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American History

In Nebraska, storms are a violence from which no amount of caution or privilege can protect you. Their warnings crawl across television screens in every season.

Lincoln, Nebraska: Home on the Prairie

The college city’s big sky and endless farmland gave this New Yorker some fresh perspective

What if we could make masks to look like these models in the Natural History Museum's Hall of Human Origins?

The List: Smithsonian-Inspired Halloween Costumes

For all you last-minute costume shoppers, here’s this year’s list of Smithsonian DIY ideas

Lord's autograph quilt

The Civil War 150 Years: Lord’s Famous Autograph Quilt

A Civil War teenager covers her quilt with the signatures of Union leaders

Carl Yastrzemski's custom batting helmet

The List: Legends Play Ball at the Smithsonian

With the World Series set to start, see some of the all-time baseball greats in the Institution’s collections

Aerial view of the city of Leiden, Holland

The Pilgrims Before Plymouth

A tour of the Dutch city of Leiden yields new insights into a chapter of the Thanksgiving story not taught in schools

Texas Instruments' Regency TR-1, the first commercial transistor radio, on display at the American History Museum

The Transistor Radio Launches the Portable Electronic Age

On this day in 1954, the commercial introduction of the a new device revolutionized consumer electronics forever

Esperanza Spalding, at the dress donation ceremony

Musician Esperanza Spalding Donates Nobel Dress to the American History Museum

Frank Kameny donated picket signs to Brent Glass, former director of NMAH, and curator Harry Rubenstein in 2006.

Remembering Gay Rights Activist Frank Kameny (1925-2011)

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has artifacts from Kameny’s early days in the gay rights movement in its collection

Apple founder Steve Jobs in 1977 introduces the new Apple II computer

The Many Contributions of Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

The extraordinary career of the entrepreneur is chronicled in the Smithsonian collections

Historian Alfred W. Crosby coined the term "Columbian Exchange" in reference to the impact of living organisms traded between the New World and Old World.

Alfred W. Crosby on the Columbian Exchange

The historian discusses the ecological impact of Columbus’ landing in 1492 on both the Old World and the New World

The eight cotton hoods worn by Confederate conspirators after Lincoln's assassination

The Civil War 150 Years: The Washington Eight

After plotting to kill Lincoln and other Union leaders, a group of Confederate conspirators was put on trial

Visit the Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum

Events Oct. 3-6: Butterfly Pavilion, Quiltmaking Demonstration, America in Black and White and African Drumming

This week, see exotic insects, learn a new craft, be part of a thought-provoking discussion on race and join a drum circle

See the documentary "Columbus Day Legacy" this Saturday at the American Indian Museum.

Weekend Events Sept. 30 – Oct. 2: Treasures at the Museum, Columbus Day Legacy, and Portrait Discovery

This weekend, get a book autographed, see a thought-provoking documentary, and see the Portrait Gallery in a whole new way

The original penicillin mold discovered by Fleming is in the collections held at the American History Museum

The List: Medical Innovations at the Smithsonian

On the anniversary of the legendary discovery of polio, take a tour of the most significant medical inventions in history

Performer Diosa Costello, honored at a donation ceremony last week

Legendary Performer Diosa Costello Donates Wardrobe to Smithsonian

A pioneer of theater, nightclubs and Broadway gives her costumes to the American History Museum

An early pair of Levi Strauss & Co.'s "Duck Trousers"

The Origin of Blue Jeans

On the anniversary of Levi Strauss’ death, learn the creation story of one of the most popular articles of clothing

Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham

Meet Michael Pahn: The Fiddle and The Violin are Identical Twins (that Separated at Birth)

Guest blogger and musician Michael Pahn prefers his fiddle to a violin, though they are the same instrument

Come learn about the Zoo's Aldabras tortoises.

Events Sept. 19-22: The Life of Cleopatra, Aldabras Galore, Celebrate the Land, and La Buena Vida

This week, hear about the queen of ancient Egypt, see some of the world’s largest tortoises, talk to curators about the environment, and more

"B.B. King," by Morgan Monceaux.

Celebrating B.B. King, the Face of the Blues

A look back at the American music icon

Learn about the Andean Chawaytiri community at Jose Barreiro's lecture.

Events Sept 12-15: The Star-Spangled Banner, The Chawaytiri of Peru, Smith Art Lecture, and Airmen of Note

See American history come alive, listen to lectures by distinguished speakers, and enjoy the sounds of one of the country’s top jazz bands

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