This ongoing collection of posts from the National Museum of American History's blog "O Say Can You See?" share stories and objects about The Nation We Build Together.

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

To control the form of war messages, the government created the U.S. Office of War Information in June 1942. OWI sought to review and approve the design and distribution of government posters. Posters such as this one and their messages were seen as "war graphics," combining the sophisticated sty

This website is coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture. Its stated goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies in America. The program is carrie

During World War II, the U.S. military needed to find accurate ways to guide missiles to their targets. Harvard University psychologist B. F. Skinner suggested that a missile nose cone be supplied with three compartments, each with a window. A pigeon would be placed in each section, and trained t

This buckskin coat was worn by Custer when he was Lieutenant Colonel with the 7th U. S. Cavalry in the Dakotas. It was one of several owned and worn by Custer, who prefered to dress like a frontiersman while out West. In 1912, Custer's widow, Elizabeth, donated this buckskin coat t

This crumpled piece of exterior sheathing was recovered from the debris pile of the World Trade Center after the building collapsed following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.