National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History Home of the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the national anthem.
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The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history.

Born in La Ceiba, Honduras, Dunia Elvir moved to Los Angeles as a teenager. While helping her grandmother clean houses, ...
09/22/2023

Born in La Ceiba, Honduras, Dunia Elvir moved to Los Angeles as a teenager. While helping her grandmother clean houses, a radio ad from the American Communications Institute, a trade school in Hollywood, drew her interest. There, she earned an International Broadcasting degree, propelling her career into journalism.

In 2006, many workers, activists, and undocumented youth and their families organized a series of marches to protest a lack of immigration reform. At that time, Elvir was working for KVEA-52 Telemundo, and not only covered the protest for the network, but marched alongside in high heels – while pregnant.

These sneakers, pictured here, were hand-painted by a fan, and tell the story of Elvir’s immigration journey from Honduras to California.

The sneakers, along with Elvir’s high heels, are just a few of the objects that explore her work as a journalist, now on display in our newest exhibition, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News.”

The exhibit is made possible by the generous support of George L. Pla; Guillermo Nicolas, in honor of Irma and Emilio Nicolas Sr.; and Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman and Mrs. Eugenia L. Taubman; with federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino /con apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense.



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Nacida en La Ceiba, Honduras, Dunia Elvir se mudó a Los Ángeles cuando era adolescente. Mientras ayudaba a su abuela a limpiar casas, un anuncio de radio del American Communications Institute, una escuela de oficios de Hollywood, llamó su atención. Allí obtuvo un título en Radiodifusión Internacional, impulsando su carrera en el periodismo.

En 2006, muchos trabajadores, activistas y jóvenes indocumentados y sus familias organizaron una serie de marchas para protestar por la falta de una reforma migratoria. En ese momento, Elvir trabajaba para KVEA-52 Telemundo, y no solo cubrió la protesta para la cadena, sino que también marchó en ella con tacones altos, mientras estaba embarazada.

Estos tenis que se muestran aquí, fueron pintados a mano por un fan y cuentan la historia del viaje de inmigración de Elvir desde Honduras a California.

Estos tenis, junto con los tacones altos de Elvir, son solo algunos de los objetos que exploran su trabajo como periodista, ahora en exhibición en nuestra exposición más reciente, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News.”

La exposición es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de George L. Pla; Guillermo Nicolás, en honor a Irma y Emilio Nicolás Sr.; y el Embajador Nicholas F. Taubman y la Sra. Eugenia L. Taubman; con apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense

Happening today!How has philanthropy advanced – or impeded – social justice? How can philanthropy work to create a more ...
09/21/2023

Happening today!

How has philanthropy advanced – or impeded – social justice? How can philanthropy work to create a more just and equitable future? Today, our 2023 Power of Giving symposium will explore these questions and more.

There’s still time to register: https://bit.ly/23POG

09/20/2023
One day left! Join us tomorrow for the 2023 Power of Giving symposium, featuring a diverse panel of experts discussing s...
09/20/2023

One day left! Join us tomorrow for the 2023 Power of Giving symposium, featuring a diverse panel of experts discussing social justice and philanthropy.

Registration is free: https://bit.ly/23POG

The Power of Giving is generously supported by David M. Rubenstein.

For questions from the press and general information about the Museum, please call 202-633-3129 or use the contact form for the Office of Communications & Marketing.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies’ traveling exhibition,...
09/19/2023

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies’ traveling exhibition, “A More Perfect Union: American Artists and the Currents of Our Time,” is now open to the public at our museum!

Learn more here:

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies’ traveling exhibition, A More Perfect Union: American Artists and the Currents of Our Time, will be on view at the National Museum of American History September 19–October 1, 2023. This is the fin...

Gilda Mirós became one of the earliest women on Spanish-language TV news in the United States when she decided to move f...
09/19/2023

Gilda Mirós became one of the earliest women on Spanish-language TV news in the United States when she decided to move from film to journalism.

At 18 years old, Mirós left New York City for Mexico City with the hopes of becoming an actress during the last years of Mexico’s golden age of cinema.

But in the early 1970s, Gilda Mirós moved from entertainer to documentarian and journalist. She produced innovative documentaries about Latinos imprisoned in Rikers Island, and after visiting troops in Vietnam with the United Service Organization (USO), was inspired to make a documentary about Latinos in the military.

This USO hat is just one of the objects that explore Mirós’ work as a journalist, now on display in our newest exhibition, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News.”



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Gilda Mirós se convirtió en una de las primeras mujeres en los noticiarios televisivos en español de Estados Unidos cuando decidió pasar del cine al periodismo.

A los 18 años, Mirós partió de Nueva York a Ciudad de México con la esperanza de convertirse en actriz durante los últimos años de la época dorada del cine mexicano.

Pero a principios de la década de 1970, Gilda Mirós pasó de animadora a documentalista y periodista. Produjo documentales innovadores sobre los latinos encarcelados en Rikers Island y, después de visitar a las tropas en Vietnam con la United Service Organization (USO), se inspiró para hacer un documental sobre los latinos en el ejército.

Este sombrero de USO es solo uno de los objetos que exploran el trabajo de Mirós como periodista en exhibición en nuestra exposición más reciente, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News.”

Have you explored the National Museum of the American Latino's first exhibit “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United ...
09/15/2023

Have you explored the National Museum of the American Latino's first exhibit “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States” yet?

You can experience it in person at our museum or online: https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions/presente

¡PRESENTE! A Latino History of the United States online experience

Today marks the beginning of  !Throughout the month, we'll share objects and stories from our collection, but in the mea...
09/15/2023

Today marks the beginning of !

Throughout the month, we'll share objects and stories from our collection, but in the meantime, you can explore many complex Latino narratives through our exhibits, collections, archives, programs, and blogs online!

If you haven't visited recently, this month is a great time to swing by and see two of our newest bilingual exhibitions, "“Entertainment Nation”/“Nación del espectáculo,” and “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News."

https://americanhistory.si.edu/topics/latino-history

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15! Visit our heritage month page and enjoy the many resources presented here about Hispanic and Latino history.¡El Mes de la Herencia Hispana es del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre! Visite nuestra página del mes de la herencia y disfrute de los...

¡De última hora!Exciting news! Our newest exhibition, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News” is now open to th...
09/15/2023

¡De última hora!

Exciting news! Our newest exhibition, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News” is now open to the public!

This bilingual exhibition presents stories about Latina journalists to showcase how Spanish-language gave voice and visibility to a large segment of the American Public, and how these journalists advocate for Spanish-speaking communities and navigate the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of breaking news.

Learn more here: https://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/de-ultima-hora

The exhibit is made possible by the generous support of George L. Pla; Guillermo Nicolas, in honor of Irma and Emilio Nicolas Sr.; and Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman and Mrs. Eugenia L. Taubman; with federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino / con apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense.
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¡De última hora!

¡Buenas noticias! ¡Nuestra exposición más reciente, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News”, ya está abierta al público!

Esta exposición bilingüe presenta historias sobre periodistas latinas para demostrar cómo el idioma español dio voz y visibilidad a un gran segmento del público estadounidense, y cómo estas periodistas abogan por las comunidades de habla hispana y navegan en el entorno acelerado y en constante cambio de las noticias.

Más información aquí: https://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/de-ultima-hora

La exposición es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de George L. Pla; Guillermo Nicolás, en honor a Irma y Emilio Nicolás Sr.; y el Embajador Nicholas F. Taubman y la Sra. Eugenia L. Taubman; con apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense.

Las periodistas latinas escribieron el primer borrador de la historia para las comunidades de habla hispana en los Estados Unidos.¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News es una exposición bilingüe que presenta historias de periodistas latinas para mostrar cómo la televisión en español d...

Before Kermit joined Miss Piggy and Big Bird, he was kicking it with Sam and Friends—a local TV show in Washington, D.C....
09/14/2023

Before Kermit joined Miss Piggy and Big Bird, he was kicking it with Sam and Friends—a local TV show in Washington, D.C., that launched Jim Henson's career.

Listen along with Smithsonian's Sidedoor podcast as they journey back to 1955 to figure out how this eccentric cast of puppets built the foundation for everything Jim Henson would do afterward, from Sesame Street to The Muppet Show and even Labyrinth (we see you, David Bowie fans).

(Oh, and PS - the original Kermit, along with Oscar, Elmo, and Rosita, are all on display in Entertainment Nation - come check them out!)

Conserving the history of Jim Henson's Muppets.

How can philanthropy work to create a more just and equitable future? Join us on Sept. 21 for the 2023 Power of Giving s...
09/14/2023

How can philanthropy work to create a more just and equitable future? Join us on Sept. 21 for the 2023 Power of Giving symposium as experts discuss this question and more.

Register here: https://bit.ly/23POG

The Power of Giving is generously supported by David M. Rubenstein.

Blanca Rosa Vílchez, a Univision bureau reporter based in New York, wore this outfit on September 11, 2001. As one of th...
09/11/2023

Blanca Rosa Vílchez, a Univision bureau reporter based in New York, wore this outfit on September 11, 2001. As one of the first reporters to broadcast from Ground Zero, she covered the attack and its lasting effects for Spanish-speaking communities. Because many of the World Trade Center’s service workers were Latinos, their family and friends relied on Vilchez for the news.

This outfit will be on display starting September 15, when our newest exhibit, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News” opens to the public.

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Blanca Rosa Vílchez, una reportera de Univision en Nueva York, usó este traje el 11 de septiembre de 2001. Como una de las primeras reporteras que transmitieron desde la Zona Cero, cubrió el ataque y sus efectos para las comunidades de habla hispana. Debido a que muchos de los trabajadores de servicios del World Trade Center eran latinos, sus familiares y amigos dependían de Vílchez para las noticias.

Este conjunto estará en exhibición a partir del 15 de septiembre, cuando se abra al público nuestra nueva exhibición, “¡De última hora!: Latinas Report Breaking News”.

“Frank – sweetie I am okay.”On September 11, 2001, a handwritten note provided peace of mind in the midst of chaos for t...
09/11/2023

“Frank – sweetie I am okay.”

On September 11, 2001, a handwritten note provided peace of mind in the midst of chaos for this couple.

In moments of crisis, our first thoughts are usually to get in contact with the people we love. September 11, 2001, was a day when many people wanted to know that their loved ones were safe. At 9:37 a.m. the Pentagon was attacked by terrorists who crashed an airplane into the western side of the bui...

How has philanthropy advanced – or impeded – social justice? Join us on Sept. 21 for the 2023 Power of Giving symposium ...
09/07/2023

How has philanthropy advanced – or impeded – social justice? Join us on Sept. 21 for the 2023 Power of Giving symposium as experts discuss this question and more.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/23POG

The Power of Giving is generously supported by David M. Rubenstein.

You may be familiar with Abraham Lincoln's top hat—but what about his tie? In many portraits, Lincoln sports an uneven, ...
09/06/2023

You may be familiar with Abraham Lincoln's top hat—but what about his tie?

In many portraits, Lincoln sports an uneven, slightly askew bow tie. New research from our curators and conservators hints that the president's lopsided look was no accident.

In the almost 130 years since the Smithsonian Institution acquired Abraham Lincoln’s black silk necktie, the museum’s curators gave very little thought to this personal piece of the president’s clothing.

09/04/2023
This racket was used by American tennis player Arthur Ashe (1943-1993). Ashe, a native of Richmond, Virginia, was the fi...
08/31/2023

This racket was used by American tennis player Arthur Ashe (1943-1993). Ashe, a native of Richmond, Virginia, was the first African American to win the Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship in 1975, be named to the U.S. Davis Cup Team (1963), and win singles titles at the U.S. and Australian Opens (1968 and 1970).

Ashe was a vocal advocate for civil rights, both in the United States and abroad, and was involved in many humanitarian efforts, including the opening of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health. He has been recognized with honors such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and has had a statue erected on Richmond’s Monument Avenue.

In 1997, the U.S. Tennis Association opened the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadow, New York. The court serves as the principal stadium for the U.S. Open.

How Ashe made tennis history: https://s.si.edu/3aiQgPG

08/30/2023

Join us on the National Mall!

Beginning on Sunday, September 17, 2023 and continuing nightly through September 21, the Office of Art in Embassies, US Department of State will present a new light projection by renowned artist and past State Department Medal of Arts honoree Jenny Holzer.

The artwork, THE PEOPLE, commemorates Art in Embassies’ 60th anniversary and its Democracy Collection initiative. It will light up the National Mall with historical quotations that evoke the beauty of democracy.

THE PEOPLE appears on the National Mall 60 years after the March on Washington, one of the most resonant moments for our democracy,” said Megan Beyer, Director of Art in Embassies. “Jenny Holzer’s inspiring projection celebrating democracy and its values underscores what we have seen—that artists are the best ambassadors for freedom because they survive on freedom.

THE PEOPLE will be on view simultaneously on the façades of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden facing the National Mall from dusk through 11:00 p.m. each evening, September 17-21, 2023.

Learn more on our website https://ow.ly/3t0l50PG7Cb

This "I Was There" pennant was just one of the many signs and banners that people carried during the March on Washington...
08/25/2023

This "I Was There" pennant was just one of the many signs and banners that people carried during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, the largest civil rights demonstration the nation had ever witnessed. An estimated 250,000 Americans gathered to petition the government to pass meaningful civil rights legislation and enforce existing laws establishing racial equality.

The march was conceived by A. Philip Randolph, leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, organized by Bayard Rustin, and supported by almost all the major civil rights organizations and many labor unions and religious organizations.

Demonstrators marched, sang civil rights anthems, and listened to speakers, who included A. Philip Randolph, John Lewis, James Farmer, Walter Reuther, and Martin Luther King, Jr., whose "I Have a Dream" speech invoked the hopes of all Americans seeking racial justice.

As demonstrators returned home, many faced the same discrimination and hardship that prompted them to join the march. However, the legacy of the march endured and increased popular support for the civil rights movement. In the months and years that followed, the march helped sustain and strengthen the work of those who continued to commit themselves to the ongoing struggle for social justice.

Learn more about planning the march: https://s.si.edu/2VBYW9k

  in 1912: Dancer and choreographer Gene Kelly is born. A 1947 recording in our collection.
08/23/2023

in 1912: Dancer and choreographer Gene Kelly is born. A 1947 recording in our collection.

08/21/2023

What’s in your lunchbox? Maybe pork chops and applesauce?

This 1970 Thermos lunchbox features animated scenes from “The Brady Bunch,” which aired from 1969-1974.

Our National Museum of American History is home to many lunchboxes featuring 20th century television shows, from “The A-Team” to “Zorro.”

On August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified. Originally a bakery or milk delivery wagon, tradition says that Luc...
08/18/2023

On August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified.

Originally a bakery or milk delivery wagon, tradition says that Lucy Stone used it at speaking engagements and to distribute the Woman's Journal. Around 1912 suffragists found the wagon in a barn on Stone's property. They painted it with slogans and continued to use it to sell the Woman's Journal as well as for rallies and publicity.

Lucy Stone, one of the so-called “19th century triumvirate” of woman’s suffrage and feminism, along with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was one of the organizers of the first National Women’s Rights Convention in 1850. In 1869 she founded American Woman Suffrage Association. More moderate than Susan B. Anthony's National Woman Suffrage Association, it admitted men as well as women and was committed to passage of the 15th amendment. In 1870 Lucy Stone founded the Woman's Journal to disseminate information about women’s rights topics.

On August 16, 1896, gold was discovered in Yukon, which helped to spark the Alaskan gold rush. Born to immigrant parents...
08/16/2023

On August 16, 1896, gold was discovered in Yukon, which helped to spark the Alaskan gold rush.

Born to immigrant parents in 1861, Anton Louis Delkin was the foreman of one of the largest watch factories in the southern United States by the time he was just a teenager. But in search of something more, Delkin left for Alaska in 1900 to try his luck – and hopefully find his fortune - as part of the Nome Gold Rush (around 1899—1909).

Six years after arriving in Alaska, Delkin created this impressive pocket watch out of eighteen-karat yellow and rose gold and features gold nuggets encrusted throughout. This rugged design recalls the finds that were made in Nome during Alaska’s largest Gold Rush period. The timepiece was donated by members of Delkin’s family, and recounts the adventure and fortune sought by so many in Alaska at the turn of the 20th century.

On August 15, 1912, Julia Child was born. A legendary cook and teacher, Child had a tremendous impact on food and culina...
08/15/2023

On August 15, 1912, Julia Child was born. A legendary cook and teacher, Child had a tremendous impact on food and culinary history in the United States.

In honor of her birthday, step into her kitchen with curator Paula Johnson and discover some of the secrets to the famous kitchen like why curators have a “socks only” policy when entering the kitchen to clean it!

Julia Child’s kitchen is part of our exhibition, “Food: Transforming America’s Table.”

Leadership support for FOOD: Transforming the American Table was made possible by Warren and Barbara Winiarski (Winiarski Family Foundation), Brewers Association, Julia Child Award, Land O'Lakes Foundation, 2018 Food History Gala Supporters, and HISTORY.

Smithsonian curator Paula Johnson addresses many of the questions visitors ask about America’s beloved cooking teacher and her kitchen

Hip-hop—from its DJs, rap, and fashion, to dancing and art—sprang from the creativity blossoming in the blighted borough...
08/11/2023

Hip-hop—from its DJs, rap, and fashion, to dancing and art—sprang from the creativity blossoming in the blighted boroughs of 1970s New York City. One of the pioneers included visual artist and cable television host Fred Brathwaite (“Fab 5 Freddy”), who was the first host of the groundbreaking hip hop music video show, "Yo! MTV Raps," in the late 1980s.

This boombox, which belonged to him, was made by Sharp Electronics, circa 1985. It is a portable music system, model HK-9000, with its dual tape decks, detachable speakers, built-in equalizer, AM/FM radio, and 2-fader microphone mixing was one of the largest boomboxes of the era.

The boombox is currently on display in “Entertainment Nation”/“Nación del espectáculo.”

Entertainment Nation is made possible in part by the generous leadership support of the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family, Tom and Karen Rutledge, HISTORY, Dr. Stephanie Bennett-Smith, American Cruise Lines, an Anonymous Friend, Linda and Mike Curb, Golden Globes, and Barry and Wendy Meyer.

Whether you’re a student or parent gearing up for the next school year, or reflecting on your time in school, our back-t...
08/09/2023

Whether you’re a student or parent gearing up for the next school year, or reflecting on your time in school, our back-to-school activity guide has fun and learning for everyone. Learners of all ages can explore historic milestones in education, reflect on nostalgic school objects and see examples of the Smithsonian’s education activities in action. The guide was made in collaboration with USA TODAY. Download your free copy today.

SMITHSONIAN EDUCATION Head Back to School With the Smithsonian “Explore, Discover, Learn: Back to School With the Smithsonian” is a guide for generations of lifelong learners, featuring memorable milestones in education, an array of activities and ties to today Colleen Popson & Eden Cho August 7...

08/01/2023

in 1983, Herbie Hancock released his groundbreaking album “Future Shock” which incorporated rap, hip hop and Afrofuturistic sounds with jazz using innovative music technology. Using a combination of scratching, drum machines, and synthesized keyboards, “Future Shock” sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. The music video of the hit single “Rockit,” directed by duo Kevin Godley & Lol Crème, also became widely successful for its visionary, futristic aesthetic. The music video for “Rockit” also broke vast new ground, featuring robot-like sculptures and mannequins that walked, danced, gyrated to the music. The video garnered five MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, including Best Concept Video and Best Special Effects.

Hancock, who was born in 1940, helped develop software and pioneer the use of computers in the studio. He used his Memorymoog synthesizer, used to experiment with sounds in the 1980s, which is currently on loan from National Museum of American History in our exhibition.

📸 Herbie Hancock plays the keyboard in a recording studio in 1982. Photograph by Guy Crowder. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Seventy years ago today, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in Panmunjeom, Korea between the United Nations Comma...
07/27/2023

Seventy years ago today, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in Panmunjeom, Korea between the United Nations Command, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, and the North Korean People's Army. This United Nations flag was placed on the table at the time of the signing.

U.S. Navy Yeoman Third Class William A. Stegman, who was a member of a group of Navy personnel serving in various roles as reporters, stenographers, and typists for Special Ambassador Arthur H. Dean, chief U.S. negotiator at Panmunjeom, saved the flag after the signing and brought it home to the United States. It remained in Stegman's possession prior to donating it to the National Museum of American History in 2013.

Víctor Guillermo “Yomo” Toro was born   in 1933.Few musicians could play the cuatro like Toro. Over a 60+ year career, h...
07/26/2023

Víctor Guillermo “Yomo” Toro was born in 1933.

Few musicians could play the cuatro like Toro. Over a 60+ year career, he made the instrument's distinctive sound an indelible part of salsa, especially on the classic holiday album Asalto Navideño.

“¡Ataca Yomo! (Attack Yomo!),” shouts singer Héctor Lavoe as the bright notes of what sounds like a guitar solo start flying by our ears. But what we’re hearing isn’t a guitar; it’s a cuatro, and the man behind this intense and virtuosic solo is Yomo Toro.

On July 25, 1941, Emmett Louis Till was born at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Although Till is usually thou...
07/25/2023

On July 25, 1941, Emmett Louis Till was born at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Although Till is usually thought of as a Chicagoan, most of his boyhood was spent in Summit, Illinois, a tight-knit community just outside of Chicago.

In the summer of 1955, Till, just 14 years old, took a train from Chicago to Money, Mississippi to visit relatives. Within days of his arrival, Till was brutally murdered in an act of racial violence.

The murder of the young boy from the Midwest sparked outrage across the nation, and galvanized Civil Rights activism.

One hundred days after Till’s murder, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery city bus and was arrested for violating Alabama's bus segregation laws. Reverend Jesse Jackson told Vanity Fair (1988) that “Rosa said she thought about going to the back of the bus. But then she thought about Emmett Till and she couldn’t do it.”

📷: Emmett Till with his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, ca. 1953-1955. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Mamie Till Mobley family

This Barbie is an original. First introduced in 1959 by the Mattel toy company, Barbie was a new doll for the time. Unli...
07/24/2023

This Barbie is an original.

First introduced in 1959 by the Mattel toy company, Barbie was a new doll for the time. Unlike many other dolls of the era, Barbie was a teenage fashion model from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin, who could date, drive, and wear fabulous clothes.

This Barbie is also on display in our American Enterprise exhibition. Learn more about the exhibition here: https://americanhistory.si.edu/american-enterprise

Leadership support for American Enterprise was provided by Mars, Incorporated, the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and SC Johnson, A Family Company.

We join in remembering Anthony Dominick Benedetto, perhaps better known by his professional name, Tony Bennett. Born on ...
07/22/2023

We join in remembering Anthony Dominick Benedetto, perhaps better known by his professional name, Tony Bennett.

Born on August 3, 1926, in Queens, NY to an immigrant father and first-generation American mother, Bennett’s passion for visual and performing arts were recognized at an early age.

In 1944, Bennet was drafted into the U.S. Army, temporarily putting his musical ambitions on hold. However, upon his discharge in 1946, he renewed his music studies at the American Theatre Wing.

He rose to commercial success with his 1951 recording “Because of You,” which sold over one million copies and landed him at the top of the pop charts for 10 weeks. With a career spanning over 70 years, and releases as recent as the 2021 duet album with Lady Gaga “Love for Sale,” Bennett has sold over 50 million records and was the recipient of several distinguished awards, including 20 Grammys.

This image from our Archives Center shows Bennett performing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at the 1966 Grammy Awards.

07/21/2023

Today we remember singer Tony Bennett, who died at 96. Born in Queens, New York in 1926, his given name was Anthony Dominick Benedetto.

After serving in the Army during World War II, Bennett started singing in New York City under the name “Joe Bari.” While he was performing in Greenwich Village, he met comedian Bob Hope. Hope loved his singing but didn’t love his stage name and told him to go by Tony Bennett instead.

In his decades-long career, Bennett won 20 Grammys and reached across generations with his music. He collaborated with a wide range of artists including Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Willie Nelson, and Lady Gaga. His hits include “Rags to Riches,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and his rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Bennett lent his voice to causes important to him, including performing in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965 in support of civil rights activists. The United Nations awarded him the Citizen of the World Award and the Humanitarian Award in 2007.

Do you have a favorite Tony Bennett song?

🖼️: “Tony Bennett” by Everett Raymond Kinstler, 1995. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist.
National Portrait Gallery USA

A t-shirt, a coat, and earrings—these small items of clothing were some of the things that Lucía Mondragón and her child...
07/20/2023

A t-shirt, a coat, and earrings—these small items of clothing were some of the things that Lucía Mondragón and her children carried with them as they made a difficult journey from El Salvador to the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to claim asylum in the U.S. The family's search for refuge eventually carried them to a new community in North Carolina. On the blog, our curator explains how these items from the Mondragón family's journey joined our museum's collection, as well as how their experiences help us interpret the long history of sanctuary.

This blog series received funding support from the Smithsonian’s Latino Initiatives Pool and the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool.

Lucía Mondragón made the difficult decision to flee her home country to save herself and her children from harm.

07/20/2023

The U.S. Women’s National Team is about to embark on defending their top spot at the Women’s World Cup after winning the championship in 2015 and 2019.

This soccer ball in our National Museum of American History collection is autographed by the 2012 team after winning the gold medal at the London Olympics.

Today in 1848: Women's rights convention began in Seneca Falls, N.Y.The Declaration of Sentiments was drafted on this ta...
07/19/2023

Today in 1848: Women's rights convention began in Seneca Falls, N.Y.

The Declaration of Sentiments was drafted on this table. The convention and Declaration mark the start of the formal women’s rights movement in the U.S.

Learn more: https://s.si.edu/3O225cZ

When Elvira Arellano claimed sanctuary in a Chicago church in 2006, she hoped she could protect her family from deportat...
07/18/2023

When Elvira Arellano claimed sanctuary in a Chicago church in 2006, she hoped she could protect her family from deportation. Her action helped spark what is known today as the "New Sanctuary Movement." Our new blog post traces the movement's roots.

When Elvira Arellano claimed sanctuary in a Chicago church in June 2006, she saw herself as a single mom, working to make a life for herself and her eight-year-old son. But her actions would mark a launching point for what became the New Sanctuary Movement (NSM) and, indeed, Arellano would emerge as...

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