In this post, students will learn how photographs shaped the public’s knowledge and experience of the Civil War, and how people shaped photographs to leave a legacy of how they personally experienced and understood the war. Written by Shannon Perich, Associate Curator for the Photogra

In this post, readers will discover the man and the reasoning behind what is now Black History Month, observed around the country every February.  Dr. Carter G. Woodson spent my of the early decades of the 20th century promoting the study and seriousness of African American histor

In this post, readers are asked to consider the question “when is a neck-tie more than just a neck-tie?” This piece spotlights the objects in the NMAH collection which recount the story of the landmark Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court case, decided in 2003, which ultimately insured the LGBT co

In this post, Readers will get a glimpse at a few surprising innovations that helped change the technological landscape of the Civil War.  Produced in conjunction with a symposium held at the Museum in November 2012, this piece covers a range of topics and consults a variety of experts. 

In this post, readers have the chance to see and learn more about a few objects from the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum collection.  The Sewall-Belmont serves as the historic home for the National Woman’s party and so has a rich connection with the history of the woman’s suffrage moveme

In this post, readers are encouraged to reflect on the historical and psychological meaning of one of the Civil War’s most stirring and most significant battles: Gettysburg.  Through photographs and remembrances, readers will revisit this scene and the sacrifices made there.  Writ

In this post, students will learn about the origins of the holiday known today as Halloween, and the history of its celebration in the United States, including trick-or-treating and costumes. All-Hallows-Even (that is, evening) is the night before All Hallows Day. The apostrophe in the earlier sp

In this post, students will read a short biography of Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph. Even in his day, he was a controversial figure, but today he is remembered for his creativity—an artist who became interested in a novel technology and helped lay the foundation for a revolution in co

In this post, students will discover the history of electric car technology over the course of the last century. In the early 20th century, motorists had a choice of electric, steam, or gasoline cars, and it wasn’t clear that any one type would dominate the market. Electricity was beginnin

In this post, students will learn about the spring and summer of 1961, when more than 400 Americans became Freedom Riders. They did so knowing full well that the simple act of violating long-held traditions of racial segregation and white supremacy would almost certainly lead to arrest