DK Travel : Washington, D.C. : National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History

5.0 /5 (1 vote)

Rate it

Review this attraction

Are these details incorrect?

Three huge floors filled with a variety of fascinating objects make up this paean to American culture. The first floor focuses on science and technology: tools of the Industrial Revolution are here, as well as locomotives, farm equipment, old automobiles, and objects of the 20th-century information age. Mementos of American cultural history, including immigration, internal migration, and the role of women, fill the second floor. The third floor features a stirring tribute to the American presidency.
For more on moments in the history of Washington, D.C.

Top 10 Exhibits

1. The Star-Spangled Banner

The flag that inspired the national anthem is strikingly large – originally 30 by 42 ft (9 by 13 m) – but sadly worn. Created by Baltimore flagmaker Mary Pickersgill in 1813, it is being painstakingly repaired in a preservation laboratory, which is open to public view.
2. Within These Walls

A two-story colonial house from Massachusetts has been rebuilt within the museum, to explore the 200-year history of the families who lived there.
3. The Price of Freedom

This gallery explores the depiction of the nation’s military history, from the French and Indian War in the 1750s to recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The exhibition features a restored Vietnam-era Huey helicopter, and a World War II jeep.
4. First Ladies’ Hall

The First Ladies’ gown gallery has long been a favorite exhibit. In dim lighting to protect the fabrics, visitors experience a voyage back in time through changing women’s fashions.
5. Information Age

Telegraph, telephone, radio, television, computers: this thread of technological development is key to the shape of contemporary life. From Samuel Morse to Seymour Cray, the entire story is here.
6. America on the Move

Multimedia presentations and other theatrical techniques bring ships, trains, and automobiles to life, telling the story of America’s transportation from 1876 to 2000.
7. Communities in a Changing Nation

This exhibit explores the ever-changing world of 19th-century America, revealing the everyday experiences of workers in new factories, of Jewish immigrants, and of enslaved and free African Americans.
8. Sitting for Justice

On February 1, 1960, four African-American students in Greensboro, North Carolina, sat at this lunch counter of the Woolworth store and tried to order food. When they were told to leave, their “passive sit-down demand” energized a powerful movement challenging the segregationist laws of the southern states.
9. The American Presidency

The portable desk Thomas Jefferson used to write the Declaration of Independence and the hat Abraham Lincoln was wearing the night he was assassinated are highlights of this history of the presidential office.
10. Hands-On History Room

Visitors here can use outdated technology, such as sending a telegraph message, pedaling a high-wheel bicycle, and hand-turning a cotton gin.

Practical Information

The Main Street Café, Palm Court Coffee Shop and Gelato Bar, and Subway are all located within the museum and offer a variety of sweet and savory treats. 14th St and Constitution Ave, NW 202-633-1000 www.americanhistory.si.edu/ Open 10am–5:30pm daily; closed Dec 25 Dis. access Free