What’s On
While our museums and zoo are closed, join an online event, check out our online exhibitions, or explore our digital content.
Upcoming Featured Events
Featured Online Exhibitions
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Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature, and Culture
Opening 2020 – TBD American Art Museum
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Developing Stories: Native Photographers in the Field
Opening 2020 – TBD American Indian Museum
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The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today
October 26, 2019 – August 30, 2020 Portrait Gallery
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Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation's Armed Forces
May 25, 2018 – Indefinitely American Indian Museum Heye Center
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Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World
May 18, 2018 – Fall 2021 Natural History Museum
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Americans
January 18, 2018 Through 2022 American Indian Museum
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City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People's Campaign
December 15, 2017 – February 3, 2019 American History Museum
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Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts
November 4, 2017 – Permanent African Art Museum
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America's Presidents
September 22, 2017 – Permanent Portrait Gallery
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American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
June 28, 2017 – Permanent American History Museum
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Many Voices, One Nation
June 28, 2017 – Permanent American History Museum
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Cultivating America's Gardens
May 4, 2017 – September 16, 2018 American History Museum
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Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II
February 17, 2017 – July 31, 2019 American History Museum
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Trailblazing: 100 Years of Our National Parks
June 9, 2016 – March 3, 2019 Postal Museum
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The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire
June 26, 2015 – June 1, 2020 American Indian Museum
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Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation
February 27, 2014 – August 16, 2015 Natural History Museum
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Time and Navigation: The Untold Story of Getting from Here to There
April 12, 2013 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Food: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000
November 20, 2012 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Systems at Work
December 14, 2011 – Permanent Postal Museum
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Sant Ocean Hall
September 27, 2008 – Permanent Natural History Museum
Just Opened
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Willi Smith: Street Couture
March 13, 2020 – October 25, 2020 Cooper Hewitt
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Creating Icons: How We Remember Women's Suffrage
March 6, 2020 – May 2, 2021 American History Museum
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Contemporary Muslim Fashions
February 28, 2020 – August 23, 2020 Cooper Hewitt
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Uncle Tom's Cabin: Early and Notable Editions
February 28, 2020 – May 6, 2021 African American Museum
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Age Old Cities: A Virtual Journey from Palmyra to Mosul
January 25, 2020 – October 25, 2020 Sackler Gallery
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Beauty Rich and Rare
January 9, 2020 – July 5, 2020 Natural History Museum
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Portraits of the World: Denmark
December 13, 2019 – October 12, 2020 Portrait Gallery
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We Return Fighting: The African American Experience in World War I
December 13, 2019 – June 14, 2020 African American Museum
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Nature by Design: Botanical Expressions
December 7, 2019 – January 10, 2021 Cooper Hewitt
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Dewing's Poetic World
November 27, 2019 – November 2020 Freer Gallery of Art
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A Perfect Harmony: American Art
November 27, 2019 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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What Is Feminist Art?
November 26, 2019 – November 29, 2020 Archives of American Art
Closing Soon
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We Return Fighting: The African American Experience in World War I
December 13, 2019 – June 14, 2020 African American Museum
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Magnificent Obsessions: Why We Collect
November 7, 2018 – July 1, 2020 American History Museum
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I Am... Contemporary Women Artists of Africa
June 20, 2019 – July 5, 2020 African Art Museum
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Face Values
September 20, 2019 – July 5, 2020 Cooper Hewitt
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Beauty Rich and Rare
January 9, 2020 – July 5, 2020 Natural History Museum
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Contemporary Muslim Fashions
February 28, 2020 – August 23, 2020 Cooper Hewitt
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The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today
October 26, 2019 – August 30, 2020 Portrait Gallery
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Recent Acquisitions
November 15, 2019 – August 30, 2020 Portrait Gallery
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Elephants and Us: Considering Extinction
November 1, 2019 – September 13, 2020 American History Museum
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Lee Ufan: Open Dimension
September 27, 2019 – September 13, 2020 Hirshhorn
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Portraits of the World: Denmark
December 13, 2019 – October 12, 2020 Portrait Gallery
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Marcel Duchamp: The Barbara and Aaron Levine Collection
November 9, 2019 – October 15, 2020 Hirshhorn
Kids' Favorites
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The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils—Deep Time
June 8, 2019 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Mega-toothed Shark
May 24, 2019 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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The Batmobile
January 12, 2018 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Explore! with the National Portrait Gallery
January 28, 2017 – Indefinitely Portrait Gallery
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Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
September 24, 2016 – Indefinitely African American Museum
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Still Life with Spirit and Xitle
August 6, 2016 – Indefinitely Hirshhorn
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Wegmans Wonderplace
December 9, 2015 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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African Elephant
September 4, 2015 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Spark!Lab
July 1, 2015 – Permanent American History Museum
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Patrick F. Taylor Object Project
July 1, 2015 – Permanent American History Museum
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Immersion Room
December 12, 2014 – Indefinitely Cooper Hewitt
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Connect with U.S. Stamps
September 22, 2013 – Permanent Postal Museum
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American Trail
September 1, 2012 – Permanent National Zoo
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As We Grow: Traditions, Toys, Games
August 22, 2012 – Permanent American Indian Museum
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Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt
November 17, 2011 – Indefinitely Natural History Museum
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Sant Ocean Hall
September 27, 2008 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution
February 15, 2008 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Asia Trail
October 17, 2006 – Permanent National Zoo
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Airmail in America
February 22, 2006 – Permanent Postal Museum
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Human Spaceflight
November 1, 2004 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World
September 21, 2004 – September 2020 American Indian Museum
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Kids' Farm
June 12, 2004 – Permanent National Zoo
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America on the Move
November 22, 2003 – Permanent American History Museum
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Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals
November 15, 2003 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Explore the Universe
September 21, 2001 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals
September 20, 1997 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Space Race
May 16, 1997 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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How Things Fly
September 20, 1996 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Insect Zoo, O. Orkin
September 10, 1993 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Moving the Mail
July 30, 1993 – Permanent Postal Museum
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Gunboat Philadelphia
July 3, 1965 – Permanent American History Museum
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The Dolls' House
Opened 1951 – Indefinitely American History Museum
Featured, Don't Miss
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The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today
October 26, 2019 – August 30, 2020 Portrait Gallery
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Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery
March 29, 2019 – Indefinitely Renwick Gallery
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Ruby Slippers and American Culture Displays
October 19, 2018 – 2020 American History Museum
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Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation's Armed Forces
May 25, 2018 – Indefinitely American Indian Museum Heye Center
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Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World
May 18, 2018 – Fall 2021 Natural History Museum
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Former President Barack Obama by Artist Kehinde Wiley
February 13, 2018 – mid-May 2021 Portrait Gallery
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Americans
January 18, 2018 Through 2022 American Indian Museum
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Mark Bradford: Pickett's Charge
November 8, 2017 – 2021 Hirshhorn
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Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts
November 4, 2017 – Permanent African Art Museum
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America's Presidents
September 22, 2017 – Permanent Portrait Gallery
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American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
June 28, 2017 – Permanent American History Museum
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Many Voices, One Nation
June 28, 2017 – Permanent American History Museum
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Greensboro Lunch Counter
June 28, 2017 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Objects of Wonder
March 10, 2017 – TBD 2021 Natural History Museum
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Slavery and Freedom
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Musical Crossroads
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
July 1, 2016 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Experience America
August 14, 2014 – Permanent American Art Museum
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Gems of American Philately
September 22, 2013 – Permanent Postal Museum
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Time and Navigation: The Untold Story of Getting from Here to There
April 12, 2013 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Food: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000
November 20, 2012 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Barbara Kruger: Belief + Doubt
August 20, 2012 – TBA Hirshhorn
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Systems at Work
December 14, 2011 – Permanent Postal Museum
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Sant Ocean Hall
September 27, 2008 – Permanent Natural History Museum
American Women's History
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Creating Icons: How We Remember Women's Suffrage
March 6, 2020 – May 2, 2021 American History Museum
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What Is Feminist Art?
November 26, 2019 – November 29, 2020 Archives of American Art
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Storied Women of the Civil War Era
May 24, 2019 – May 8, 2022 Portrait Gallery
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All Work and No Pay: A History of Women's Invisible Labor
March 4, 2019 – February 2020 American History Museum
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Special Olympics at 50
July 10, 2018 – January 2020 American History Museum
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Former First Lady, Michelle Obama by Artist Amy Sherald
February 13, 2018 – mid-May 2021 Portrait Gallery
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The Four Justices
October 28, 2013 – Indefinitely Portrait Gallery
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The First Ladies
November 19, 2011 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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The Struggle for Justice
February 12, 2010 – Permanent Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian Music
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America's Listening
October 19, 2018 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Resound: Bells of Ancient China
October 14, 2017 – July 5, 2021 Sackler Gallery
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Sounding American Music
June 21, 2017 – TBD American History Museum
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Musical Crossroads
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Places of Invention
July 1, 2015 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Big Band
March 31, 2015 – Indefinitely American History Museum
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Grand Piano made by Bluthner, Leipzig, Germany, 1900
August 13, 2014 – Indefinitely American History Museum
Asia Meets America
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Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia
October 14, 2017 – November 29, 2020 Sackler Gallery
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Resound: Bells of Ancient China
October 14, 2017 – July 5, 2021 Sackler Gallery
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Elephant Trails
September 3, 2010 – Permanent National Zoo
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Asia Trail
October 17, 2006 – Permanent National Zoo
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Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Sackler Gallery
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Many Voices, One Nation
June 28, 2017 – Permanent American History Museum
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Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Engaging the Senses: Arts of the Islamic World
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Promise of Paradise: Ancient Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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The Beginnings of Buddhism in Japan: Buddhist Art in Japan
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Imperfectly Beautiful: Inventing Japanese Ceramic Style
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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The Power of Words in an Age of Crisis: Buddhist Art in Japan
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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In the Shadow of an Apocalypse: Buddhist Art in Japan
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Rediscovering Korea's Past: Korean Ceramics
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Setting the Bar: Arts of the Song Dynasty
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Center of the World: China and the Silk Road
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Art and Industry: China's Ancient Houma Foundry: Chinese Bronzes
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades
October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Power in Southeast Asia
October 21, 2017 – TBA Sackler Gallery
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The Peacock Room in Blue and White
May 18, 2019 – Indefinitely Freer Gallery of Art
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Forgotten Workers: Chinese Migrants and the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad
May 10, 2019 – Early April 2020 American History Museum
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Hokusai: Mad about Painting
November 23, 2019 – November 2020 Freer Gallery of Art
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Dewing's Poetic World
November 27, 2019 – November 2020 Freer Gallery of Art
