National Museum of American History

In 2026, we will celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial, and also the fifth anniversary of the January 6th uprising.

How is the first half of the 19th century depicted in and around the nation’s capital? Ed Ayers hits the road to find out.

The Christmas classic, released 75 years ago, conveys many messages beyond having faith in one another.

Long before monuments to enslavers were removed, lawmakers decided to relocate a scandalous, half-naked depiction of George Washington in a toga.

They were made by Alexander Graham Bell and his fellow researchers between 1881 and 1892

A new behind-the-scenes book, “There She Was,” and a Smithsonian collecting initiative celebrate the pageant’s centennial.

Scholars are unraveling the myths surrounding the 1621 feast, which found the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag cementing a newly established alliance.

Researchers discovered the remains of a mid-19th century house, a centuries-old Chinese coin and other traces of the short-lived town of Terrace.

Why it's so important to remember even our ugliest and most racist chapters.

The story played out very differently in Philadelphia and Charleston, and not in the way you might expect.

The beloved line of fictional characters taught children about American history and encouraged them to realize their potential.

Throughout American history, philanthropy has involved the offering of time, money and moral concern to benefit others, but it carries a complicated legacy.