Past Exhibitions

The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction

Rats pose a challenge globally and locally, including in Washington, DC.

November 16, 1969 – January 25, 1970

Anacostia Community Museum
The Evolution of a Community, Part 1: 1608-1955

Witness the history of Anacostia, a neighborhood in southeast Washington, DC, from 1608 until shortly after World War II, as drawn from interviews with longtime residents.

February 27, 1972 – August 31, 1972

Anacostia Community Museum
A Century of Weather and Crop Service

Go back to 1849 when Joseph Henry, as the first Smithsonian Secretary, pioneered the nation's weather mapping network. See weather maps and measuring devices from then to now.

June 1, 1972 – December 31, 1972

American History Museum
The Copernican Century 1450-1550

Visit Renaissance science, technology and culture with 15th-century astronomical instruments on loan from the University of Cracow, along with other instruments relating to Christopher Columbus, printing, and cultural history.

April 7, 1973 – April 30, 1973

American History Museum
The Lazzaroni

See 19 portraits, assembled from throughout the country, of a small group of intelligentsia--mostly scientists--who dominated the American scientific community in the mid-19th century and whose efforts resulted in the establishment of the National Academy of Science.

December 27, 1972 – May 6, 1973

Portrait Gallery
Fire Fighting Memorbilia

From the Division of Transportation come examples of equipment used by fire fighters in parades, such as torches and hats.

August 1, 1973 – August 31, 1973

American History Museum
Geometric Models

See 3-dimensional paper or plastic models from the collection of A. Harry Wheeler, teacher and professor in Worcester, MA.

August 1, 1973 – August 31, 1973

American History Museum
Shaving Through the Ages

Trace the history of shaving from the shark's teeth used by cavemen to the razors used today.

June 4, 1973 – August 31, 1973

American History Museum
Labor Day

Highlight the history of the Labor Movement with slides of machines that show the difference between manual and machine-driven production.

August 1, 1973 – September 30, 1973

American History Museum
Glass-Enclosed Beehive

The queen bee is circled in red in the observation beehive, an annual warm-weather exhibit.

June 1, 1973 – September 30, 1973

American History Museum
Firearms

See a display of firearms, both hand and shoulder guns, used in target shooting.

October 1, 1973 – October 31, 1973

American History Museum
Metal Work

See examples of the works of Keyser Brothers' metal workers and iron craftsmen of Philadelphia, and examples of their tools.

October 1, 1973 – October 31, 1973

American History Museum
19th Century Wood Type

See some 30 examples of wood type which was used in the 19th century along with advertising from the job printer's trade.

October 1, 1973 – October 31, 1973

American History Museum
The Polar Quest

Discover highlights of U.S. Arctic exploration from 1850-1900.

November 1, 1973 – November 30, 1973

American History Museum
Synthetic (Man-Made) Crystals

Visit a spectacularly colorful exhibit explaining the role of these newly developed materials, the technology that produces them and their relationship to natural materials.

May 11, 1973 – December 31, 1973

Natural History Museum
History of Paints and Varnishes

See paint samples, mixing machines, and brushes from the 1920s.

December 1, 1973 – December 31, 1973

American History Museum
Music Machines: American Style

See barrel organs and player pianos to the most up-to-date high fidelity equipment.

December 1, 1972 – January 1, 1974

American History Museum
New Images 1839-1973

The opening print show in the Hall of Photography compares old and new photographic printing processes and their results.

April 6, 1973 – January 20, 1974

American History Museum
Grain and Feed Implements and Devices

Visit a newly acquired collection of pieces involved, for the most part, with the inspection and evaluation of grain quality in the late 19th century.

March 1, 1974 – March 31, 1974

American History Museum
The First 10 Years of the Museum of History and Technology

Each of the 5 Departments from the museum will feature 1 or 2 examples from each of their collections, as well as books, exhibit catalogues, and other publications written by Department and Division members.

April 1, 1974 – May 30, 1974

American History Museum
Anatomy of a Gallop

See a comparison of motion as seen through the eyes of the artists, lithographers Currier and Ives, and the eye of a photographer, Eadward Muybridge, the first photographer to do animal motion studies.

January 7, 1974 – June 7, 1974

American History Museum
Scales and Balances

See weighing devices ranging from a Roman steelyard, circa 2nd century A.D., through an equal-arm balance of the mid-19th century.

June 1, 1974 – June 30, 1974

American History Museum
Samuel F. B. Morse: Artist and Inventor

Explore a small exhibit devoted to the developer of Morse code, which helped spur the commercial use of telegraphy.

June 1, 1974 – June 30, 1974

American History Museum
Restoration of Musical Instruments

Four different kinds of restoration are shown - organ, keyboard, string, and an 18th century disassembled trumpet.

July 1, 1974 – July 31, 1974

American History Museum
Edward Weston

View examples of the photographs and some of the equipment used by this noted 20th century American photographer.

July 1, 1974 – July 31, 1974

American History Museum

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