MARCH EXHIBITION OPENING
"Discovery and Revelation"
Opens March 18, 2022; Closes March 31, 2023
Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman Gallery
Second Floor, West Wing
One of the most significant factors in the development of spiritual traditions in the United States has been the interaction of religious ideas and communities with the scientific and technological advances that have shaped every generation. his exhibition will look at the intersections of religion and science from three centuries of American history, beginning with a 1721 controversy concerning smallpox and Puritan notions of divine judgement, and ending with encounters of technology and belief in the digital age. Artifacts on view will be drawn from across the museum and range from medicine and science objects related to the work of the theologian-chemist Joseph Priestley; technology collections related to Samuel Morse and his telegraph as well as objects illustrating recent research into religion and the brain. Objects on loan from other Smithsonian museums include a portrait of Henrietta Lacks and a letter written by Galileo; the National Library of Medicine is loaning 18th century pamphlets and Benjamin Franklin’s Lightning Rod is on loan from the Franklin Institute.
APRIL EXHIBITION OPENING
"Really BIG Money"
Opens April 8, 2022
First Floor, East Wing
This new exhibition will present young visitors with really big money; that is, money that is large in size, quantity or denomination. It will feature striking objects from the museum’s National Numismatic Collection, such as Swedish plate money, German billion-mark banknotes, a Roman coin hoard, and the long tail feathers of the quetzal bird as well as a range of interactive activities. These artifacts and activities will help young visitors understand that money can be a powerful and memorable way to learn about the natural environment, community and cultural identity, political leadership and the process of exchange.
For more information, visit: https://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/really-big-money.
JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH
Jazz Appreciation Month, now globally celebrated, originated in 2001 at the National Museum of American History under Curator Emeritus John Hasse.
"The Duke and the Count Digital Jazz Concert"
April 1; 7 p.m.
Virtual Event
Purchase tickets here: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/duke-and-count
For nearly 90 years, historians, audiences and musicians have studied and compared Duke Ellington’s orchestrations with Count Basie’s “Swing.” In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra juxtaposes the music of the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras.
This program is produced in partnership with the Smithsonian Associates.
"The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Octet Jazz Appreciation Month Performance of 'A Night in Tunisia'"
April 2022 Jazz Video Release
Virtual event
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Octet performs this rendition of "A Night in Tunisia" by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli, arranged by Buddy Clark. This video will be uploaded to the museum's YouTube page.
For more information on Smithsonian Jazz, please visit https://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz.
LEMELSON CENTER FOR INVENTION AND INNOVATION
ACCelerate Creativity + Innovation Festival
April 8-10; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Museum-wide
The 2022 ACCelerate Creativity + Innovation Festival is a celebration of creative exploration and research happening at the nexus of science, engineering, arts and design (SEAD). The festival is programmed by Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. For more information, visit https://acceleratefestival.com/.
Innovative Lives: Warren Shadd
April 13; 4 p.m.
Virtual Event
Free registration required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovative-lives-2022-tickets-204454407637
Waren Shadd, inventor and the first African American piano manufacturer, is the CEO of Washington, D.C.-based SHADD Pianos and Keyboards. Shadd is a second-generation piano technician and third generation musician, who has performed and toured worldwide as a jazz drummer. Recently, Warren has been developing augmentations for the SHADD piano to assist individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities including those on the autistic spectrum, deaf/hard of hearing, and blind/hard of seeing. This discussion with Shadd will be moderated by Krystal Klingenberg, NMAH Curator in the Division of Cultural and Community Life, who specializes in music. For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovative-lives-2022-tickets-204454407637.
K-12 VIRTUAL LEARNING
HistoryTime
Week of April 4, 2022
HistoryTime videos are designed for children ages 5-8 and adults in their lives. Each video features an object or object(s) in the museum’s collection as a launching pad for exploring historical concepts that are relevant to young children. The videos are available on YouTube and are also linked to resource collections on the Smithsonian’s Learning Lab platform. Learning Lab collections can inspire lesson plans or help learners explore the videos’ topics further.
For more information, visit HistoryTime on YouTube.
Rebecca Seel