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¡Pleibol!

In the Barrios and the Big Leagues
En los barrios y las grandes ligas

National Youth Summit on Gender Equity

September 21–October 12

Girlhood
(It's complicated)

See our new exhibition

Reckoning with Remembrance: History, Injustice, and the Murder of Emmett Till

On view September 3–October 5, and online

September 11

20 years later
20 años después

¡Pleibol!

Youth Summit

Girlhood

Emmett Till

September 11
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American History on Instagram

  • In the 1980s, Smithsonian conservators carefully attached small pieces of tissue to a group of newly-collected wagon panels. This technique, called 'facing,' is a common conservation practice. The tissues ensured that the wagon's fragile painted surface would stay in place, even as the panels were moved from a barn to secure storage at our museum. Over the past year, our conservators have worked to carefully remove this protective layer and prepare the panels for a future exhibition. Their efforts have revealed many of these objects' details, including a painted scene from the classic novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Though the paint has faded since the wagon was in use a century ago as part of a traveling show, one can still see a depiction of one of the novel’s dramatic scenes: Eliza Harris and her son Harry fleeing across the frozen Ohio River, running towards freedom. Swipe above to take a closer look at our conservators' work, as well as an 1850s lithograph that depicts that same scene from Uncle Tom's Cabin. Follow the link in our bio today to learn more about this conservation project, as well as the ways in which these panels illuminate a complicated chapter in entertainment history: s.si.edu/3o2NPVY #History #AmericanHistory #EntertainmentHistory #Conservation #ObjectConservation MuseTech
  • This is the second iteration of the prototype skateboard designed by professional skater Cindy Whitehead and manufactured by Dwindle Distribution in 2015. Whitehead used her skate background to create the “Girl Is Not A 4 Letter Word” brand which includes Cindy’s original art work. Whitehead began skateboarding at age 15 and had turned pro by the time she was 17, something girls were not doing in the mid-1970s. She became one of the only girls skating both pool and half pipe and is the only girl ever to be featured in a two page article with a centerfold in a skateboarding magazine. Whitehead retired from skateboarding at 22 but still skates and has remained in the sports arena as a sport stylist, a job title she also created. Whitehead is especially supportive of young female skaters through her “Girl Is Not A 4 Letter Word” skate team and her products which are geared towards women and girls. As part of this year’s National Youth Summit, Whitehead will serve as a guest speaker as we examine issues of gender, bias, and equity through the lens of history. You can join our summit online for free. Register here: s.si.edu/nys The National Youth Summit is made possible in part by support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative. This object is currently on display in our exhibition, Girlhood: It's complicated. Girlhood: It's complicated received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative #AmericanHistory #WomensHistory #BecauseOfHerStory #YouthHistory #Girlhood #GirlhoodHistory #NationalYouthSummit
  • David Jaramillo of Chimayo, New Mexico, began customizing this modified 1969 Ford LTD in the 1970s. Known as “Dave’s Dream,” the vehicle is a beloved example of Latino lowriders. Lowriding is a family and community activity with parades, trophies, and other events celebrating cars and paying homage to their power and beauty. Artistic paint schemes and custom upholstery make each lowrider unique. Hydraulic lifts enable lowriders to hop, making them seem alive and animated. Sadly, Jaramillo was killed in an accident in another car, but his family and local artisans completed the modifications that he had planned, and the car often won “first” or “best in show.” This object is currently not on view. #HispanicHeritageMonth #HHM #History #AmericanHistory #LatinoHistory #LatinaHistory #LatinxHistory #Lowrider #Lowriders
  • This dress belonged to Minnijean Brown Trickey, a member of the Little Rock Nine. Trickey was one of nine African American students who desegregated the Little Rock, Arkansas, high school in 1957—three years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregated schools were unconstitutional in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. Despite disruption resulting from the suspension from Central High School and the later closure of all of Little Rock’s public schools to avoid integration, Minnijean graduated on schedule in 1959 from New Lincoln School in New York City. New Lincoln School was a private, integrated school from 1948-1988, known for its progressive educational methods. This tea length white dress has a sheer white flocked floral pattern layer over a plain white underdress. The short sleeves are sheer, the skirt full, and the bodice fitted with a zipper and buttons on the back. Minnijean designed this dress herself, specifically for her graduation. As part of this year’s National Youth Summit, Minnijean will serve as a guest speaker as we examine issues of gender, bias, and equity through the lens of history. You can join our summit online for free. Register here: s.si.edu/nys The National Youth Summit is made possible in part by support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative. This dress is currently on display in our exhibition, Girlhood: It's complicated. Girlhood: It's complicated received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative #AmericanHistory #WomensHistory #CivilRightsHistory #BecauseOfHerStory #YouthHistory #Girlhood #GirlhoodHistory #NationalYouthSummit

Follow @amhistorymuseum on Instagram.

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.

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

Visit the Museum

The museum is open Friday–Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. All visitors ages two and older are required to wear a face covering. Follow the link to plan your visit.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15. Find resources relating to Hispanic and Latino history on our heritage month page.

Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge: Chinese Americans and the Power of Stir-Frying

Culinary historian and cookbook author Grace Young demonstrates her stir-fry expertise as she shares tips on wok mastery for home cooks. September 30, 6:45 p.m. Tickets required.

National Youth Summit on Gender Equity

This event brings brings students together with scholars, teachers, policy experts, and activists in a national conversation about gender equity and gender bias through the lenses of sports, politics, fashion, music, and identity. September 21–October 12. Free; registration required.

Smithsonian Commemorates Sept. 11 20th Anniversary as an Evolving Legacy

The anniversary web portal includes a story-gathering web tool, links to three virtual panel discussions, and a website featuring artifacts and photos from the museum’s collection.

Smithsonian To Display Emmett Till Historical Marker

African American History Curatorial Collective Is Founded at National Museum of American History

See full events calendar
See more news items

From Our Blog

Wagon panels with faded artwork advertising a traveling production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, leaning against a wall outside a building

Conserving pieces of the history of Uncle Tom's Cabin

During my time at the museum’s object conservation lab, I discovered that a set of painted panels in the museum’s collection had quite a history—most of it hidden from view. The panels are the remaining pieces of a wagon built for a traveling show of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the early 1900s.
Los Boricuas jersey, with initials SS, the team name, and the the team's cartoon mascot, a stylized coqui frog in a baseball uniform and helmet, standing at bat

Suit up! Honoring Latino heritage on the field

For some teams, uniforms offer a chance to proudly proclaim their cultural heritage and represent their community.
Anna Dickinson, seated

Meet Anna Dickinson: Trailblazing orator and political firebrand

Abolitionist Anna Dickinson's January 1864 speech to a packed House of Representatives was dubbed the “sensation of the season.”
Cartoon illustration of the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall buried underneath stacks of crates and barrels marked with the initials, "TR."

Clifford Berryman and the Teddy Roosevelt African Expedition

A pen and ink drawing featuring the Smithsonian Castle building by Clifford Kennedy Berryman illuminates both the cartoonist's position in the newspaper world and the U.S. capital, while also pointing to the history of Teddy Roosevelt's expedition to Africa.
Read more stories from our blog

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