It’s Time To Celebrate America’s 250th at the National Museum of American History

Kicking off our celebration this month with programs, concerts and more!

OPENING
 
“In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness”
May 14
Location: Throughout the National Museum of American History 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will lead the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations with a bold, immersive exhibition exploring the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness,” will open May 14, featuring 250 objects, across 250,000 square feet of the museum’s three public floors, including the desk Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence. Another noteworthy Revolutionary War artifact is the only surviving ship of the early U.S. Navy, the gunboat Philadelphia. This National Historic Landmark helped stall British forces and now will undergo an on-site conservation to preserve it for future generations. A favorite with visitors is the Star-Spangled Banner the 1813 flag that inspired the National Anthem. A free guide will be available to help locate the artifacts, which range from the 1700s to the 21st century. The museum will also offer an extensive website to online visitors and those who want to take a deeper dive into this history following their visit. Visitors and online audiences can engage with both the triumphs and challenges of America’s journey through a series of dynamic programs, from hands-on activities and theatrical performances to educational tools and virtual field trips for classrooms across the country. The museum's Semiquincentennial exhibitions and events will welcome all Americans to reflect and commemorate on this significant anniversary. It closes in December 2026.
 
RELATED EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

Daily Programs: 
For details, visit the online calendar to see daily schedules for our free programs, including:

SHOUT
Various times throughout the day
Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, First Floor West
 
Visitors will explore the ring shout—a powerful practice blending song and rhythmic movement created by enslaved communities in the 1700s and 1800s, combining various religious practices of Europe and Africa to create a cultural tradition that became iconically American. Performers sing, dance and teach through storytelling.

Meet the Wheelwoman
Various times throughout the day
First Floor West, roaming

Visitors meet a cyclist as she explores the rapidly changing world of the 1890s. The explosive popularity of the safety bicycle at the turn of the century led to more personal mobility and independence for women, empowering them to advocate for change—whether it be less restrictive clothing, improved infrastructure or even woman suffrage.

Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Various times throughout the day

Flag Hall, Second Floor Center

Visitors can meet Mary Pickersgill, the seamstress who made the enormous garrison flag that inspired the lyrics to Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner, the song that became America’s national anthem in 1931.  Visitors will explore the War of 1812, often called America’s Second War of Independence, and the ways that widows like Pickersgill expressed patriotism and resourcefulness through acquired skills and family connections.

Printing Press
Various times throughout the day
Second Floor, East; near the Landmark Object

In the years leading up to the Revolution, cartoons, newspapers, broadsides, and pamphlets created by patriots like Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and Thomas Paine helped unsettle American loyalty to King George III and fueled the colonial Americans’ desire for independence. Visitors will  see a reproduction 18th century printing press in action and explore the historical connections between technology, communication and democracy.

Interactive Craft Demonstrations
Various times throughout the day

First Floor, East, near the “FOOD” exhibition
Second Floor, West; near the “Within These Walls…” exhibition
 
Students from Berea College help keep traditional crafts alive in Appalachia and demonstrate broom-making and weaving.
 

“In Pursuit” Spotlight Tour 
Various times throughout the day
First Floor, Center
 
“In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness” is a museum-wide exhibition that explores how Americans, across 250 years, have pursued the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. Docents will provide an introduction to the 250 objects on view that tell the story of Americans coming together to make this nation through politics, science, popular culture, invention, and more.

Democracy Tour
Various times throughout the day
Second Floor, West

Museum docents will lead a 45-minute highlights tour that explores important moments and ideas related to the history of democracy in the United States.

Build-a-George
Various times throughout the day

Second Floor, West, at the Landmark: George Washington Statue
 
Visitors will take a close look at the classically inspired statue of George Washington made by Horatio Greenhough and then design their own version of a monument to the country’s first president. The Greenough statue was originally commissioned by the U.S. Congress in 1832 but was later transferred to the Smithsonian and is now on view on the second floor of the museum. 

Meet the Expert
Various days, 2:15 – 3:15
Various locations
 
Museum experts will share behind-the-scenes stories with visitors and show how their work helps the museum tell the complex history of 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  

“American Experiments”
Self-Guided
Wallace H. Coulter Unity Square, Second Floor, West 
 
Unity Square is home to “American Experiments,” a set of activities that invite visitors to explore, play and connect with other people. Eight self-guided experiments bring to life the themes of the surrounding exhibitions—participation, commitment, negotiation, voting, and more. Visitors will have the chance reflect on the history of the nation we build together and consider their own role in creating the nation of tomorrow.
 
MAY PROGRAMS 

Smithsonian American Pacific American Center presents:

“Vision & Voices: Stories on the Screen”
Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9
, Various Times
Warner Bros. Theater; First Floor, Center


The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center will present a film program highlighting the stories that continue to shape American history, in commemoration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and America’s 250th anniversary. The three-day program features documentaries and narrative films, including Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha; A Tale of Three Chinatowns; Nurse Unseen and A Nice Indian Boy. The program also includes a family-friendly screening of Lilo & Stitch, preceded by the shorts Bao and The Queen’s Flowers. Directors, producers and cast members will participate in post-screening conversations. For more information and to reserve free tickets, visit the Eventbrite page.

“Cooking Up History:  Giuliano Hazan and a Legacy of Cooking Italian”
Friday, May 22, Noon–1 p.m.
Wallace H. Coulter Plaza; First Floor, West
 
Giuliano Hazan is the award-winning author of the best-selling cookbooks, Every Night Italian, The Classic Pasta Cookbook, and Hazan Family Favorites, among others. He teaches Italian cooking classes throughout the U.S. and at his school in Italy. Hazan is the only child of Victor and Marcella Hazan, the godmother of Italian cooking in America. During this cooking demonstration, Hazan will prepare Zabaglione (Italian custard dessert made by whipping egg yolks, sugar, and sweet wine such as Marsala over heat). The recipe has deep roots in the Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, the region where his parents lived before moving to New York in 1955. Marcella Hazan’s copper Zabaglione pot is one of the featured objects in the museum’s new exhibition, “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness.” 

“Story Time” with DC Public Library 
Wed. May 27, 10:45 a.m.
Coulter Plaza, First Floor, West
 
The museum hosts a monthly “Story Time” in collaboration with the DC Public Library. Children, and their grown-ups, enjoy a story to explore language and literacy skills. “Story Time” is designed for learners ages 5 and under, but all are welcome.

MUSIC

“Music From the Hearts of America presents:  U.S. Air Force Max Impact”
Thurs. May 7, Noon and 2 p.m.
Flag Hall, Second Floor, Center

Max Impact is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Featuring six active-duty musicians, Max Impact regularly presents high-intensity performances throughout the nation and abroad. At this event, Max Impact will be performing pop hits such as “Change the World” by Eric Clapton, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears and “Freedom” by Jon Batiste.

“Music From the Hearts of America presents:  The Jubilee Singers”
Sat. May 9, Noon & 2 p.m.
Wallace H. Coulter Plaza, First Floor, West
 
The Jubilee Singers of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus were formed in 2001 and specialize in sacred music with an emphasis on music by African American composers. In between musical selections from the African American folk tradition, Professor Janice Jackson will interweave history and stories related to the songs.

“The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society Presents: Three Centuries of Masterworks”
Sunday, May 17, 6:30 p.m.
Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music; Third Floor, West

The 49th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society will showcase musical masterpieces from the early 17th to the middle of the 20th century, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments. The season’s final concert will feature The Smithsonian Chamber Players, playing the nineteenth century composer, Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, D821 and Quintet in C Major, D956. The Smithsonian Chamber Players includes Edwin Huizinga, Natalie Kress, Kyle Miller, Rebecca Landell, and Kenneth Slowik. 
Purchase tickets here: Masterworks of Three Centuries Series - Smithsonian Associates
Members $32; Non-members $36

VISITING

What to know:

The museum is open seven days a week, except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and passes are not required. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu/visit.

Food:

This summer, Executive Chef, Mollie Kauffmann and her team are commemorating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary in both cafes with special menus, including themed hot dogs and sandwiches. The Eat at America’s Table Cafe is open for complete food and beverage service. The Leroy Neiman Jazz Café will continue to offer Starbucks Coffee hot and cold beverages, seasonal cafe favorites, and a selection of desserts.

For more information, visit the website.

Bottled water is allowed in the museum. Refillable water bottle for fountains are recommended.
Stores: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25 and in 2025, Jan. 20, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The doors of the museum are always open online and the virtual museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibitions, K–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media via Instagram and Facebook. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.

Amy Kehs | Read More

Amy Kehs is a brand strategist and communications expert for museums.