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The National Museum of American History - History
11 | Follower
Blessings from the universe: Walter Mercado | National Museum of American History
As in many Latinx homes across the United States, when Walter Mercado (1932–2019) came on-screen, my mother would tell my sisters and me to stop what we were doing and quiet down as she turned up the volume on the television.
Pre-tied yet crooked: What’s up with Abraham Lincoln’s tie? | National Museum of American History
In the almost 130 years since the Smithsonian Institution acquired Abraham Lincoln’s black silk necktie, the museum’s curators gave very little thought to this personal piece of the president’s clothing.
“¡Ataca Yomo!”: A close-up look at Yomo Toro’s cuatro | National Museum of American History
“¡Ataca Yomo! (Attack Yomo!),” shouts singer Héctor Lavoe as the bright notes of what sounds like a guitar solo start flying by our ears. But what we’re hearing isn’t a guitar; it’s a cuatro, and the man behind this intense and virtuosic solo is Yomo Toro.
“¡Ataca Yomo!”: A close-up look at Yomo Toro’s cuatro | National Museum of American History
“¡Ataca Yomo! (Attack Yomo!),” shouts singer Héctor Lavoe as the bright notes of what sounds like a guitar solo start flying by our ears. But what we’re hearing isn’t a guitar; it’s a cuatro, and the man behind this intense and virtuosic solo is Yomo Toro.
Deportations in the 21st century and the New Sanctuary Movement | National Museum of American History
When Elvira Arellano claimed sanctuary in a Chicago church in June 2006, she saw herself as a single mom, working to make a life for herself and her eight-year-old son. But her actions would mark a launching point for what became the New Sanctuary Movement (NSM) and, indeed, Arellano would emerge as one of its leaders.
The origins of the Sanctuary Movement | National Museum of American History
When you look at these posters, what do you see? They all mention El Salvador and date from the 1980s, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. They call for peace (an image of a dove, demands against war). One urges “all of us” to see ourselves as connected to Salvadorans.
Introducing: The Politics of Sanctuary | National Museum of American History
Over the past forty years, sanctuary has become a far-reaching concept. Within the realm of immigration, sanctuary has described varied efforts to protect the rights of migrants from deportation, family separation, and other forms of harm.
Introducing the MUM Menstrual History Collection | National Museum of American History
Tampons. Sanitary napkins and belts. Menstrual cups, sponges, and other period products. Women and girls around the world depend on these items in order to fully participate in school, work, and play. Yet 100 years ago—when the crude phrase “on the rag” meant, well, on the rag—few options were available. Though they are rarely preserved in museum collections, period products
The Black American Racers fought for equity in auto racing | National Museum of American History
“The recognition of the Smithsonian collecting these artifacts gives us even more motivation to move forward and still try to get the word out to accomplish something in auto racing.”— Leonard T. "Lenny" MillerAs an African American auto racer who navigated the ranks of the predominately white sport from the late 1960s through the early 2000s, Leonard “Len” Miller Sr. was
Is this 1937 radio the fairest one of all? | National Museum of American History
On December 21, 1937, Walt Disney released his first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Accompanying the movie, Disney and his company developed character-related merchandise, including a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs radio now preserved in the museum’s collection.
The history behind Julian “Cannonball” Adderley’s saxophone | National Museum of American History
A few seconds past the five-minute mark in "So What," the opening track of Miles Davis's masterpiece album Kind of Blue, an alto sax moves to the front of the mix. The artist behind that solo was Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (1928-1975), one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century.
Comparing coffins, remembering the Boston Massacre | National Museum of American History
On March 5, 1770, a group of British soldiers open fired into a group of Boston citizens, killing five. Since 1770, Americans’ understanding of the massacre has been shaped by the images created by engraver Paul Revere.
Artistic inspiration in the face of a pandemic | National Museum of American History
As part of the museum’s initiative to document COVID-19, the Graphic Arts Collection acquired a group of artistic works that were produced in reaction to the pandemic and intertwined events. These works were produced by printers and printmakers living across the United States.
What does babysitting mean to girls? It's complicated. | National Museum of American History
The Talk Back section of Girlhood provides a forum for visitors to share candid reactions and personal stories. One common theme that emerged was babysitting. Many girls’ first experiences of work involve caring for younger children.
New dresses, new traditions: Jill Biden’s inaugural ensembles go on view | National Museum of American History
Today first lady Jill Biden came to our museum to present her inaugural ensembles to the national collection and see them placed on exhibition. The addition of these dresses to the national collection is part of an ongoing tradition—one that millions of people experience every year in our exhibition The First Ladies.
Betty White's shoulder bag is a time capsule of World War II | National Museum of American History
On December 31, 2021, the beloved actress Betty Marion White Ludden (1922–2021) passed away at 99 years old, weeks shy of her hundredth birthday. Countless tributes and condolences from around the country poured in, honoring her and remembering her vast legacy. Even the U.S. Army tweeted about her passing, noting how Betty White had served as a member of the American Women’s
How a Jewish female textile artist folded her identities into a challah cover | National Museum of American History
Food plays a critical role in many Jewish religious festivities, such as challah bread at weekly Shabbat services or holidays. Whether baked into two long braids or a round domed crown, this bread, doused in shiny egg wash, is also covered with fabric for religious and functional purposes. Given the fabric’s importance, these challah covers often reflect the varied identities
How did a French pocket sundial end up buried in a field in Indiana? | National Museum of American History
While trying to find out more about a small portable sundial in the museum's collection, curator Peggy Kidwell learned that the sundial had reportedly been found in 1860, by a doctor plowing a field in Indiana—an unusual story, even for an object in the Smithsonian’s collections.
Making history happen: Reflecting on DACA and its impact | National Museum of American History
To explore the history of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the museum's Undocumented Organizing Collecting Initiative reached out to three undocumented organizers to share their reflections from inside the movement.