Plan Your Visit
- Hours Today: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
- Open every day except Dec. 25
- Admission: Free
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Events & Programs
Backstory Live Taping
Popular radio hosts The American History Guys join curator Harry Rubenstein to discuss the history of inaugurations. Jan. 19, 11am.Behind the Dream: The Making of a Speech that Transformed a Nation
Join a discussion with author Clarence B. Jones, who served as speechwriter and counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. in the days leading up to the 1963 March on Washington. Jan. 19, 2pm.More Inauguration Weekend Programs
Music, historical presidents, and more!Masterworks Concert Series
The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society's Castle Trio presents an evening of Schubert, Jan. 27.
This Day In History
January 16, 1964
Today in 1964: The musical "Hello, Dolly!" starring Carol Channing opens on Broadway.
National Youth Summit on Abolition
On February 11, join a discussion between scholars, activists, and high school students to reflect upon the abolition movement of the 19th century and explore its legacy on modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Find out more and sign up.
From our Blog
With flu season in the headlines, curator Diane Wendt in the Division of Medicine and Science looks back at flu prevention dating to 1918...
In a special ceremony, Tony award-winning costume designer Susan Hilferty signed the deed of gift for an Elphaba costume and...
Editor's note: As the Museum prepares for the National Youth Summit on Abolition, we're exploring how teachers discuss...
View Collections
The Museum collects artifacts of all kinds—from gowns to locomotives—to preserve for the American people an enduring record of their past.