Editor’s Note: All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
New Displays
Little Rock Nine: A Selection of Objects
Feb. 8, 2016 – May 2016
American Stories
A selection of objects recently donated by Minnijean Brown Trickey, who is one of the Little Rock Nine, will go on display in the museum’s “American Stories” exhibition. The Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in the fall of 1957, three years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. Highlights include Trickey’s graduation dress from a New York high school, the accompanying New Lincoln School Commencement program and tickets, her 1958 suspension notice from Central High, the Little Rock High School 50 Year Commemoration Program, and the 2012 Soul of Humanity Award.
Opening Exhibition
The Norie Marine Atlas and the Guano Trade
Albert H. Small Documents Gallery
Feb. 12 – Jan. 2017
This display will highlight John Norie's unique Marine Atlas, a large bound book of sea charts dating to the early 19th century, within the historical context of the guano and nitrate trades, in which many of the swiftest and strongest American square-rigged sailing ships were employed in the mid-19th century. The Atlas will be augmented by images and models of American clipper ships; pamphlets of the Pacific Guano Company of Woods Hole, Massachusetts; nitrate voyage track charts acquired from a member of the International Association of Cape Horners; and associated materials.
Closing Display
Wolverine and C-3PO costumes
Closes Feb. 7, 2016
American Stories, East Wing, Second Floor
The Wolverine costume and claws which actor Hugh Jackman wore in the X-Men film series and Anthony Daniels’ C-3PO costume from Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi will come off view.
Performances
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra
A Big Band Love Affair
Saturday, Feb. 13
Doors open, concession sales: 6:45 p.m.
Concert: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza
For ticket information, visit: https://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/concerts#Big-Band-Love
*Limited availability
Grab your sweetheart and swing up your Valentine’s weekend with the SJMO as the big band explores the mysteries of love through song. This evening will feature vocalist Delores King Williams and a look at music from the Count Basie Orchestra. Big band arrangements of great love themes that have and continue to provide the soundtrack for many audiences will also be performed.
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society
Masterworks of Four Centuries
Saturday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 21; at 7:30 p.m.;
Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Hall of Music
For ticket information, visit: http://smithsonianassociates.org
The Castle Trio and Friends — Lambert Orkis (piano), Marilyn McDonald (violin), Kenneth Slowik (violoncello), with guest artists Mayumi Seiler (violin) and Gregory Luce (viola) — presents Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 and Brahms: Piano in F Minor, Op. 34.
Featured Event
Day of Remembrance:
Japanese American Incarceration and the Art of Identity with Roger Shimomura
Friday, Feb. 19
First Floor, Center and Warner Bros. Theater
The museum will mark the Day of Remembrance on the 74th anniversary of President Roosevelt signing Executive Order 9066, authorizing the incarceration of Japanese-American citizens during WW II, with and evening of programming.
- 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Special Displays
Visitors can stop by a cart display to explore objects from the museum’s teaching collection and try on an army jacket based on the Japanese-American 442 unit or add a red stitch to the good luck belt of 1,000 stitches that women prisoners of the Japanese internment would often make for their sons before they went off to war. Curators will also show objects out-of-storage highlighting the museum’s Japanese-American history collection.
- 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Conversation, Performance & Donation Ceremony
Roger Shimomura, a multifaceted Japanese American artist who works as a painter, printmaker, performance artist, professor and collector and is a camp survivor, will donate objects from his time in the camp. Following the donation ceremony Shimomura and XYZ will discuss his life in the camp and his art. A performance by Regie Cabico, a Filipino American poet and spoken word artist, who has appeared on HBO and MTV, will conclude the evening.
- 8:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. – Book Signing
Roger Shimomura will sign copies of his book “Minidoka Revisited: The Paintings of Roger Shimomura.” The book will be offered for sale at the museum.
Film
We the People: Making a More Perfect Union, One Generation at a Time
Daily, 10:30, 11:30, 1:30 and 2:30*
Free
Warner Bros. Theater
The museum’s signature film “We the People” is a 20-minute celebration of the national ideals of democracy, opportunity and freedom. Stunning footage and a soaring soundtrack take viewers on a journey from past to present, honoring the visionary ideas, significant sacrifices and remarkable fortitude of the people who built our country, one generation at a time. Produced by Smithsonian Channel.
*Subject to change, check: https://americanhistory.si.edu.
About the Museum
The National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history through its collections and research. The museum helps people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future. It is currently renovating its west exhibition wing, developing galleries on business, democracy and culture. For more information, visit https://americanhistory.si.edu. The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). To learn more about the museum, check https://americanhistory.si.edu. Admission is free. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.
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