Exhibitions

Explore the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. Examine the inspection service’s history, work through some of its most famous and remarkable cases, learn how the service helps protect you,.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Design has long shaped America’s identity—enhancing daily life, driving innovation, and reflecting shared values. Cooper Hewitt marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a major, multi-year installation of the museum’s permanent collection—.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

When British and French gliding enthusiasts tested gliders propelled by small engines in 1922, they created a new type of low-cost "ultralight" airplane. But the idea didn't get off the ground until 1975, when John K. Moody installed a 12½-.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Inventing in America, a collaboration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, focuses on inventions and innovators of the past and present, including Samuel Morse, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison. The displays feature early patent .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Located in the museum’s Visual Art and the American Experience space, the exhibition explores the Black Lives Matter movement, violence against African Americans, and how art depicts Black resistance, resilience, and protest. Visual art has .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

One World Connected tells the story of how flight fostered two momentous changes in everyday life: the ease in making connections across vast distances and a new perspective of Earth as humanity’s home. Featuring an array of satellites and .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

The military gallery conveys a sense of appreciation and respect for the military service of African Americans from the American Revolution to the current war on terrorism. It shows how the African American military experience shapes .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Encounter the world’s first postage stamp—the 1840 Penny Black, with its profile of young Queen Victoria—and learn how it revolutionized communication. Learn how stamps have shaped history and honored people and places around the world. See .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.