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National Museum of American History

eggs nestled in straw

Eggs, Luck and the 1957 Bird Flu: Will History Repeat Itself?

A past pandemic was narrowly avoided—can the U.S. dodge another as a new strain spreads?

The interior of the Forensic Science on Trial exhibition. Several large cases with objects and text panels are visible.

Going Behind the Scenes With 'Forensic Science on Trial'

This year, the museum opened "Forensic Science on Trial," a temporary exhibition that explores how people influence the way forensic science is used in the pursuit of justice. The exhibition’s curator, Kristen Frederick-Frost, recently gave us a behind-the-scenes look into its creation. The transcript below is an edited version of our interview, led by Jordan Grant

Entertainment Nation

Mark Your Calendar: Black History Month, Exhibits, Jazz and More at the National Museum of American History

This February at the museum, we're celebrating a new season of the podcast, commemorating Black History Month, and listening to some jazz. Check out the calendar to find out what's going on this month!

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Meet the Athletes Who Became Champion Inventors

Frustrated on the sporting field, they became “user innovators” when they used their ingenuity to improve the game

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These Astounding Relics From the Omaha Beach Battle Tell The Story of D-Day 80 Years Later

A jacket, coin and letter reveal what life was like for the brave soldiers who turned the tide of World War II on the Western Front

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Remembering Emmett Till, Appreciating Jazz and More in April

New exhibitions, programming for Jazz Appreciation Month and more at the museum in April

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Sports Inventions, Music and More, Check Out These March Happenings

March Happenings include a new exhibition, a new online educational video series and the 46th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra

Celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month and More, Check Out These April Happenings

April Happenings include an exciting new exhibition on the Disney Parks and a program looking at how "place" influences innovation

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From Artificial Intelligence to Ancestral Foods, Check Out These November Happenings

Attend a naturalization ceremony and other events hosted by the American History Museum

The Magnavox Odyssey system arrayed in front of its cover box. The box is decorated with the system's name and small images of various games and children using the Odyssey's controller

How the Magnavox Odyssey Predicted the Future of Video Games

The first home video game system had a lot of the right ideas, just not at the right time

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Answering Your Five Biggest Questions About American Sushi

How was sushi adapted to make it appealing to the American palate? And what does the government have to do with sushi?

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Soldiers in Fur Coats and 'Doggles'

Celebrate National Dog Day with military dog Fausto's visit to the museum

Pocket sundial

How Did a 17th-Century French Sundial End Up Buried in a Field in Indiana?

Curator Peggy Kidwell solves the mystery of a pocket sundial from the 1600s

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Illustrating the Teddy Roosevelt Africa Expedition

In 1909, President Teddy Roosevelt decided to travel to Africa with naturalists to collect specimens for the Smithsonian

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When Computer Programming Was 'Just Like Planning a Dinner

Women were encouraged to seek employment in computing by appealing to traditional domestic roles

Rea Ann Silva with an oversized version of the Beautyblender sponge (Courtesy of Beautyblender)

How Rea Ann Silva Invented the Beautyblender—and Changed Makeup Forever

Silva’s work as a makeup artist on "Girlfriends" unexpectedly thrust her into the beauty products industry as an innovator and entrepreneur

Robert Abbe's hourglass (NMAH)

Curing Cancer with a Single Gram of Radium

How a group of women gave radium as a gift to America

This glass tube, part of the museum’s collection, once contained a sample of helium. Its paper label reads, “HELIUM / SIR W. RAMSAY, K.C.B., LL.D., F.R.S. / THOMAS TRYER & CO., Ltd. / STRATFORD, LONDON, ENGLAND.”

The History of Holding Helium

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, but how do you hold it?

Team USA stamps

The Science Behind a Faster, Higher, Stronger Team USA

The unsung heroes behind the Summer Olympics are the scientists and engineers whose inventions and innovations help athletes become “Faster, Higher, Stronger”

Cher Ami, April 1918–June 1919 (NMAH)

Solving a 100-Year-Old Mystery About a Pigeon

Animal hero celebrates its Smithsonian centennial

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