What’s On
Featured Exhibitions
With over two hundred exhibitions to choose from, we've highlighted select exhibitions from around the Smithsonian—or check out all of our exhibitions.
What's New
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FUTURES
November 20, 2021 – July 6, 2022 Arts and Industries Building
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The Electric Dr. Franklin
November 20, 2021 – TBA American History Museum
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Toyin Ojih Odutola: A Countervailing Theory
November 19, 2021 – April 3, 2022 Hirshhorn
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Unforgettable Behavior: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
November 3, 2021 – Summer 2022 Natural History Museum
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Native New York
October 25, 2021 – TBD American Indian Museum New York
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New Glass Now
October 22, 2021 – March 6, 2022 Renwick Gallery
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Genome: Unlocking Life's Code
October 21, 2021 – Summer 2022 Natural History Museum
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Abigail DeVille: Light of Freedom
October 15, 2021 – April 17, 2022 Hirshhorn
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Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano
October 8, 2021 – May 8, 2022 American Art Museum
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Critical Distance
September 29, 2021 – Summer 2022 Natural History Museum
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Laurie Anderson: The Weather
September 24, 2021 – July 31, 2022 Hirshhorn
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Make Good the Promises: Reconstruction and Its Legacies
September 24, 2021 – August 21, 2022 African American Museum
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Nicolas Party: Draw the Curtain
September 18, 2021 – Spring 2022 Hirshhorn
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A Nation Grieves
September 17, 2021 – January 3, 2022 American History Museum
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Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer
September 10, 2021 – April 10, 2022 Cooper Hewitt
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Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.
September 10, 2021 – Ongoing African American Museum
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Hung Liu: Portraits of Promised Lands, 1968-2020
August 27, 2021 – May 30, 2022 Portrait Gallery
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Upending 1620: Where Do We Begin?
August 6, 2021 – July 31, 2022 American History Museum
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Block by Block: Naming Washington
July 30, 2021 – January 16, 2023 Portrait Gallery
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Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture, and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa
July 16, 2021 – February 27, 2022 African Art Museum
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Welcome Home: A Portrait of East Baltimore, 1975-1980
July 16, 2021 – January 17, 2022 American Art Museum
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Hokusai: Mad about Painting
July 16, 2021 – January 9, 2022 Freer Gallery of Art
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¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues: En los barrios y las grandes ligas
July 2, 2021 – Ongoing American History Museum
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Jon Gray of Ghetto Gastro Selects
July 1, 2021 – February 13, 2022 Cooper Hewitt
History and Culture
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Make Good the Promises: Reconstruction and Its Legacies
September 24, 2021 – August 21, 2022 African American Museum
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A Nation Grieves
September 17, 2021 – January 3, 2022 American History Museum
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Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.
September 10, 2021 – Ongoing African American Museum
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Upending 1620: Where Do We Begin?
August 6, 2021 – July 31, 2022 American History Museum
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¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues: En los barrios y las grandes ligas
July 2, 2021 – Ongoing American History Museum
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Picturing Women Inventors
May 21, 2021 – Ongoing American History Museum
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The Only One in the Room: Women Achievers in Business and the Cost of Success
November 20, 2020 – TBA American History Museum
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The Muppets Take American History
November 12, 2020 – Closed Temporarily American History Museum
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Girlhood (It's Complicated)
October 9, 2020 – January 2, 2022 American History Museum
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Creating Icons: How We Remember Women's Suffrage
March 6, 2020 – TBA American History Museum
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Uncle Tom's Cabin: Early and Notable Editions
February 28, 2020 Through February 2022 African American Museum
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My Computing Device
August 28, 2019 – Ongoing American History Museum
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75th Anniversary of D-Day
June 6, 2019 – TBD American History Museum
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More Doctors Smoke Camels: A Close Reading of Historical Advertising
April 5, 2019 – TBD American History Museum
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All Work and No Pay: A History of Women's Invisible Labor
March 4, 2019 – TBD American History Museum
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Magnificent Obsessions: Why We Collect
November 7, 2018 – January 2, 2022 American History Museum
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Art in Industry
March 22, 2018 – TBA American History Museum
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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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Wallace H. Coulter Unity Square
June 28, 2017 – Permanent American History Museum
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Sounding American Music
June 21, 2017 – TBD American History Museum
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Giving in America
November 29, 2016 – Permanent American History Museum
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Slavery and Freedom
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: Era of Segregation 1876-1968
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Power of Place
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Making a Way Out of No Way
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Musical Crossroads
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Cultural Expressions
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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Taking the Stage
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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A Century in the Making: Building the National Museum of African American History and Culture
September 24, 2016 – Permanent African American Museum
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American Enterprise
July 1, 2015 – Permanent American History Museum
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The Value of Money
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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Nation to Nation: Treaties between the United States and American Indian Nations
September 21, 2014 – January 25, 2025 American Indian Museum
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As We Grow: Traditions, Toys, Games
August 22, 2012 – Permanent American Indian Museum
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On the Water: Stories from Maritime America
May 22, 2009 – Permanent American History Museum
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The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem
November 21, 2008 – Permanent American History Museum
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Landmark Objects
November 21, 2008 – Permanent American History Museum
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The Price of Freedom: Americans at War
November 11, 2004 – Permanent American History Museum
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Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World
September 21, 2004 – Spring 2022 American Indian Museum
Science and Nature
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The Electric Dr. Franklin
November 20, 2021 – TBA American History Museum
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Unforgettable Behavior: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
November 3, 2021 – Summer 2022 Natural History Museum
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Genome: Unlocking Life's Code
October 21, 2021 – Summer 2022 Natural History Museum
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Critical Distance
September 29, 2021 – Summer 2022 Natural History Museum
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Documenting Diversity: How Anthropologists Record Human Life
June 18, 2021 – October 18, 2022 Natural History Museum
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Unsettled Nature: Artists Reflect on the Age of Humans
June 18, 2021 – March 2022 Natural History Museum
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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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Celebrate Smokey: 75 Years of Fighting Wildfires
May 23, 2019 – TBD National Zoo
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Sea Monsters Unearthed, Life in Angola's Ancient Seas
November 9, 2018 – November 2021 Natural History Museum
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Naked Mole-Rats on the Move
September 1, 2018 – Permanent National Zoo
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Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World
May 18, 2018 – October 2022 Natural History Museum
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Electric Fishes Demonstration Lab
October 6, 2017 – Permanent National Zoo
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African Elephant
September 4, 2015 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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American Bison
August 30, 2014 – Permanent National Zoo
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Elephant Trails
September 3, 2010 – Permanent National Zoo
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The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins: What Does It Mean To Be Human?
March 17, 2010 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Sant Ocean Hall
September 27, 2008 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Asia Trail
October 17, 2006 – Permanent National Zoo
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Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals
November 15, 2003 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Great Cats
October 1, 1998 – Permanent National Zoo
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Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals
September 20, 1997 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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FossiLab
1995 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Reptile Discovery Center
May 1, 1994 – Permanent National Zoo
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Insect Zoo, O. Orkin
September 10, 1993 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Amazonia
November 18, 1992 – Permanent National Zoo
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Cheetah Conservation Station
August 19, 1992 – Permanent National Zoo
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Small Mammal House
April 1, 1983 – Permanent National Zoo
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Primates
April 15, 1981 – Permanent National Zoo
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Lighting a Revolution
October 9, 1979 – Permanent American History Museum
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Birds of the District of Columbia
August 24, 1979 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Bone Hall
1964 – Permanent Natural History Museum
Don't Miss
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I Am... Contemporary Women Artists of Africa
June 20, 2019 – December 31, 2022 African Art Museum
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The Peacock Room in Blue and White
May 18, 2019 – June 5, 2022 Freer Gallery of Art
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Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery
March 12, 2019 – March 6, 2022 Renwick Gallery
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Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World
May 18, 2018 – October 2022 Natural History Museum
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Americans
January 18, 2018 – Indefinitely American Indian 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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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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Time and Navigation: The Untold Story of Getting from Here to There
April 12, 2013 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem
November 21, 2008 – Permanent American History Museum
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Sant Ocean Hall
September 27, 2008 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Asia Trail
October 17, 2006 – Permanent National Zoo
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Luce Foundation Center for American Art
July 1, 2006 – Permanent American Art Museum
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World War II Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals
September 20, 1997 – Permanent Natural History Museum
Air and Space History
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Clouds in a Bag: The Evelyn Way Kendall Ballooning and Early Aviation Collection
January 28, 2017 – Indefinitely Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall
July 1, 2016 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar
September 2011 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Moving Beyond Earth
November 19, 2009 – Permanent Air and Space Museum
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Human Spaceflight
November 1, 2004 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Applications Satellites
November 1, 2004 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Space Science
November 1, 2004 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Aerobatic Flight
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Cold War Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Commercial Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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General Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Interwar Military Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Korea and Vietnam Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Pre-1920 Aviation
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
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Rockets and Missiles
December 15, 2003 – Permanent Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
Asia Meets America
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Hung Liu: Portraits of Promised Lands, 1968-2020
August 27, 2021 – May 30, 2022 Portrait Gallery
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The Peacock Room in Blue and White
May 18, 2019 – June 5, 2022 Freer Gallery of Art
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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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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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Dewing's Poetic World
November 27, 2019 – Indefintely Freer Gallery of Art
Closing Soon
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Habitat
May 10, 2019 – December 31, 2021 Smithsonian Gardens
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What Is Feminist Art?
November 26, 2019 – December 31, 2021 Archives of American Art
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Girlhood (It's Complicated)
October 9, 2020 – January 2, 2022 American History Museum
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Magnificent Obsessions: Why We Collect
November 7, 2018 – January 2, 2022 American History Museum
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Stretching the Canvas: Eight Decades of Native Painting
November 16, 2019 – January 2, 2022 American Indian Museum New York
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Nature by Design: Cochineal
November 16, 2019 – January 2, 2022 Cooper Hewitt
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Nature by Design: Plastics
June 8, 2019 – January 2, 2022 Cooper Hewitt
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Suzie Zuzek for Lilly Pulitzer: The Prints that Made the Fashion Brand
June 10, 2021 – January 2, 2022 Cooper Hewitt
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The Modernist French Garden: Designs by the Vera Brothers
June 10, 2021 – January 2, 2022 Cooper Hewitt
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A Nation Grieves
September 17, 2021 – January 3, 2022 American History Museum
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Hokusai: Mad about Painting
July 16, 2021 – January 9, 2022 Freer Gallery of Art
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Welcome Home: A Portrait of East Baltimore, 1975-1980
July 16, 2021 – January 17, 2022 American Art Museum
Kids' Favorites
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Girlhood (It's Complicated)
October 9, 2020 – January 2, 2022 American History Museum
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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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Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
September 24, 2016 – Indefinitely African American Museum
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African Elephant
September 4, 2015 – Permanent Natural 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 – Permanent Natural History Museum
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Sant Ocean Hall
September 27, 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 – Spring 2022 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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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
Outdoor Gardens and Exhibitions
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Abigail DeVille: Light of Freedom
October 15, 2021 – April 17, 2022 Hirshhorn
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Nicolas Party: Draw the Curtain
September 18, 2021 – Spring 2022 Hirshhorn
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Food for the People: Eating and Activism in Greater Washington
April 17, 2021 – September 17, 2022 Anacostia Community Museum
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Habitat
May 10, 2019 – December 31, 2021 Smithsonian Gardens
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Common Ground: Our American Garden
June 28, 2017 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Urban Bird Habitat Garden
July 25, 2012 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Native American Landscape
September 21, 2004 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Victory Garden
Spring 2001 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden
October 7, 1998 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Pollinator Garden
June 30, 1995 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
May 25, 1988 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Enid A. Haupt Garden
May 22, 1987 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
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Sculpture Garden
October 4, 1974 – Indefinitely Hirshhorn
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Freer Gallery of Art: Courtyard Garden
May 9, 1923 – Permanent Smithsonian Gardens
