Civil War | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/civil-war/RSS feed for Civil WarenWed, 01 Jul 2026 15:11:09 +0000As France Prepares to Light Up the Statue of Liberty for America's 250th, Peek Into the History of the Symbol of Trans-Atlantic Friendshiphttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/as-france-prepares-to-light-up-the-statue-of-liberty-for-americas-250th-peek-into-the-history-of-the-symbol-of-translatlantic-friendship-180989047/Here’s how three French idealists—an abolitionist, a sculptor and the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower—brought the representation of freedom to lifeWed, 01 Jul 2026 15:11:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/as-france-prepares-to-light-up-the-statue-of-liberty-for-americas-250th-peek-into-the-history-of-the-symbol-of-translatlantic-friendship-180989047/This Building Hosted Lincoln's Inaugural Ball and Displayed the Declaration of Independence. Today, It's Home to Two World-Class Art Museumshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-building-hosted-lincolns-inaugural-ball-and-displayed-the-declaration-of-independence-today-its-home-to-two-world-class-art-museums-180988990/The Old Patent Office Building now houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. A new exhibition spotlights the structure's rich history of encouraging innovationThu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-building-hosted-lincolns-inaugural-ball-and-displayed-the-declaration-of-independence-today-its-home-to-two-world-class-art-museums-180988990/At a Pivotal Moment of the Civil War, Frederick Douglass Delivered a Speech That Reframed What Was at Stake if Slavery Stoodhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/pivotal-moment-civil-war-frederick-douglass-delivered-speech-reframed-what-was-at-stake-slavery-stood-180988836/In “The Mission of the War,” America’s incomparable orator helped turn public sentiment in favor of the Union and Abraham Lincoln, beginning the process of “national regeneration”Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/pivotal-moment-civil-war-frederick-douglass-delivered-speech-reframed-what-was-at-stake-slavery-stood-180988836/Harriet Beecher Stowe Wrote a Work of Fiction That Seemed So Real That It Changed the History of the Countryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/harriet-beecher-stowe-wrote-work-fiction-that-seemed-so-real-changed-history-country-180988826/To fight against slavery, the author collected true stories then picked up a pen and distilled them into “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/harriet-beecher-stowe-wrote-work-fiction-that-seemed-so-real-changed-history-country-180988826/