National Museum of American History

This big museum is in Washington, D.C.

It tells the story of the United States. You can see many old things there.

One special thing is a large flag.

It is kept in a safe room. This keeps the old cloth safe.

You can see a big train too.

It is called the John Bull. It is a very old engine.

There are also statues and old cars. Some things show how people lived. You can even see a Disneyland car.

Many people visit this museum every year. It is a fun place to learn.

The National Museum of American History is a big museum.

It sits in Washington, D.C. The museum tells the story of the United States. It shows how people lived and worked. It also shows science and military history.

The museum opened in 1964. It had a different name back then. In 1980, the name changed to what it is now. This new name shows its mission. The museum cares for objects that show the American experience. In 2023, over two million people visited the museum.

You can see many special things inside.

One famous object is the John Bull locomotive. This is a very old steam engine. You can also see a statue of George Washington.

Another important item is the Star-Spangled Banner flag. The museum keeps this flag in a special room. This room controls the air to keep the cloth safe.

You can even see the gunboat Philadelphia. The museum has many floors full of history to explore.

The National Museum of American History is a very important place in Washington, D.C.

It is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum collects and protects objects that tell the story of the United States. These objects cover many different areas of life. They show social, political, and cultural history. The museum also shares stories about science and military history. In 2023, the museum had 2.1 million visitors. This makes it the eighth-most visited museum in the whole country.

Walking through the museum is like traveling through time. The building has three main floors of exhibits. Each wing of the museum uses a special object to show its theme. On the first floor, you can see the John Bull locomotive.

This is an old steam engine from 1831. The second floor features the Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter. This object helps tell stories about American ideals. The third floor focuses on military history and entertainment. You might see the gunboat Philadelphia there.

There are also displays about music, sports, and even movies.

The museum has a long and interesting history. It first opened in 1964. At that time, it was called the Museum of History and Technology. The building was designed by a famous firm called McKim Mead & White. In 1980, the name changed to the National Museum of American History. This change helped show its mission to study the American experience. The site used to hold two temporary war buildings from 1942. In 1973, a group forced the museum to close an exhibit about voting. This happened just before Richard Nixon was sworn in for his second term.

Many people have led the museum over the years. John Gray was the director starting in May 2012. He retired in May 2018. Anthea M. Hartig became the new director after him. She used to lead the California Historical Society. The museum has also gone through big changes to stay modern. From 2006 to 2008, it had an $85 million renovation. This work added a huge, five-story atrium with skylights. Another $37 million renovation began in 2012 for the west wing. This added new spaces for learning and beautiful windows.

There are many famous things to find in the museum. One of the most special items is the original Star-Spangled Banner flag.

It is kept in a special room that controls the air. This keeps the old cloth safe from damage. You can also see a statue of George Washington.

This statue was made by the artist Horatio Greenough. The museum even has a car from a Disneyland ride. It is a car from the Dumbo Flying Elephant ride. All these things help us understand how the world has changed.

The National Museum of American History is a major historical institution located in Washington, D.C.

It is a part of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum works to collect, preserve, and study the heritage of the United States. This includes social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history. The museum helps people understand the American experience through physical objects. In 2023, it welcomed 2.1 million visitors. This makes it the eighth-most visited museum in the United States.

The museum's history involves several name changes and structural shifts. It first opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology. The building was one of the last works by the firm McKim Mead & White. In 1980, the name changed to the National Museum of American History. This new name reflected its mission to interpret the lives of American people. The site previously held two temporary war buildings from 1942. In 1973, a group called the Committee to Re-elect the President forced the temporary closure of a Right to Vote exhibit. This happened just before Richard Nixon's second inauguration.

Large renovations have shaped how the museum looks and functions today. Between 2006 and 2008, the museum underwent an $85 million renovation. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill provided the architecture for this project. This work added a five-story, sky-lit atrium and a grand staircase. It also created the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Hall of Invention. In 2012, a second $37 million renovation began for the west wing. This project added an education center and panoramic windows. The west wing floors reopened between 2015 and 2017.

The museum is organized into three exhibition floors with distinct themes. Each wing is anchored by a signature landmark object. On the first floor, the East Wing focuses on transportation and technology. The John Bull locomotive from 1831 is the signature artifact here.

The West Wing on the first floor covers science and innovation. It features the Vassar Telescope as its main object. The second floor East Wing explores American ideals. The Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter is the landmark here. The second floor West Wing features a statue of George Washington.

The second floor also houses the museum's most famous centerpiece. This is the original Star-Spangled Banner flag. The flag inspired the poem by Francis Scott Key. To protect it, the museum uses an environmentally controlled chamber. This room maintains specific conditions to keep the fabric safe. Visitors can also use a digital reproduction of the flag. This interactive display allows people to touch different areas of the flag. This helps them learn more about its history through technology.

The third floor contains exhibits on military history and entertainment. The East Wing features the gunboat Philadelphia.

The center of the floor explores the American Presidency. This includes the First Ladies of America exhibit. This exhibit shows the changing roles of women through their dresses. The West Wing focuses on music, sports, and entertainment. It includes the Hall of Musical Instruments and the Dolls' House. Recent exhibits like Entertainment Nation feature items from stars like Prince and Selena.

Beyond the galleries, the museum manages important collections and research. The Archives Center identifies and preserves many types of historical records. These records include business papers, photographs, and oral histories. The center also focuses on the history of technology and invention. The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center supports this work. It produces educational programs and podcasts about innovation. The center aims to encourage creativity in young people. It also provides free materials to classrooms across the country.

Outdoor spaces also contribute to the museum's landscape. In 1967, the abstract sculpture Infinity was dedicated at the entrance. This stainless steel ribbon sits on a granite tower. Another sculpture, Gwenfritz by Alexander Calder, is located in a fountain. The museum moved this piece several times for restoration. It returned to its original site in 2014. The museum's layout and collections connect many different fields of study. From science to politics, the museum links objects to the broader story of a nation.