Exhibitions

This exhibition of more than 900 objects, related to the individuals who have held the nation's highest office, explores the public, personal, ceremonial, and executive boundaries of the presidency. Composed of 11 thematic sections, the .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

American Indian images, names, and stories infuse American history and contemporary life. The images are everywhere, from the Land O’Lakes butter maiden to the Cleveland Indians’ mascot, and from classic Westerns and cartoons to episodes of .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen anxiously awaiting mail delivery is a familiar scene from movies, newsreels, and documentary photographs. Mail call is the moment when the frontline and home front connect. This exhibition tells the .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

In 2026, the National Portrait Gallery will observe the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of its photographs collection, which now accounts for nearly half of the museum’s total holdings. Encompassing more than one hundred works, from the .... 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.

The nation's flag, which underwent an 8-year conservation period from 1998 to 2006, is today the centerpiece of the museum. Soaring above the entrance to the gallery is an architectural representation of a waving flag—approximately 40 feet long.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Marine transportation and waterborne commerce underlie American history like a strong and steady ocean current. Maritime trade established major cities, created connections between people and places, and opened the continent. This exhibition .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Entertainment has the power to captivate, inspire and transform us. It brings us together. We share it when we spontaneously recite lines from a favorite movie, dance to the same groove or recreate a national sports moment on a neighborhood .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.