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A More Perfect Union:
American Artists and the Currents of Our Time

Closing October 1, 2023

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

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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.

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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.

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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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.

“¡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.

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A More Perfect Union:
American Artists and the Currents of Our Time

Hispanic Heritage Month

American Democracy

Entertainment Nation / Nación del Espectáculo

Smithsonian’s History Explorer

Collections

Online Resources

At the Museum

Online Resources

Visit the Museum

Stay Connected

At the Museum

At Home

Games & Activities

Our Mission

Exhibitions

Collections

News and Events

Visit the Museum

Hispanic Heritage Month

Latinas Make Breaking News in Smithsonian Spanish-Language TV Exhibition

Smithsonian Examines Philanthropy at a Symposium and in an Exhibit

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

From Our Blog

Blessings from the universe: Walter Mercado

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

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

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A More Perfect Union:American Artists and the Currents of Our Time

Hispanic Heritage Month

American Democracy

Entertainment Nation / Nación del Espectáculo

Smithsonian’s History Explorer

Collections

Online Resources

At the Museum

Online Resources

Visit the Museum

Stay Connected

At the Museum

At Home

Games & Activities

News and Events

From Our Blog

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A More Perfect Union:
American Artists and the Currents of Our Time