When displayed in a home, business, or church, the flag indicates that one member of the family or other group is actively serving in the armed forces. A blue star indicates a member currently serving, while a gold star indicates a member killed while serving.

In the fictional universe of George Lucas' Star Wars films, robots called droids (short for android) come in many shapes and serve many purposes. Two droids--R2-D2 and C-3PO--have won enormous popularity for their supporting roles in all six of the series. In the collections of the museum are cos

In this handheld, small booklet carried and distributed by Union soldiers, it contained the brief but powerful words of the Emancipation Proclamation. Some of those Union soldiers were African American, and they carried and read this message granting freedom to those enslaved. Have students think ab

“"It was now quick work," Maria Mitchell noted. "As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, the corona burst out all around the sun, so intensely bright near the sun that the eye could scarcely bear it." Maria Mitchell brought a team of Vassar graduates—"Vassar girls" as the press called

A skateboarding pioneer, Cindy Whitehead turned pro at seventeen, skating both pool and half-pipe and becoming one of the top-ranked vert skaters while competing against the boys. But Whitehead had no choice but to wear boys’ shorts when competing; there were no skate products for girls in the 197

“The trouble began soon after well-known social reformer Emily Bissell had finished her remarks at the meeting of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage’s Washington, D.C., branch. As audience members got ready to leave that March 1912 evening, supporters of woman suffrage stationed

In this activity, students will create their own paper mache Carnival masks as a way to learn about Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican culture. This resource is part of an OurStory module entitled A Puerto Rican Carnival. OurStory is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy explor

In this tour, take a close look at a life mask made of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and gain insight into his life during the Civil War. Pair this tour with a 3D tour of a life mask made in 1860 to consider the impact of the war on Lincoln. Life masks we

Students can learn the century-long history of grass-roots invention in American automobile racing. This reference page is included in the online exhibition entitled America on the Move, which focuses on transportation in US history.

This blog, published by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, includes reviews of book written by or about Asian Pacific Americans. The books range from children's picture books to adult fiction and nonfiction to manga, and the reviewer makes special note of whether the book is presente