The museum holds the original Star-Spangled Banner, which is displayed in a specialized, climate-controlled, low-light chamber to prevent further fiber degradation.
The collection includes the actual microphone Franklin D. Roosevelt used for his 'Fireside Chats' during the Great Depression.
Julia Child's kitchen was donated to the museum by the chef herself, including the original cabinets and cookware she used in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The museum preserves the telegraph key used to send the first transcontinental telegraph message in 1861.
It houses a 19th-century 'pumper' fire engine, one of the oldest surviving pieces of firefighting equipment in the U.S.
The museum displays the pocket watch Abraham Lincoln carried on the night of his assassination.
It holds a fragment of the Greensboro lunch counter where the 1960 sit-ins occurred, a seminal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
The museum maintains an extensive numismatic collection, including the 1933 Double Eagle gold coin.
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History houses over three million artifacts documenting the social, political, cultural, and military history of the United States. Its collection includes the original Star-Spangled Banner, the desk Thomas Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence, and the Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz. The building is divided into three floors, with permanent exhibitions dedicated to topics ranging from transportation and innovation to war and diplomacy. Visitors can view the First Ladies' gowns collection, which showcases presidential history through fashion. The museum features a significant collection of pop culture items, including Julia Child's kitchen and items from the hip-hop music scene. Interactive stations and archival displays allow for a deep dive into specific historical eras and technological advancements. It serves as a comprehensive repository of Americana, focusing on the people and objects that shaped the nation.
The central atrium provides a balanced, bright perspective of the museum's multi-level architecture.
Prioritize your visit by selecting one or two specific wings, as the museum is too vast to see thoroughly in a single day.
Visit the third-floor galleries first, as they are typically less crowded than the high-traffic exhibits on the first floor.
Check the online calendar for current temporary exhibitions before arriving, as some rotating displays are only available for a limited time.
Trying to see every single floor in one visit, which leads to fatigue and missing the depth of the exhibits.
Closed on December 25th.
No food or drink allowed in the galleries; photography for personal use is generally permitted without flash.
