The first museum to tell the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy.
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From America’s founding to the modern day, diplomacy has played a vital role in shaping our world. and learn how diplomacy affects us all.
Diplomacy at its best is about service, wisdom, consensus, and compromise. On the surface, diplomacy is about the web of relationships between countries
The story of American diplomacy is never finished 📖
Explore the work of America's diplomats and the evolving role of American diplomacy in “Stories of Diplomacy.”
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Dr. Ralph Bunche was the first African American in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize, for his work as a diplomat to broker an armistice that ended the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. On this date 72 years ago, December 10, 1950, Bunche gave his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway.
This was Dr. Bunche’s personal copy of the armistice agreement that he helped broker. It was one of several armistice agreements that brought the 1948 Arab-Israeli War to an end. The signatures are those of individuals who worked with Bunche on the agreement.
This remarkable piece of history serves as a lasting reminder of Bunche’s legacy as one of America’s greatest diplomats. In 1982, the U.S. Postal Service released a stamp honoring Bunche as part of its Great Americans series.
Gift of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies
https://diplomacy.state.gov/items/egyptian-israeli-general-armistice-agreement/
240+ years of history. 200+ online collections stories. One collection database dedicated to telling the story of American diplomacy.
Diplomacy isn't what most people think it is. If your idea of diplomacy is someone sitting around a table signing treaties, you may be surprised by the stories told through NMAD’s collection of more than 10,000 items. Diplomacy is dynamic, hands-on, and happens in unlikely places. NMAD is the only...
Explore the stories, collections items, education resources, and online exhibits that tell the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy on our all-new website!
Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the National Museum of American Diplomacy tells the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy.
We’re proud to announce the launch of our new website! Explore the stories, collections items, education resources, and online exhibits that tell the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy.
Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the National Museum of American Diplomacy tells the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy.
Happy Veterans Day! Today we salute every veteran who has served the United States, those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the thousands of veterans who continue to serve our nation at the U.S. Department of State. Thank you for everything that you do!
Explore our online exhibit! Through Madeleine K. Albright's pins, we’re sharing the history, practice, and challenges of diplomacy.
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
Check out our very own Public Historian, Dr. Alison Mann’s, recent feature in Statemag's column and learn more about her work at the National Museum of American Diplomacy! Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
“[It’s] really exciting when you find someone who has an interest [in history] and then you can talk to them about the work of diplomacy and diplomatic history.” Alison Mann, Ph.D. is a Civil Service public historian in the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
Secretary Madeleine K. Albright used this jewelry to convey messages about foreign policy. Learn more through our online exhibit .
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
This seal emblem from U.S. Embassy Moscow once hung in the embassy’s United States Information Service (USIS) section and represents the United States’ legacy of public diplomacy activities behind the Iron Curtain in the 20th century.
What is the United States Information Service, you might ask? It was one of the most consequential government agencies that you might have never heard of.
Between 1953 and 1999, the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), known as the U.S. Information Service (USIS) overseas, was the federal agency responsible for U.S. Public Diplomacy efforts around the globe. Among its many duties, it operated Radio Free Europe and other broadcasting organizations designed to counter Soviet propaganda.
Collection of the National Museum of American Diplomacy
Always great to have students from the University of Notre Dame's Nanovic Institute for European Studies, University of Notre Dame stop by our museum! Yesterday, they joined us for a tour and met with our team to learn about the history of U.S. diplomacy and the work of the U.S. Department of State.
Open the world of diplomacy and international affairs to your students! Learn how you can bring our Diplomacy Simulations to your classroom today.🍎📚🌎
NMAD's Diplomacy Simulations immerse middle school, high school, and college students in skill-building role-plays based on real-world scenarios developed by
There’s more to this jewelry than meets the eye. Discover the hidden messages behind Madeleine K. Albright's pins in our online exhibit .
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
Take your lessons to the next level with our Diplomacy Simulations! Our Diplomacy Simulations provide your students with a unique collaborative learning experience that lets them step into the role of real-life diplomats.
NMAD's Diplomacy Simulations immerse middle school, high school, and college students in skill-building role-plays based on real-world scenarios developed by
Secretary Madeleine K. Albright used this jewelry to convey messages about foreign policy. Learn more through our online exhibit .
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
When Lino Gutiérrez joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1977, he was the only Latino in his class. Explore his remarkable journey as a U.S. diplomat.
When Lino Gutiérrez joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1977, he found himself to be the only Latino in his class. At that time, Hispanic Americans comprised
There’s more to this jewelry than meets the eye.
Discover the hidden messages behind Madeleine K. Albright's pins in our online exhibit .
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
Esperanza in Spanish means “hope” or “expectation.” This word, both in its promise, and sense of duty, captures the career of Ambassador Carmen G. Cantor. Learn more about her remarkable career as a diplomat 🌎
The word esperanza in Spanish means "hope" or "expectation." This word, both in its promise and sense of duty, captures the career of Carmen G. Cantor, the
This passport issued in 1798 to Bostonian David Hinckley is the oldest passport in our collection!
Back in 1798, the United States did not require that its citizens possess a passport to travel abroad, yet many other nations required proof of U.S. citizenship simply to exit their country. Like many Americans traveling at the time, Hinckley “passed” through a “port” while on business.
Today, the passport remains a critical identification tool in helping American citizens safely travel abroad. It even helps U.S. citizens access American Citizen Services at embassies and consulates in the event of a crisis, arrest, death, or medical emergency while traveling overseas.
Ambassador Arnold Chacon has served as a diplomat for over 40 years. Throughout his career, his mentors taught him valuable lessons and skills as a leader in his community. He made sure to pass those lessons on. Learn more:
Ambassador Arnold Chacon has served as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service for 40 years. His dedication to his career as a public servant began early
DSS special agents and specialists come from a diverse array of backgrounds… a few of the bravest (and cutest) members of the Diplomatic Security Service aren’t even human!
An elite team of puppies are selected for training to become some of the world’s best explosives detection dogs.
These service dogs and their handlers patrol buildings, check vehicles, and perform other vital security functions at the Department of State’s Headquarters in Washington, DC and at U.S. diplomatic missions around the world.
They also support DSS foreign dignitary protection details by patrolling hotels, other sites, and checking vehicles for possible dangers.
This dog collar that belonged to a black Labrador named Jasper, leash that belonged to a Shiba Inu named Ginger, and a set of protective booties are in the collection of the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
They remind us of the pawsitively amazing work of DSS dogs and their vital role in keeping U.S. diplomatic missions safe around the world.
Open the world of diplomacy and international affairs to your students! Learn how you can bring our Diplomacy Simulations to your classroom today.
NMAD's Diplomacy Simulations immerse middle school, high school, and college students in skill-building role-plays based on real-world scenarios developed by
Secretary Blinken's remarks commemorating 75 years of U.S.-Pakistan relations
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bhutto Zardari deliver remarks to highlight flood relief efforts in Pakistan and commemor...
Photos from Global Ties U.S.'s post
We have a lot of passports in our collection, but this one is special...
Known as a “Special Passport,” passports like this example from our collection were issued to officials traveling on government business during most of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. Starting in 1926, currently serving diplomats as well as former ambassadors were issued Diplomatic Passports.
This Special Passport was issued to Sheldon Whitehouse, a career Foreign Service Officer who used it to travel to his post at the U.S. Legation for Greece and Montenegro. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan signed this passport that was issued on June 30, 1914, just a month before the start of WWI. After this assignment, Whitehouse went on to have a successful career and served as the U.S. Minister to Guatemala (1929-1933) and to Colombia (1933-1934).
Through the Madeleine K. Albright Collection, students can learn about the skills and tools of diplomacy. Explore the collection today!
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
On September 8, our friends at U.S. Embassy Prague's American Center hosted a special standing room only photo exhibit that showcased Secretary Madeleine K. Albright's pin collection & celebrated her diplomatic contributions! Explore our online exhibit https://readmypins.state.gov/
Join us in celebrating ! Explore the stories of Hispanic American diplomats in our project and learn more about their remarkable contributions to U.S. diplomacy.
https://diplomacy.state.gov/education/facing-diplomacy/
Take your lessons to the next level with our Diplomacy Simulations! Our Diplomacy Simulations provide your students with a unique collaborative learning experience that lets them step into the role of real-life diplomats.
NMAD's Diplomacy Simulations immerse middle school, high school, and college students in skill-building role-plays based on real-world scenarios developed by
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom.
Over the course of her remarkable 70 year reign, Queen Elizabeth II oversaw a period of unprecedented social and political change, all the while remaining a constant and unifying figure for the people of Great Britain and the world. During her reign, she met with countless heads of states and was an exemplar for what it means to practice the art of diplomacy.
This portrait in our collection was given by Queen Elizabeth II to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in May 2011 during President Barack Obama’s State Visit to the United Kingdom.
We are proud to have her portrait in our collection and will forever remember her legacy as Queen of the United Kingdom.
Are you a member of the U.S. foreign affairs community? Learn how you can participate in our storytelling campaign based on our initiative created in partnership with the Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion 📖 🌎
https://diplomacy.state.gov/education/facing-diplomacy/
What would you be willing to do to save the life of a stranger in prison?
This Medal of Valor, today known as the Award for Heroism, was awarded by the U.S. Department of State to American diplomat Michael Metrinko for his heroic actions while serving as the U.S. Consul in Tabriz, Iran.
In early 1979, Michael Metrinko faced a chaotic and violent situation as the Iranian Revolution spread across the country. Despite being given permission to depart his post, he chose to stay behind out of concern for the lives of several Americans and other westerners held in prison in Tabriz. Metrinko helped them get to the safety of the U.S. consulate building compound after revolutionaries attacked the prison.
The consulate did not remain a safe haven for long. Metrinko and the group of former prisoners were taken hostage twice during ensuing attacks by revolutionaries and faced the real threat of ex*****on. Using his language skills and personal contacts in Iranian society, Metrinko skillfully extricated himself and the former prisoners from this dangerous and unpredictable situation, likely saving their lives.
Gift of Michael J. Metrinko
Today we remember the life and legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union.
Mikhail Gorbachev will forever be remembered for the role he played in ending the Cold War and his dedication to diplomacy as a means to resolve conflicts.
Gorbachev signed the Signature Segment of the Berlin Wall displayed in our museum. His name is surrounded by those of other leaders of the day who together navigated the fall of this barrier that divided Europe. Gorbachev's signature, and other items connected to him in our collection, tell the story of the hope and humanity of a man who helped bring about the end of the Cold War by envisioning a better, more peaceful world.
📸 1️⃣ Mikhail Gorbachev’s signature on the “Signature Segment” of the Berlin Wall at the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
📸 2️⃣ Badges from the 1988 Moscow Summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union Leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Gift of Patrick and Susan Harrington; Collections of the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
📸 3️⃣ Trip information booklet from Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gobachev’s May 30 - June 4, 1990 State Visit to the United States. Collections of the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
We’re proud to join the Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to launch a crowdsourced digital storytelling campaign based on our initiative! Learn more about how you can tell your story 📖
https://diplomacy.state.gov/education/facing-diplomacy/
Secretary Madeleine K. Albright used this jewelry to convey messages about foreign policy. Learn more through our online exhibit .
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
Through : The Madeleine K. Albright Collection, students can learn about the skills and tools of diplomacy. Explore the collection today!
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
When NASA calls, you answer… ☎️
During the Space Shuttle program, as NASA prepared to launch crews from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a small team of diplomats gathered over 800 miles away in Washington, DC at the State Department’s Operations Center.
During Space Shuttle launches, the State Department’s Operations Center team used this phone and others to connect directly with NASA’s Mission Control.
If an emergency landing of the Space Shuttle orbiter within the territory of another country was needed, the State Department would have been tasked with quickly informing the government where the backup landing site was located and making the appropriate arrangements for the safe return of the Space Shuttle orbiter and its crew.
While an actual emergency landing never occurred, the State Department played a vital role in making sure the bilateral agreements for these sites were in place and enabled use at a moment’s notice.
Collections of the National Museum of American Diplomacy
Open the world of diplomacy and international affairs to your students! Learn how you can bring our Diplomacy Simulations to your classroom today.
https://diplomacy.state.gov/discover-diplomacy/simulations/
There’s more to this jewelry than meets the eye. Discover the hidden messages behind Madeleine K. Albright's pins in our online exhibit .
Secretary Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey foreign policy messages. Explore her pins and their stories through this online exhibit.
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Open the world of diplomacy and international affairs to your students! Learn how you can bring our Diplomacy Simulations to your classroom today. https://diplomacy.state.gov/discover-diplomacy/simulations/
Diplomacy Classroom: Diplomacy and the Emancipation Proclamation
Join us on April 28, 2022 at 11:00 am for a discussion with Ukrainian museum leaders on their efforts to protect Ukraine’s museums and preserve their cultural heritage in the midst of the current conflict. We’ll be joined by the Ukrainian museum directors Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta from the Mystetskyi Arsenal and Ihor Poshyvailo from the National Museum of Revolution of Dignity, who will share their experiences of preserving Ukraine's heritage during a full scale military invasion. We’ll also be joined by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Assistant Secretary of State, Lee Satterfield, and Dr. Richard Kurin, a Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large.
Are you a member of the U.S. foreign affairs community? Learn how you can participate in our new storytelling campaign based on our #FacingDiplomacy initiative created in partnership with the Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion https://diplomacy.state.gov/education/facing-diplomacy/
We’re proud to join the Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to launch a new crowdsourced digital storytelling campaign based on our #FacingDiplomacy initiative! Learn more about how you can tell your story 📚 https://diplomacy.state.gov/education/facing-diplomacy/
How do decisions by diplomats impact the future? In this segment of Diplomacy Classroom, we will be learning about the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis, the diplomats involved, and the long-term impact that the event had on the world. We will be joined by Dr. Tizoc Chavez, who served as the consulting historian for one of our new simulations, The Suez Canal Crisis: National Sovereignty Versus International Access to Waterways. This program serves as an additional resource to use in the simulation.
Join us for a special Diplomacy After Hours program* that will explore the contributions of Hispanic-American diplomats to American diplomacy. We’ll be joined by special guests Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez who will share moments from his 29-year career in the Foreign Service. Isabel Romero, President of the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA), will discuss the impact Hispanic-American diplomats make in serving our nation. NMAD Public Historian Dr. Alison Mann, and Museum Associate Sarah Chacon, will discuss the life and work of Ambassador Mari-Luci Jaramillo, a presidential appointee who served as the first woman Hispanic-American Ambassador to Honduras (1977-1980). *This program will be pre-recorded
Join us on September 14, 2021 at 1:00pm EDT for a special Diplomacy Classroom to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Teacher Program! We’ll be joined by Kayla Gatalica from the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program who will discuss the mission of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program and its global impact on teachers and students. We’ll also be joined by Turtle Haste, a program alumna, who’ll share her experiences while serving in the Republic of Georgia.
What role does diplomacy play at the Olympics and Paralympics? See our recent Diplomacy After Hours program on the power of sports diplomacy. This discussion features our Public Historian Dr. Alison Mann, Paralympian and U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy and ECA exchange sports alumnus John Register, Curator of Sports at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dr. Damion Thomas, and Program Specialist from Sports Diplomacy - U.S. Department of State, Dr. Ashleigh Huffman.
Join our Education Team for a discussion of the museum's new Historical Diplomacy Simulation Program and how to use it in the classroom! The event will include how to facilitate simulation participation and a tour of diplomacy education resources on the museum's website.
What role do the Olympics play in American diplomacy? As the 2021 Summer Olympic Games kick off this month, please join NMAD – in partnership with Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State - for a virtual program on July 28, 2021 at 5 pm EDT to discuss the diplomatic impact of our nation’s athletes and the power of sports diplomacy. This discussion features our Public Historian Dr. Alison Mann, Paralympian and U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy and ECA exchange sports alumnus John Register, Curator of Sports at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dr. Damion Thomas, and Program Specialist from Sports Diplomacy - U.S. Department of State, Dr. Ashleigh Huffman.
Today is Bastille Day! Watch our Diplomacy Classroom from 2020 to learn more about how Benjamin Franklin secured an alliance with the French during the American Revolution. 🇺🇸 🇫🇷
Diplomacy Classroom: Camp David Accords
Tomorrow is Independence Day! Last year, we partnered with the Museum of the American Revolution for this Diplomacy Classroom event on the Declaration of Independence and its global impact.
Join us for a discussion on the contributions of Asian American & Pacific Islander diplomats to American diplomacy. We will explore the lives and service of three Asian Americans: Ambassador Don Yamamoto, current U.S. Ambassador to Somalia; Boa Lee, Foreign Service Officer and daughter of Hmong refugees; and Dr. Sammy Lee, a groundbreaking Olympic champion and Cold War goodwill ambassador.
On June 19, 1865, U.S. government troops entered Galveston, TX to ensure all enslaved persons were liberated. This was two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863. Celebrate #Juneteenth by learning its history.
Join us June 8 at 1:00pm, for a Diplomacy Classroom on the work of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. U.S. diplomats Anjalina Sen and Stacy Gilbert, will discuss U.S. leadership in humanitarian efforts and how diplomats help people around the world who have been forcibly displaced.
Join us for a discussion about the State Department’s 24/7 crisis communication hub, the Operations Center, and explore its important role in protecting American interests over the past 60 years. Hear first-hand stories from diplomats who work on "the watch" and crisis management team and learn how they assist in communicating critical messages from around the world to American leaders.
Diplomacy Classroom: Sharing Cultural Heritage
The Judge as Diplomat: Honoring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Judge as Diplomat: Honoring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The Peace Corps is celebrating its 60th anniversary! Join our conversation with recruiter Rachel Hatch, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Mongolia. We’ll learn about what the Peace Corps does, the lives of volunteers around the world, and how many go on to careers in diplomacy. Through an immersive and once in a lifetime experience, Peace Corps volunteers enhance American understanding of the world, and the world’s understanding of America.
This Women’s History Month, join us in celebrating trailblazing women diplomats who made vital contributions to our nation. Explore our online exhibit Her Diplomacy to learn more. http://diplomacy.state.gov/explore-online-exhibits/herdiplomacy/
Did you miss our program yesterday on the life and legacy of Ambassador Edward J. Perkins? Don’t worry, we have you covered! Watch Acting Director Dr. Jane Carpenter-Rock discuss Ambassador Perkins’ life and legacy with his daughters, Katherine and Sarah Perkins.
Join us on February 9, 2021 at 1:00pm EST for a special Diplomacy Classroom to learn about the role diplomacy played in helping to free the Africans who mutinied on the Spanish ship La Amistad. We’ll be joined by our Public Historian, Dr. Alison Mann, who will discuss how this landmark case challenged America’s democratic ideals. In 1839, the U.S. navy confiscated a Spanish ship, La Amistad, off the coast of Long Island, NY. Aboard were Africans and two Spaniards, who insisted the Africans were their slaves who had taken over the ship, and a treaty between the United States and Spain stated that all “property” be restored. American abolitionists, however, argued the Africans were free people based on international law. How would the practice of diplomacy be used to enforce the rule of law in this complicated case? Tune in to learn more.
This African American History Month we’re celebrating the contributions of the pioneering African American diplomats whose work helped pave the way for future generations.
This year, our museum has continued to grow in the face of a global pandemic. Both in-person and virtually, we found new ways to tell the history and stories of diplomacy. Take a look back at this incredible year and the people who made it possible.
Did you know that the famous festive Poinsettia flower is named after a U.S. diplomat? Join us for this year’s final Diplomacy Classroom tomorrow, December 15 at 2:00 PM EST to discover the story of U.S. Minister Joel Roberts Poinsett. diplomacy.state.gov/events
On October 14, 2020, Diplomacy After Hours celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a special performance from U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador Pinqy Ring and a candid conversation among Latinx diplomats.