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The Philadelphia, a flat-bottomed gunboat, served briefly at the Battle of Valcour Island in October 1776. Thanks to Smithsonian conservators, the Philadelphia is coming back to life in the National Museum of American History.

America's 250th Anniversary

The Gunboat ‘Philadelphia’ Lasted One Day in Battle. It’s Still Telling Us About the Revolution 250 Years Later

The 29-ton ship went to war against the British, then sat at the bottom of Lake Champlain for 160 years. Now it’s a relic of ragged glory

Easter bunny treats from the Chocolate House, Co Co. Sala and Pastries by Randolph photographed in Washington, D.C.

How the Chocolate Bunny Became the Mouthwatering Mascot of Easter Sweets

In the 19th century, chocolatiers crafted these tasty treats with “complexity and artistry,” says a food curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

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Why Do So Few Mammals Go Through Menopause? And More Questions From Our Readers

You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts

Gertrude Lawrence as Anna Leonowens and Yul Brynner as Mongkut in the 1951 Broadway production of The King and I. The musical turns 75 on March 29.

Based on a True Story

‘The King and I’ Spotlights an English Governess Who Modernized Siamese Society. The Real Anna Leonowens Exaggerated Her Influence and Lied About Her Origins

The beloved musical is loosely based on a Eurasian schoolteacher’s accounts of her time at King Mongkut’s court. These memoirs masked her mixed-race status and unfairly portrayed the monarch as a tyrant

A view of the Action Comics No. 1 cover

The Historic Comic Books That Introduced Superman and Captain America Just Entered the Smithsonian in a Landmark Acquisition

The National Museum of American History adds ‘Action Comics No. 1’ and ‘Captain America Comics No. 1’ to its vast pop culture and entertainment library

A Van Gogh Pikachu Pokémon card, on January 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, California

Nintendo Released Its First ‘Pokémon’ Games 30 Years Ago. Here’s How the Beloved Catchable ‘Pocket Monsters’ Became the World’s Biggest Media Franchise

The phenomenon—with its video games, trading cards, shows, movies and merchandise—has generated billions in revenue

The Reverend Jesse Jackson attends an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Jesse Jackson Witnessed Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination. Here’s How He Carried the Torch for the Civil Rights Movement Into the Future

He emerged as a leader in the 1960s and championed unity among marginalized groups across the U.S.

Easy-Bake Oven, 1977

How the Easy-Bake Oven, an Appliance That Allowed Kids to Heat Treats With a Light Bulb, Revolutionized the Toy Industry

The product, launched in 1963, became a staple in American households

The Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the national anthem, on view at the National Museum of American History

From Giant Art to Amazing Specimens, See These 20 New and Revitalized Smithsonian Shows in 2026

The Institution’s museums are commemorating America’s 250th birthday, showcasing the art of noise and displaying the best of portraiture

People view the Declaration of Independence and other documents at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Ten of the Most Exciting Ways to Commemorate America’s 250th This Year

Our country’s birthday bash includes exhibitions, historical reenactments, a massive potluck and more

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is finally set to open in L.A.’s Exposition Park on September 22.

These Are the Top Ten Most Anticipated Museums Opening Around the World in 2026

New institutions dedicated to digital art, exploration, hip-hop, conservation and more are expected to welcome visitors this year

A Gibson girl illustration for Life magazine by Charles Dana Gibson, circa 1906

Who Was the Inspiration Behind the ‘Gibson Girl’ Illustrations? The Artist Said She Was Every Woman

Charles Dana Gibson’s archetype became the original American “it girl” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and helped transform fashion and beauty

Eusebio Maglinte's steamer trunk, 1920s

Recovered Steamer Trunks Reveal the Overlooked Histories of Filipino American Farm Workers in the Early 20th Century

The artifacts serve as time capsules for an entire generation of “manong” workers and they’re now displayed at the National Museum of American History

Supervising animator Marc Davis often explored costume designs and helped develop the look and accessories of the characters he animated, including Cinderella.

Disney Was in Distress During the Late 1940s. Then ‘Cinderella’ Came to the Rescue and Saved the Company From Financial Disaster

Over 75 years after its release, the film is still connecting with animators and audiences

A 1984 front-loading Betamax video recorder

This Revolutionary but Largely Forgotten Video Recorder Debuted 50 Years Ago. Devoted Fans Say the Machine Had the Best Quality of Its Time

Tech lovers continue to tout the superior resolution of Sony’s Betamax—even though it became obsolete after VHS overtook it

New York City, 1984. Advertising is a recurring theme in Friedlander’s photography, and no figure appears more often in store windows than Old St. Nick. 

A Famed Street Photographer Chronicled What Christmas Looks Like Across America Over the Course of Decades

Lee Friedlander’s new book, “Christmas,” collects his work from all over the country on the topic of our sentimental and materialistic connection to the holiday

Why is the Midwest covered with prairies instead of forests? 

Why Aren’t There Forests in the Midwest? And More Questions From Our Readers

You’ve Got Questions. We’ve Got Experts

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An Industrious Grocer in the 1930s Wanted to Make It Easier for His Customers to Buy More. They Just Needed a Push

There was a time when shoppers could buy only as much as they could carry. And as ubiquitous as shopping carts are today, it initially took some convincing to use them

A Currier & Ives print, published in the mid- to late 19th century, depicts Crow’s Nest, a mountain along the Hudson’s west bank.

The History of America Flows Through the Hudson River, and the Country’s Aquatic Superhighway Is on the Rebound

The bucolic river is famous for reversing its current a few times each day. Now, an ongoing cleanup effort is reversing decades of industrial contamination

While he racked up more medals than any other soldier in World War II, Audie Murphy wore this olive drab wool Eisenhower jacket, size 36.

Audie Murphy Was an Idol of the Silver Screen. That Came After He Was the Most-Decorated American Hero of World War II

He single-handedly held off 250 German troops and six tanks, saving an entire company. And that was just the start of what he accomplished in his too-short life

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