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The National Museum of American History The National Museum of American History
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America Now:
Celebration of Music

Hip-hop all day, museum-hop till midnight, June 22

American Democracy

A Great Leap of Faith

The Star-Spangled Banner

The Flag that Inspired the
National Anthem

Draper Spark!Lab

Where museum visitors become inventors

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How does American business affect you?

America Now

Democracy

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Spark!Lab

American Enterprise
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This Day In History

June 20, 1782
The Great Seal is adopted and the bald eagle becomes standard symbol of the United States, as shown on this 1794 pattern dollar coin.
View Object

Our Mission

We help people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future.

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

America Now: Celebration of Music

Explore hip-hop’s influence on American society with a DJ dance party, hands-on workshops, performances, discussions, film festival, and more. Then explore other Smithsonian museums until midnight as part of Solstice Saturday. June 22, all day.

Films in the Warner Bros. Theater

Enjoy a variety of daily short films and special features, including a "Totally 90s Film Festival" in June. Check the Theater page for showtimes.

National Museum of American History Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising With “Illegal To Be You” Display

The museum's yearlong display showcases more than 20 objects, 30 buttons, and graphics from the Smithsonian’s LGBTQ+ collections.

National Museum of American History Announces Fifth Annual Smithsonian Food History Weekend and Gala

Where Is the Star-Spangled Banner’s Missing Star?

See full events calendar
See more news items

From Our Blog

A tin foil version of the Stanley Cup

Let’s Go Caps: A curator’s collecting trip into Caps mania

I’m a lifelong resident of the Washington, D.C. area and a hockey fan. So imagine my excitement (and surprise) last year when my team, the Washington Capitals, finally won a Stanley Cup championship!

The impact of the Transcontinental Railroad on Native Americans

The Transcontinental Railroad was celebrated by some as a symbol of modernity. However, the railroad also threatened Native nations. Discover their stories.
Multiple rainbows flag items

Reading the rainbow: The origins of the pride symbol

The rainbow was a symbol in LGBTQ communities long before the rainbow flag.

"10 Free Hours!" Marketing and the World Wide Web in the 1990s

It's 1998. Turn off your Backstreet Boys CD, put on some Cucumber Melon body spray, go to the mailbox and what do you see: 10 hours of AOL. Free!
Read more stories from our blog

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Learn more about the Museum's mission and priorities.
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Constitution Avenue, NW
Between 12th and 14th Streets
Washington, D.C.

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