Explore History & Culture

Experience America and the world
Explore and discover featured content or search for your specific interest.

Rosa Parks being fingerprinted
National Portrait Gallery

Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks

On February 22, 1956, Parks was taken into custody on charges of violating an Alabama law prohibiting boycotts. This photo appeared on the front page of the New York Times.
spirograph
Smithsonian Spotlight

Playtime: Toys, Games, and Puzzles

From vintage to high-tech, there's something for every child (and child at heart) in our collections.
singers
Smithsonian Folkways

Freedom Sounds

Smithsonian Folkways presents a playlist highlighting the musical creativity of African American communities.
Pink hat adorned with pink flowers.
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Hats Off to Mae Reeves!

Famed milliner and business pioneer Mae Reeves called her creations "showstoppers." Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Marian Anderson, and Lena Horne all donned her hats.
Miss Liberty Celebration
Smithsonian Spotlight

The Statue of Liberty: Symbol for a Nation

A gift from France in 1886, Lady Liberty in our collections and across America.
To Ask Freedom for Women is not a Crime
Smithsonian Spotlight

Votes for Women

A look at the fight to get the right to vote through the Smithsonian's collections.
Octavia Butler Typewriter
Smithsonian Snapshot

Keys to the Future

Octavia Butler was a master storyteller and considered the godmother of Afrofuturism.
Ella Fitzgerald
National Museum of American History

Ella Fitzgerald: Breaking down Racial Barriers with Her Voice

Her undeniable talent allowed her to open doors, not only for herself, but for the many African American performers who followed her.
Outfit worn by Carlotta Walls
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Dress for the Occasion

This dress tells the story of the "Little Rock Nine" and the fight for a quality education for all Americans. 
cat mummy
Smithsonian Spotlight

Cats of Asia and Ancient Egypt

Explore Asian and Egyptian cats from across Smithsonian collections.
Lucille Ball
Smithsonian Spotlight

Entertaining Women

American women on stage and screen as reflected in Smithsonian collections.
Ida B. Wells-Barnett
National Portrait Gallery

Ida B. Wells

The daughter of former slaves, journalist and anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells vigorously investigated and exposed racism.