In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, civil rights activist Martha Prescod Norman discusses her decision to join the civil rights movement against the wishes of her parents, and her experiences in the movement, including during Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964.

Often incorporating aspects ritual and secrecy, fraternal orders are voluntary associations of men and women that date back to the early 18th century. In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, curator Tim Winkle discusses fraternal orders and his research on a particular object

What do British cattle and Mexican cowboys have to do with the history of Hawaiian folk music? A lot, as it turns out. Slack Key guitar master Reverend Dennis Kamakahi explains in this episode of the History Explorer podcast series. The episode features songs Rev. Kamakahi played during a ceremon

Though not as well-known as figures such as Duke Ellington or Ella Fitzgerald, John Levy made significant contributions to jazz music, both as a bassist and as the first black personal manager in jazz. In this episode of History Explorer, Sarah Coffee interviews Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orche

In this episode of History Explorer, curators Bart Hacker and Margaret Vining discuss the roles that women have played in the military throughout history, their research, and the 2013 announcement of a policy to allow women in combat.  The resource set includes a teacher guide, student works

In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, Sarah Coffee hears from Rayna Green about how curators working on the exhibit, Food:Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000, got out of the museum and

In this episode of the History Explorer podcast, we go behind the "seams" to explore the many layers of the Museum’s latest acquisition—Elphaba’s dress from the Broadway Musical Wicked, which gave a new spin on L. Frank Baum’s well known book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In this episode of the History Explorer Podcast, curator Rayna Green discusses what we can learn from seemingly simple line drawings about the lives and memories of Plains Indians who lived over 130 years ago.  The resources include a teacher guide and related image. 

During World War II, America began its largest experiment with guest Labor, The Mexican Farm Labor Program. Commonly called the bracero program, this little known chapter of American and Mexican history touched the lives of countless men, women, families, and communities. Learn about the bracero

Build a monument and think about monuments in Washington, DC and the history those monuments celebrate. This activity from Spark!Lab includes step-by-step directions, discussion questions, and ideas for extending your learning. Spark!Lab activities encourage young learners to explore the inventio