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National Museum of American History

Visitors look at the Star Spangled Banner. It is dimly lit in its gallery at the museum.

Celebrating America 250, Solstice, Civic Season and Flag Day at the National Museum of American History

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events!

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First Lady Melania Trump’s second inaugural gown joins the Smithsonian collection

The gown joined the collection at a ceremony on February 20, 2026.

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Advertising for Love

For centuries, people have turned to personal ads to find love. Why were they so popular, and how did they develop their own quirky culture of communication?

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What's Happening in September: Events, Exhibits and More!

Here’s what’s happening this month at the National Museum of American History

Portrait of Anna May Wong. Wong wears a yellow dress and gazes to the side of the frame. She delicately holds a red folding fan behind her head.

Anna May Wong's Long Journey From Hollywood to the Smithsonian

Anna May Wong built a remarkable career, she became a legendary style icon.

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

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

Three cards where visitors left handwritten messages invoking girl power. One card reads: “you think we're not good enough but we're just to [sic] good for you, girl power.”

What Does 'Girl Power' Really Mean?

We asked our visitors to talk back about what it means to be a girl

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Meet the Titans of Jazz

We're here to help you put jazz history's names and faces together—and just in time for Jazz Appreciation Month

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Ella at the Gala

The Ella Fitzgerald Papers reveal a surprising connection between Fitzgerald and the Kennedy Inauguration

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Jack Johnson, the First Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion

During Johnson's reign, promoters sought a "Great White Hope" to defeat the flamboyant champion, and his victories were often marred by racial discord

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The Card Collection That Blurred Baseball's Color Line

In the pages of this album, players from Latin American Leagues, the Negro Leagues, and Major League Baseball appear alongside each other

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The 'Green Book' Became an Atlas of Self-Reliance for Black Motorists

For black Americans, the central paradox of the American automobile age was that it occurred in the middle of the Jim Crow era

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Conserving Pieces of the History of Uncle Tom's Cabin

Go behind the scenes in the conservation lab as a conservator uncovers the hidden story of a series of painted panels

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Ten Objects That Will Help You Understand Latinx History

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve put together a top 10 list of the museum’s most exciting Latinx history objects.

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Baseball Uniforms Honor Latino Heritage on the Field

Puerto Rican baseball legend Roberto Clemente once declared, “When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth.”

R2-D2 droid costume featured in the movie

Why Isn't My Favorite Artifact on Display?

We know how it feels when you come to the museum and the thing that you love isn't on display

The first stanza of the national anthem is projected prominently on the wall above the Star-Spangled Banner in the museum. (NMAH)

Why is There a Question Mark at the End of the National Anthem?

When we sing the anthem, we don't end it questioningly, but with a firm, declarative (sometimes over-warbled) note

The Story Behind the Iconic Photo of Gay Dads Kissing

Life Magazine published a 12 page article, but without the most meaningful image

Norman Granz and Ella Fitzgerald at a microphone, 1950. (Ella Fitzerald Papers, NMAH Archives Center)

How Norman Granz Revolutionized Jazz for Social Justice

Granz fought Jim Crow America, identifying the potential of jazz music to combat racial inequality.

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