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¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States

A new exhibition from the National Museum of the American Latino

The Star-Spangled Banner

The Flag that Inspired the
National Anthem

American Democracy

A Great Leap of Faith

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Online activities you can try at home

Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

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Collections

Screenshot of website for exhibition, "Thomas Jefferson's Bible"

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Young visitors looking at museum objects

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A child experimenting with a historic laundry device

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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.

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

The Innoskate festival brings skateboarding and local communities together in a dynamic exploration of invention, creativity, fun, and freedom of expression. Pine Ridge, South Dakota, July 5; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, July 7–9.

Explore Learning Resources

Our website offers many ways to explore history, including online exhibitions, museum tours, educator resources, activities for kids, and our online collections.

“We Belong Here” Marks 50th Anniversary of Title IX June 23

A new display spotlights three athletes’ stories in the context of the struggle for equal opportunity in sports.

Cast From First Tommy John Surgery Donated to Smithsonian

1969 Ford LTD Lowrider, “Dave’s Dream,” Goes on Display at National Museum of American History

Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History To Remove Ruby Slippers From View in June

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From Our Blog

How a Jewish female textile artist folded her identities into a challah cover

Food plays a critical role in many Jewish religious festivities, such as challah bread at weekly Shabbat services or holidays. Whether baked into two long braids or a round domed crown, this bread, doused in shiny egg wash, is also covered with fabric for religious and functional purposes.

Graduation cap, gown, rainbow-colored stole, and costume wings in the pattern of Monarch butterfly wings. The top of the cap is decorated with flowers and has a message, "I am one of those people Mexico sent."

Making history happen: Reflecting on DACA and its impact

To explore the history of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the museum's Undocumented Organizing Collecting Initiative reached out to three undocumented organizers to share their reflections from inside the movement.

An illustrated oversize coin head decorated with Romain coins

2 experts, 165 coins, 1 really big head

While installing a new exhibition called Really BIG Money, we—collections manager Jennifer and mount maker Laura—faced a number of challenges, mainly mounting really big objects. One of the trickiest tasks we faced was mounting 165 coins together to form a gigantic Roman coin, complete with the head of a Roman emperor.

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Civic Season

Explore what you
stand for

¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States

The Star-Spangled Banner

American Democracy