Exhibitions

The Peacock Room is American artist James McNeill Whistler’s (1834–1903) greatest interior. He famously covered this dining room with floor-to-ceiling peacock-inspired designs, including a mural depicting himself and his patron Frederick .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

More than 100 years ago, real bison grazed outside the Smithsonian Castle building. Bison are returning in a bold new way! Three larger-than-life bronze bison, created by sculptor Gary Staab, find a permanent home outside the Smithsonian .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

This exhibition tells the history of the re-created, 2 1/2-story, Georgian-style house that stood at 16 Elm Street in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and five of the many families who occupied it from the mid-1760s through 1945. The exhibition explores.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

From the American Revolution to the present, trace the unfolding of America's experiment with government “of, by, and for the people” and examine the founding political principles of the nation: citizenship in a pluralistic society; inclusion .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Bison have long captured our imaginations. In paintings, photographs, stories, and sculpture, this powerful animal represents wildness, resilience, and the spirit of the American West. The historic books, images, and objects on view are drawn .... 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.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History leads the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations with a bold, immersive exhibition exploring the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness features.... 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.