Julia Child’s home kitchen, with its hundreds of tools, appliances, and furnishings, serves as the opening story of the museum’s first major exhibition on food history. From the impact of new technologies, to the influence of social and cultural changes, the exhibition explores the transformation of food and drink in post-WWII America, as well as what we know (or think we know) about what’s good for us. The public is invited to take a seat at a large, communal table in the center of the exhibition to share their own thoughts and experiences about food and change in the United States.
![FOOD: Transforming the American Table explores some of the major changes in food and wine in postwar America. Entrance to exhibit with large sign that says "FOOD" with pictures of various foods in each letter.](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/JN2019-01616.jpg)
FOOD: Transforming the American Table explores some of the major changes in food and wine in postwar America.
![Julia Child’s home kitchen, with its hundreds of tools, appliances, and furnishings serves as the opening story of the museum’s first major exhibition on food history. NMAH Julia's Kitchen](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/julia-kitchen-800.jpg)
Julia Child’s home kitchen, with its hundreds of tools, appliances, and furnishings serves as the opening story of the museum’s first major exhibition on food history.
![Americans were greeted by claims of “New and Improved!” on more and more foods and consumer goods during the second half of the 20th century. NMAH Food on the Go](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/food-on-go-800.jpg)
Americans were greeted by claims of “New and Improved!” on more and more foods and consumer goods during the second half of the 20th century.
![FOOD: Transforming the American Table explores brewing. A case with a sign that says "Buffalo Bills" in the shape of a yellow buffalo and various other beer related objects.](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/JN2019-01617.jpg)
FOOD: Transforming the American Table explores brewing.
![Wine—the fermented juice of grapes or other fruit—has been part of European life for centuries, but in America, wine traditions struggled to take root. NMAH Wine for the Table](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/wine-for-table-800.jpg)
Wine—the fermented juice of grapes or other fruit—has been part of European life for centuries, but in America, wine traditions struggled to take root.
![Foods and flavors from Mexico have influenced American cuisine for centuries. But in the last half of the 20th century, Mexican-inspired foods found their way to every corner of the country, merging into the mainstream. NMAH Mexican Revolution](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/mexican-revolution-800.jpg)
Foods and flavors from Mexico have influenced American cuisine for centuries. But in the last half of the 20th century, Mexican-inspired foods found their way to every corner of the country, merging into the mainstream.
![Open Table: Visitors will have the opportunity to take a seat at a large, communal table and engage in conversation about a wide range of food-related issues and topics. NMAH Open Table](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/open-table-800.jpg)
Open Table: Visitors will have the opportunity to take a seat at a large, communal table and engage in conversation about a wide range of food-related issues and topics.
![FOOD: Transforming the American Table explores the rise in snacking. NMAH Snack Time](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/snack-time-800.jpg)
FOOD: Transforming the American Table explores the rise in snacking.
![The Migrant's Table A case with objects representing "The Migrant's Table"](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/JN2019-01618_1.jpg)
The Migrant's Table
![Diet Spiral A spiral shape made of various diet books and articles from the 20th and 21st centuries](/sites/default/files/exhibitions/JN2019-01621_1.jpg)