Entertainment has the power to captivate, inspire and transform us. It brings us together. We share it when we spontaneously recite lines from a favorite movie, dance to the same groove or recreate a national sports moment on a neighborhood street. It can also spur critical conversations, expose divides, and foster important historical change.
Through the National Museum of American History’s extraordinary collection of theater, music, sports, movie and television objects, the exhibition Entertainment Nation features a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences. Through the objects and their stories, the exhibition will explore how, for over 150 years, entertainment has provided a forum for important national conversations about who we are, and who we want to be.
No other museum can tell the story of the country’s common entertainment experiences like the National Museum of American History. The museum's collection of 1.8 million objects documents the careers of such influential figures as Selena, Roberto Clemente, Kristi Yamaguchi, Mia Hamm, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, and Muhammad Ali. Its Broadway, television, and film collections document productions such as Hamilton, Rent, The Handmaid's Tale, M*A*S*H, Sesame Street, Star Wars, and many more. Through online resources as well as exhibitions on the National Mall such as Entertainment Nation, the museum will continue its mission to engage audiences in new and expanding ways.
A Preview of Entertainment Nation
Watch this 3-minute video to learn more about the exhibition, the objects that will be featured, and the team behind the show.
Blog Posts
Visit the museum's blog to discover many more stories from the history of entertainment.
- The (display) case of the Ruby Slippers
- Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?
- Musician José Feliciano shook up a baseball tradition at age 23
- EDM in the history museum: Steve Aoki gear travels the world and finds a home at the museum
Press Releases and News
- Smithsonian Entertainment Exhibition To Showcase Pop Culture | December 7, 2022
- Presenting Dorothy’s ruby slippers: American Cruise Lines partners with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to show that “there’s no place like home.” | October 19, 2021
Support Our Work
Philanthropic support from members of the Council for American History is vital to producing new exhibitions, providing educational programming, and preserving American treasures. Members receive an array of exclusive membership benefits in appreciation of their generosity, including invitations to exhibition opening celebrations.
Join the Council today and receive an invitation to attend Entertainment Nation’s opening!
Dorothy’s ruby slippers, 1939
Selmer Tenor Saxophone, used by John Coltrane
The Original Kermit Puppet
U.S. National Team Soccer Jersey, worn by Mia Hamm
Entrance to the exhibition Entertainment Nation / Nación del Espectáculo
