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Due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are temporarily closed.

American Democracy

A Great Leap of Faith

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As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are temporarily closed. No reopening date has been announced; see our website and social media channels for updates.

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Our Mission

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

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

The Museum and Recent Political Events

Learn how the museum is actively collecting artifacts relating to the political events of January 2021. Read a statement from the director reflecting on the unlawful Jan. 6 Capitol takeover.

Stories of 2020 | Crónicas del 2020

How does it feel to be part of history? Share your stories and images of 2020 with the future.

Pandemic Perspectives: Race and Place - Yellow Fever and the Free African Society in Philadelphia

This online panel examines the work of the Free African Society during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, and its subsequent effects. February 2, 4 p.m. Free; registration required.

Even Though the Room Is Full, They Are “The Only One in the Room”

A new museum display and website features eight women achievers in business and entrepreneurship across three centuries.

Calendar of Exhibitions and Events National Museum of American History February 2021

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From Our Blog

How one girl helped build a Latinx civil rights movement

As a little girl, Jessica Govea had become accustomed to rising early and making her way to the fields with her family. During the cotton season, you could find her family dragging sacks of cotton along the long rows of fields in Kern County, California.

Isabella Aiukli Cornell makes prom political

For many high school students in the United States, prom is considered one of the most highly anticipated events of the school year. Teenagers plan months in advance on what to wear to the event, and magazines have devoted entire issues to prom fashion.

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Museum Closed

American Democracy

Explore History Online