American History
When the Country's Founding Father is Your Founding Father
The descendants of American presidents are the athletic trainers, lawyers, salesmen and executives of everyday life
February 17, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
President Obama to Speak At Groundbreaking for African American History and Culture Museum
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Smithsonian's newest museum, scheduled to open in 2015, will feature Obama, Laura Bush and others
February 16, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Curator Amy Henderson: How The Stars Just Dazzle Us
The National Portrait Gallery expert on celebrity culture admits that she is often captivated by the glamour and glitz that defines the Hollywood superstar
February 14, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Bob Dylan’s Jacket Comes to the American History Museum
The legendary performer's leather jacket from the night he went electric will be part of a new exhibition
February 10, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How Much the Hope Diamond is Worth and Other Questions From Our Readers
From American art, history and culture, air and space technology, contemporary art, Asian art and any of the sciences from astronomy to zoology, we'll find an answer
February 07, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
Clint Eastwood Honored at the American History Museum
The legendary actor and director presided over the opening of the museum's new state-of-the-art Warner Bros. Theater
February 03, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Weekend Events Feb 3-5: Under the Stars, Black History Month Family Day, and The Big Sleep
This weekend, explore the night sky at the Air and Space Museum, celebrate Black History Month at the American Art Museum, and watch The Big Sleep at the new Warner Brothers theater in the American History Museum.
February 02, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
Celebrate Black History Month with the Smithsonian
From Kenyan storytelling performances to Black Power film screenings, February on the Mall is buzzing with Black History Month events.
February 01, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
The Top Five Most Anticipated Exhibits of 2012
Take a look at the five upcoming exhibits we're most excited about.
February 01, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
“Paradox of Liberty” Tells the Other Side of Jefferson’s Monticello
Presented by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, this exhibit looks at the iconic founding father through the eyes of his slaves.
January 31, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
Curators, Scientific Adventurers and Book Worms to Watch in 2012
Our top ten picks from the Smithsonian Twitterati and blogrolls.
January 20, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
Historian Amy Henderson: Food, Glorious Food
At the Portrait Gallery, Historian Amy Henderson Awaits the Presentation of a New Portrait of Chef Alice Waters
January 18, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Diving for the Secrets of the Battle of the Atlantic
Off the coast of North Carolina lie dozens of shipwrecks, remainders of a forgotten theater of World War II
January 18, 2012 |
By Jim Morrison
Weekend Events January 13-15: Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, To the Mountaintop and Native Dance
This weekend, celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, honor his work with a reading of his most powerful speeches, and enjoy a pow-wow dance and drum performance by St. Labre Indian School students.
January 13, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
The Civil War in Black and White
A collection of historic front pages shows how civilians experienced and read about the war
January 10, 2012 |
By Jeanne Maglaty
How Samuel Morse Got His Big Idea
On this day in 1838, Samuel Morse publicly demonstrated his telegraph for the first time. But how did he get the idea in the first place?
January 06, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Weekend Events Jan 6-8: “This is Not a Film,” Stamps, Masterworks of Three Centuries
This weekend, watch an Iranian film, attend a stamp collecting workshop or listen to eclectic Baroque chamber music
January 05, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
Weekend Events Dec. 30-Jan 1: Treasures at the Museum, Flights of Fancy, and Last Day of ZooLights
This New Year's weekend, meet a children's book author and archivist, come to aviation story time, and catch ZooLights before it's over
December 30, 2011 |
By Joseph Stromberg
From the Collections, Sound Recordings Heard for the First Time
The National Museum of American History recovers sound from recordings that have been silenced for over a century
December 14, 2011 |
By Megan Gambino
The Midday Ride of Paul Revere
Longfellow made the patriot’s ride to Lexington legendary, but the story of Revere’s earlier trip to Portsmouth deserves to be retold as well
December 12, 2011 |
By Christopher Klein
