsonian Jazz: "Thad Jones: A Centennial Celebration"

The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra pays tribute to big band composer and arranger Thaddeus Joseph Jones. October 7, 7 p.m. Tickets required.

Latinas Make Breaking News in Smithsonian Spanish-Language TV Exhibition

A new bilingual exhibition will showcase the work of Latina journalists and the relationship between Spanish-language television and American history.

Smithsonian Examines Philanthropy at a Symposium and in an Exhibit

“(re) Framing Conversations: Photographs by Richard Avedon, 1946–1965”

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From Our Blog

Signed portrait of Walter Mercado, who stands posed with his arms crossed across his chest and his open hands on either side of his face. He is smiling and wearing a large ring on each finger.

Blessings from the universe: Walter Mercado

As in many Latinx homes across the United States, when Walter Mercado (1932–2019) came on-screen, my mother would tell my sisters and me to stop what we were doing and quiet down as she turned up the volume on the television.
A weathered black silk bow tie. The bow is noticeably crooked.

Pre-tied yet crooked: What’s up with Abraham Lincoln’s tie?

In the almost 130 years since the Smithsonian Institution acquired Abraham Lincoln’s black silk necktie, the museum’s curators gave very little thought to this personal piece of the president’s clothing.
The sound hole of Yomo Toro’s cuatro.

“¡Ataca Yomo!”: A close-up look at Yomo Toro’s cuatro

“¡Ataca Yomo! (Attack Yomo!),” shouts singer Héctor Lavoe as the bright notes of what sounds like a guitar solo start flying by our ears. But what we’re hearing isn’t a guitar; it’s a cuatro, and the man behind this intense and virtuosic solo is Yomo Toro.
A pink child’s shirt with the message “Love Everyday Dream Big.”

What is it like to seek asylum in the United States?

Lucía Mondragón made the difficult decision to flee her home country to save herself and her children from harm.
Read more stories from our blog

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2020-2030 Strategic Plan

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