This exhibition is about Clotilde Arias, a Peruvian immigrant who came to New York City in 1923 at age twenty-two to study music. Decades later she translated the national anthem into the official Spanish version at the request of the U.S. government. Arias died in 1959 in Manhattan at age fifty-eig

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith traces the unfolding of America’s experiment with government “of, by, and for the people” and illustrates the fact that democracy involves civic engagement and participation. This exhibition and its 

Since the 1950s, demand has soared in the United States for cookbooks featuring diverse ethnic cuisines. Reflecting a heightened interest in foods and flavors from various cultures, the explosion of ethnic cookbooks—and ethnic restaurants and markets—serves to educate the general public while

A topical collection featuring African-American leaders, inventors, activists, sports figures, and culture-shapers whose lives changed history.  These stamps are part of the Black Heritage Stamp Series. U.S. postage stamps were in use for nearly a century before Booker T. Washington became t

Student activity collection analyzing the work of two very different Mexican American artists, identifying aspects of culture and exploring expressions about Latino experiences in art. Included in this collection, are five paintings highlighting Latino families, paired with observation and analys

Research in Motion (RIM) produced this Blackberry model 957 Internet Edition in 2000. The first Blackberry was introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager before pivoting to become a device featuring an always-connected e-mail with personal digital assistant functionality. The Blackberry 957 came with

Abraham Lincoln is typically portrayed as a gaunt, bearded man, both thoughtful and troubled. The story that goes along with this image is as familiar to Americans as any children’s fable. He was born in a log cabin. He became the 16th president. He freed the slaves and saved the Union. He was

Author Betsy Hearne wanted to know more about the women in her family's past, so she researched her family for the book Seven Brave Women, which tells the story of her female ancestors dating back to the Revolutionary War. You, too, can explore the women in your family or community who

Meet Ramón, who longs to masquerade as a vejigante with his older brothers. Find out more about the book Lulu Delacre, the author and illustrator. A vejigante is a person who dresses in costume to help celebrate Carnival in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Why are objects useful teaching tools? How should you choose which objects to use? Learn the answers to these questions from Richard Kurin, the Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution, who recently published his new book "History of America in 101 Objects