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National Museum of American History
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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. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. The museum is administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall.
museum first opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology.
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Encyclopedia
The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. The museum is administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall.
History
The museum first opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology. The building was one of the last structures designed by renowned architectural firm McKim Mead & White. In 1980, the museum was renamed The National Museum of American History to better represent its basic mission: the collection, care and study of objects that reflect the experience of the American people.
Renovation
The museum underwent an $85 million renovation from September 5, 2006 to November 21, 2008, during which time it was closed. Major changes made during the renovation include:
- A new, five-story sky-lit atrium that is surrounded by displays of artifacts that showcase the breadth of the museum's collection.
- A new, grand staircase that links the museum's first and second floors.
- A new welcome center, as well as the addition of six landmark objects to help orient visitors.
- New galleries such as the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Hall of Invention.
- A new, state-of-the-art home for the Star-Spangled Banner that protects the flag in an environmentally-controlled chamber.
- Removal of the two-story Foucalt pendulum.
Layout
Each wing of the museum's three exhibition floors is anchored by a landmark object—large, significant artifacts that highlight the theme of that wing. Landmark objects include the John Bull locomotive, the 1865 Telescope, the Greensboro lunch counter, George Washington Statue, a Red Cross ambulance and a Dumbo ride car.
Artifact walls consisting of of glass-fronted cases will line the first and second floor center core. The artifact walls will be organized around the following themes: arts; popular culture; business, work and the economy; home and family; community; land and natural resources; peopling American; politics and reform; science; medicine; technology and America's role in the world.
First floor
The exhibitions in the East Wing of the first floor are focused on transportation and technology and include "America on the Move" and "Lighting a Revolution: Electricity Hall." The John Bull locomotive is the signature artifact for this section of the museum.
The exhibitions in the West Wing of the first floor are focused on science and innovation and include "Science in American Life featuring Robots on the Road" and "Bon Appétit! Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian" as well as the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation's newest hands-on space, "Spark!Lab." The 1865 Telescope is the signature artifact for this section of the museum.
A café and the main museum store are also located on the first floor.
Second floor
The exhibitions in the east wing of the second floor are focused on American ideals and include the Albert Small Documents Gallery featuring rotating exhibitions. From November 21, 2008 through January 4, 2009 an original copy of the Gettysburg Address, on loan from the White House, was on display. The Greensboro lunch counter is the signature artifact for this section of the museum.
Located in the center of the second floor is the original Star Spangled Banner Flag which inspired Francis Scott Key's poem. The newly conserved flag is the centerpiece of the historic renovation and reopening of the museum. The 30-by banner is displayed in a specially constructed, climate-controlled room at the heart of the museum.
The exhibitions in the west wing of the second floor are focused on American lives and include "Within These Walls..." and "Communities in a Changing Nation: The Promise of 19th-century America." The George Washington statue, created in 1841 for the centennial of Washington's birthday, is the signature artifact for this section of the museum.
The second floor also houses the museum's new welcome center and a store.
Third floor
The exhibitions in the east wing on the third floor are focused on American wars and politics and include "The Price of Freedom: Americans at War" and "The Gunboat Philadelphia." The Clara Barton Red Cross ambulance is the signature artifact for this section of the museum.
The center of the third floor presents "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden," an exhibition that explores the personal, public, ceremonial and executive actions of the 44 men who have had a huge impact on the course of history in the past 200 years.
The exhibitions in the west wing of the third floor are focused on entertainment, sports and music and include "Thanks for the Memories: Music, Sports and Entertainment History," the Hall of Musical Instruments and "The Dolls' House." A Dumbo ride car is the signature artifact for this section of the museum.
Lower level
The lower level of the museum displays "Taking America to Lunch" which celebrates the history and endurance of American lunch boxes. The lower level is also home to the museum's food court, the Stars and Stripes Café, and ride simulators.
Archives
In support of the museum’s mission, the Archives Center identifies, acquires, and preserves significant archival records in many media and formats to document America’s history and its diverse cultures. Center staff arrange, describe, preserve, and make collections accessible in support of scholarship, exhibitions, publications, and education.
The Archives Center occupies over of shelving in the National Museum of American History building. Subject strengths include the history of radio, television, the telegraph, computing, and other aspects of the history of technology with a special interest in the history of invention; advertising, marketing, and entrepreneurship; commercial visual ephemera (post cards, greeting cards); American music (sheet music, jazz) and musical instruments. These, and a wide range of other subjects, are documented in business records, personal papers, and extensive holdings of motion picture film, video and sound recordings, historical photographs, and oral histories.
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
The Lemelson Center produces educational programs, popular and academic publications, exhibitions, podcasts and symposia about invention. The mission of the Lemelson Center is to document, interpret and disseminate information about invention and innovation, encourage inventive creativity in young people and foster an appreciation for the central role of invention and innovation in the history of the United States. The Center frequently provides a multi-year focus on some aspect of how invention has influence American society, such as its 2002 "Invention and the Environment" theme. Programs include a yearly symposium, presentations and guest speakers within and outside the National Museum of American History and often the publication of a book detailing aspects of the topical focus. The Center also provides free curricular material to classrooms through the United States, organizes traveling museum exhibitions (such as "Invention at Play"), provides research opportunities and fellowships for scholars, and finds, obtains and process archival collections related to invention on behalf of the museum's Archives Center. These collections consist of the papers and materials that document the work of past and current American inventors.
Past Exhibits
- "24 Hours in Cyberspace" - unveiled on January 23, 1997, this exhibit celebrated the "the largest one-day online event" (February 8, 1996) up to that date, which originally took place on the then-active website, cyber24.com (and is still online at a mirror website maintained by Georgia Tech). 24 Hours in Cyberspace was headed by photographer Rick Smolan. The exhibit featured 70 photos from the project.
- "Treasures of American History", the National Museum of American History's display at the National Air and Space Museum closed in April 2008.
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