Welcome to American History
The museum’s world-class collections help tell the complex history of our nation. We are located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Free admission
Plan Your Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Free admission
Join us this year as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! In 2026, the museum is hosting an exciting array of special programs, activities, and a building-wide exhibition. Showcasing 250 objects ranging from the 1700s to the present day, In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness traces how Americans have pursued the promises of our nation’s founding—often against the odds or facing opposition, but always with the conviction that achieving them was possible. Visitors will also explore America’s 250-year journey through a year-long series of dynamic programs, from hands-on activities and theatrical performances to educational tools and virtual field trips.
Stories
Objects from the Collection
George Washington wore this uniform from 1789 until his death in 1799, including when he reviewed troops called up in response to the Whiskey Rebellion.
This Adler Meteor 12 electric typewriter belonged to the poet and memoirist Maya Angelou, author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
Sixteen-year-old Judy Garland wore these sequined shoes as Dorothy Gale in the 1939 MGM musical film “The Wizard of Oz.”
Join the Cause of History
Help us to preserve, protect, and display America's historic treasures.
Your Museum at Work
The National Museum of American History serves as the custodian of our national treasures and is honored to hold the public’s trust. At the heart of the museum are the dedicated professionals who care for its audiences, collections, resources, messages, buildings, and scholarship—all in service to the people of the United States.
Telling the Nation’s Stories
In 1960, four African American college students sat down at a “whites only” Woolworth counter in Greensboro, North Carolina and made history. Today, visitors to the National Museum of American History can see a section of that counter and learn how a single brave act helped spark an entire movement to challenge inequality.
Preserving National Treasures
Greeting visitors at the entrance to the museum’s new exhibition Entertainment Nation is one our most popular objects—Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz. In this video, learn about the meticulous process of preserving the shoes for future generations.
Celebrating the American Soundtrack
The museum explores and celebrates jazz—America’s homegrown cultural phenomenon—through world-class collections, programs, and performances by our very own Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. In this video, we answer a question that goes to the heart of this effort: What is jazz?
Delivering Impactful Programming
Why is a woman in a straw hat riding a bicycle around inside the museum? It’s just Meet the Wheelwoman, one of the innovative programs developed by our education team that brings history alive for museum visitors, classroom students, and beyond.
Documenting American History
Three months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress officially charged the National Museum of American History with collecting and preserving artifacts that would tell the story of that day. This video shares one such story about Isaac Ho‘opi‘i, a Pentagon K-9 Unit officer who played a crucial role in the rescue efforts.
Showcasing American Ingenuity
The message of the museum’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation is that inventions make and change our world—and everyone is inventive! The Center manages Spark!Lab, our popular invention space for visitors age 6-12.
As the nation’s history museum, we empower people to create a just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexity of our past.
Dive Into Exhibitions
American Democracy
A Great Leap of Faith
American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith explores the history of citizen participation, debate, and compromise from the nation’s formation to today.
This exhibition shows how the many voices of the American people have contributed to and continue to shape the nation and its communities.
American Enterprise chronicles the tumultuous interaction of capitalism and democracy that resulted in the continual remaking of American business—and American life.
