Exhibitions

Flying was new and daring in the early years of the 20th century and traveling by airplane was rare. Airlines, airliners, airports, air routes—none of these existed. But by century's end, you could travel to almost anywhere in America by air in.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Follow the multiyear project to preserve the gunboat USS Philadelphia, an iconic reminder of the spirit of the American Revolution. The Philadelphia was part of a small American fleet, hastily built in the summer of 1776, that stalled invading .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Common Ground: Our American Garden shares the stories of plants and how they are important to people in this country. Americans in history and Americans today have grown flowers and herbs as a way of honoring memory, providing healing, .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Many of the powerful emperors of China’s last dynasties—the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912)—were patrons, collectors, and casual practitioners of the arts. They used art to legitimize and glorify their rule. It served many functions: for .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Siddhartha Gautama, a prince born some twenty-five hundred years ago, is recognized as the Historical Buddha, or “Awakened One.” His enlightenment freed him from the cycle of rebirth, and his teachings became Buddhism’s foundation. The religion.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air examines how the revolution in warfare that took place during the war redefined the promise and peril of military aviation, and explores the dramatic changes to flight and culture that continue to .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Laurie Anderson is one of the leading multimedia artists of our time, and her innovative work in performance, music, technology, and visual art has profoundly influenced popular culture for more than forty years. In 2021, as part of The Weather.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

This dollhouse represents a romantic view of the life of a large and affluent American family in the early 1900s. Its 23 rooms contain more than 800 miniature items, including furniture, linens, toys, and other household items. The late Faith .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.