The American Party, also called the Know-Nothings, was a major national political force in the 1850s. It saw immigrants and Catholics as the greatest threat to self-government and to the nation. Arguing for rule by native-born Protestants, the Know-Nothings ran former President Millard Fillmore as t

“One of the most infamous tragedies in American manufacturing history is the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire of 1911. You may recall the story—how a blaze in a New York City sweatshop resulted in the fiery death of 146 people, mostly immigrant women in their teens and 20s. When workers found ex

Winning voting rights was a job so big that no woman could do it alone. The Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative explores stories of diverse communities and their early contributions to the fight for women’s suffrage. Learn more women’s history with the Smithsonian: https://womenshi

Whether you're a student, teacher or family, visiting the Capitol is a great way to explore the roots of our country's government through stories and hands-on activities. Visitors can choose from a variety of lessons about Congress and the Capitol that go beyond the traditional Capitol tour. The

Spend time exploring Globalization and Food, two topics from the Global Era.

Take a closer look at the Global Era topics of Finance and Discount Retail.

Dig deeper into the Global Era topics of Networks and Earnings.

In this post, readers will discover some of the early history of bullet-proof vests and how Americans during the Civil War tried to protect themselves and their loved ones with this relatively new invention.  Written by Civil War scholar Sarah Weicksel, this post i

In this post, readers will explore the writings of an assistant surgeon in the 150th Pennsylvania infantry during the Civil War, M.A. Henderson.  Although Henderson did not see much action and describes little of his medical duties, his diary is a resource for understanding the Ci

In this post, readers will find hope even in the darkest of circumstances.  The story of Paul and May Ishimoto finding love in an Arkansas internment camp is one of perseverance, sacrifice, and artifacts.  Written by Cedric Yeh, Deputy Chair and Associate Curator for the Division of Arm