Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

75th Anniversary of D-Day

To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the museum displays objects from our World War II collections.

June 6, 2019 – December 31, 2021

Reckoning with Remembrance: History, Injustice, and the Murder of Emmett Till

This monthlong display of the defaced historical marker preserves the memory of Emmett Till while demonstrating the contested nature of racism’s violent legacy in America.

September 3, 2021 – November 2, 2021

American History Museum

Special Olympics at 50

Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first International Special Olympics Games through the stories of four accomplished athletes who participated in them.

July 10, 2018 – October 17, 2021

American History Museum

Illegal to Be You: Gay History Beyond Stonewall

The museum marks this 50th anniversary with a display featuring objects from its collections that put the history of that memorable event within a larger and longer experience of being gay.

June 21, 2019 – July 6, 2021

American History Museum

Elephants and Us: Considering Extinction

Elephants and Us explores the evolving relationship between Americans and elephants and the leadership role the U.S. has taken in wildlife protection.

November 1, 2019 – November 22, 2020

American History Museum

The Batmobile

The Batmobile from the Tim Burton-directed superhero film “Batman” is on view.

January 12, 2018 – October 20, 2020

American History Museum

For the Love of Freedom: An Inspirational Sampling

Outdoor display centered on the rights granted by the First Amendment.

August 27, 2020 – October 8, 2020

American History Museum

Grand Piano made by Bluthner, Leipzig, Germany, 1900

This piano has a version of the ornate Jubilee cast-iron plates Blüthner produced from 1898 to 1907.

August 13, 2014 – March 14, 2020

American History Museum

Snapshots of African American Communities

To celebrate the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History presents a special display of 25 photographs that reflect the diversity of the African American experience.

September 9, 2016 – March 13, 2020

American History Museum

Forgotten Workers: Chinese Migrants and the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad

Marking the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, Hidden Workers focuses on the forgotten Chinese workers who built the western leg of the railroad across the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

May 10, 2019 – March 13, 2020

American History Museum

Everyday Luxury: Silk Quilts from the National Collection

A rare showing of the museum’s collection of late 19th-century silk quilts meant to be admired in the home.

July 30, 2019 – January 20, 2020

American History Museum

Superheroes

This rotating showcase display presents artifacts from the museum’s collections that relate to superheroes, including comic books, original comic art, movie and television costumes and props, and memorabilia.

November 20, 2018 – January 12, 2020

American History Museum

American Stories

See more than 100 historic and cultural touchstones of American history from the museum’s vast holdings.

April 12, 2012 – January 5, 2020

American History Museum

Modern Medicine and the Great War

World War I provided a testing ground for the application of new medical technologies and procedures, and in some cases accelerated their general acceptance or development.

April 6, 2017 – August 11, 2019

American History Museum

Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II

The exhibition explores this history of Executive Order 9066, with original artwork by Roger Shimomura, along with historic images and objects.

February 17, 2017 – July 31, 2019

American History Museum

The American Revolution: A World War

The American Revolution: A World War examines the American Revolution as a global conflict and the critical interplay of foreign powers—including Britain, France, Holland and Spain—that were involved.

June 23, 2018 – July 9, 2019

American History Museum

Stories on Money

This exhibition explores the history of money—coinage and currency—from the earliest times to the present and showcases objects from the museum's National Numismatic Collection.

June 11, 2009 – June 23, 2019

American History Museum

Tracing American Journeys

Explore the changing face of the nation through the personal stories and objects of a number of entrepreneurs in business, medicine, and technology who came to the U.S. in the last 50 years from around the world.

May 12, 2017 – June 10, 2019

American History Museum

Gen. John J. Pershing and World War I, 1917-1918

By recreating Pershing’s war office, this display gives the visitor a sense of America’s global reach and influence in World War I and reveals how the U.S. fit into a reshaped global community.

April 6, 2017 – May 27, 2019

American History Museum

The Case of Luisa Moreno

The display features objects representing Moreno’s work as a civil rights activist and labor organizer with union pins as well as her shawl and a pamphlet to rally national attention and halt Moreno’s deportation.

July 20, 2018 – April 30, 2019

American History Museum

Uniformed Women in the Great War

Selection of World War I uniforms on display highlighting the varied roles of uniformed women that allowed them to express their patriotism.

April 6, 2017 – April 28, 2019

American History Museum

Let's Get It Right: Work Incentive Posters of the 1920s

Explore how employers encouraged their workforce. The display features 16 posters from the early 20th century with images and sayings designed to influence attitudes, reduce conflict, and increase efficiency.

July 27, 2018 – March 24, 2019

American History Museum

Advertising War

Poster imagery presented gives glimpses of the war front, illustrates participation on the home front, reveals the new roles of women, demonstrates new technologies, shows the breadth of military service, and depicts America’s allies and enemies at that time.

April 6, 2017 – February 10, 2019

American History Museum

City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People's Campaign

City of Hope commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s daring vision to end poverty in the United States.

December 15, 2017 – February 3, 2019

American History Museum

Cultivating America's Gardens

Highlights early horticulture publications using books and objects from Libraries and Gardens collections of the Smithsonian.

May 4, 2017 – September 16, 2018

American History Museum