Latest Programs

First-hand stories of American diplomacy
Seal in the Diplomacy Center Pavilion
A Century of Service – US Diplomatic Courier Services turns 100
A Century of Service – US Diplomatic Courier Services turns 100 640 427

The United States Diplomacy Center is honored to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Diplomatic Courier Service with a new exhibit, “100 Years of Diplomatic Couriers—None Swifter than These,” on display from Oct 31, 2018 through February 3, 2019. In 1918, General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing authorized U.S. Army Major Amos J. Peaslee to…

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American and German flags with text WunderBar together over it
Wunderbar Together: A Year-Long Celebration of German-American Friendship
Wunderbar Together: A Year-Long Celebration of German-American Friendship 1 1

In October, Germany kicked off Wunderbar Together, a major, year-long initiative to celebrate the Year of German-American Friendship (“Deutschlandjahr USA”). An initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office, implemented by the Goethe-Institut, and with support from the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Wunderbar Together showcased the transatlantic partnership, highlighting areas of German-American cooperation in business,…

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Diplomacy Center exhibit cases of Nuclear Arms including flags, artifacts, and information
Spotlight On: Nuclear Risk Reduction
Spotlight On: Nuclear Risk Reduction 1024 768

In October 2018, the United States Diplomacy Center hosted a spotlight on the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center. These included several of our artifacts, including: Cruise missile wing tip mounted to plaque Gift from the INF Delegation This wing tip was once part of a ground launched cruise missile which was eliminated at Davis Monthan Air Force Base,…

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Photo exhibit in the Diplomacy Center pavilion
Afghanistan’s Heritage: Restoring Spirit and Stone
Afghanistan’s Heritage: Restoring Spirit and Stone 1 1

The United States Diplomacy Center is pleased to host the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs’ photo exhibition Afghanistan’s Heritage: Restoring Spirit and Stone from October 9th through October 29th.  The 37 images are from the U.S. Embassy Kabul commissioned photobook of the same name, showcasing historic sites, monuments, and cultural institutions that have benefited from the Embassy’s…

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Women present their project at ImpactHack
ImpactHack 2018
ImpactHack 2018 640 427

Visualizing Diplomacy, Development, and the Environment On September 21 and 22, 2018, the United States Diplomacy Center and World Resources Institute partnered to host ImpactHack, a data visualization hackathon in Washington D.C. Sixteen teams competed to demonstrate diplomacy’s impact, from local state economies to global issues, using their coding and design skills. Amazon Web Services…

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These are a few objects of condolence sent from around the world including South Africa and Australia.
Honoring the Victims of September 11, 2001
Honoring the Victims of September 11, 2001 1024 676

On September 10, Secretary Pompeo visited the U.S. Diplomacy Center’s September 11 exhibit remembering the lives that were taken during the terrorist attacks and the survivors and first responders with lasting injuries or health complications. The exhibit features displays of condolence material from its collection that represents the outpouring of support felt worldwide after the…

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#AskACurator
#AskACurator 150 150

Ever wonder what kind objects we use to tell the story of American diplomacy at the U.S. Diplomacy Center? Don’t wonder, ask our curator! For the first time in our museum’s history, we’ll be answering your questions about our collection. Between 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM EDT on September 12, 2018, tweet us questions about…

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Exhibit Testing
Exhibit Testing 150 150

On July 31, 2018, the United States Diplomacy Center made its second visit to the National Museum of American History’s Spark!Lab to test content for its future exhibits. Museum visitors viewed four historical and current stories of American diplomacy and were invited to participate in a word association exercise. Over 500 visitors walked through exhibit…

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Faces of Diplomacy Preview Exhibit
Faces of Diplomacy Preview Exhibit 150 150

From July 23rd through August 31st, the United States Diplomacy Center hosted a preview of the exhibit Faces of Diplomacy in the Pavilion at the 21st Street entrance of HST. Faces of Diplomacy features portraits and videos of diplomatic professionals working abroad and in Washington D.C. From Public Affairs Officers to Information Management Specialists, to…

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Remembrance, Reflection, Resilience
Remembrance, Reflection, Resilience 150 150

Remembrance, Reflection, Resilience Twenty years ago on a summer morning, two U.S. embassies in Africa fell victim to coordinated and nearly simultaneous truck bombs – later linked to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Fifty-six U.S. government employees, contractors, and family members were killed. From the ashes, countless survivors pulled together and rebuilt strengthened and resilient communities.…

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Understanding Diplomacy through Data
Understanding Diplomacy through Data 150 150

In May, over one hundred students competed in the student-led hackathon, MakeSPP, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Samay Shamdasani, along with his co-organizers, Shashwat Punjani, Nathan Blumenfeld, Jonas Eaton, Thomas Narramore, Dan Ambrosio, Owen Kealey, and Tyler Greene organized the hackathon. Hackathons are collaborative, competitive events where computer programmers are provided raw data or project prompts from a…

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Citizen Diplomacy Challenge Photo Contest
Citizen Diplomacy Challenge Photo Contest 150 150

The United States Diplomacy Center is pleased to host an exhibit featuring the finalists of the 2017-2018 Citizen Diplomacy Challenge Photo Contest run by the Office of Alumni Affairs in the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  Twenty top photos, submitted by Americans who took part in international exchange programs sponsored by the Department, will be…

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Speed Mentoring
Speed Mentoring 150 150

Speed Mentoring In honor of International Women’s History Month, the Diplomacy Center organized a speed mentorship event for State Department interns, offering them a unique opportunity to network with Foreign Service and Civil Service female leaders at the State Department representing diverse ranks, cones, and backgrounds. The event was organized in cooperation with the Office…

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A Legacy Remembered: Perspectives of the Marshall Plan
A Legacy Remembered: Perspectives of the Marshall Plan 150 150

On April 3, in cooperation with the George C. Marshall Foundation, the United States Diplomacy Center held an event recognizing the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the European Recovery Program, more commonly known as the Marshall Plan.  125 guests attended, including Marshall Foundation and Diplomacy Center Foundation Board members, academics, and Department of State…

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50th Anniversary of the Tet Offensive
50th Anniversary of the Tet Offensive 150 150

To commemorate the recent 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, the United States Diplomacy Center hosted a panel of eye witnesses — including retired diplomats and a former journalist — as well as a military historian to take us back to the night of the attack. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs…

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Panel: The First African American Diplomats
Panel: The First African American Diplomats 150 150

In commemoration of African American History Month, the Center hosted a program highlighting the little known diplomatic careers of Ebenezer Bassett and Frederick Douglass.  The program was held on February 14th in honor of the bicentennial of Douglass’s birth.  Both of these men served as U.S. Ministers — an early title equivalent to Ambassador —…

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A Window into American Soft Power in Rural Vietnam
A Window into American Soft Power in Rural Vietnam 150 150

The United States Diplomacy Center was pleased to host an event featuring up-close and personal stories of diplomacy on October 18: A Window into American Soft Power in Rural Vietnam, 1962-1964. We were joined by retired Foreign Service Officer Robert Warne, his spouse Susanna (Suzy), and retired United States Government official, Rufus Phillips. Phillips is…

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HIV/AIDs Panel: a Humanitarian and a National Security Issue
HIV/AIDs Panel: a Humanitarian and a National Security Issue 150 150

The United States Diplomacy Center was pleased to host a panel discussion that explored how U.S. Government has approached HIV/AIDS as both a humanitarian and a national security issue for more than 30 years. From the emergence of HIV/AIDS during the Reagan Administration to today, the three panelists surveyed the U.S. diplomatic response to the…

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Guest Exhibit: Jazz Diplomacy
Guest Exhibit: Jazz Diplomacy 150 150

The United States Diplomacy Center is excited to feature the photography exhibit “Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World” in the upper level of the Pavilion from February 14th to May 31th, 2018. This guest exhibit chronicles the international tours of legendary jazz musicians who were selected by the Department of State to serve as roving…

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A C-SPAN Journey through U.S. Diplomatic History
A C-SPAN Journey through U.S. Diplomatic History 150 150

C-SPAN may be best known for covering Capitol Hill, but it also covers American history.  In January, it is highlighting U.S. diplomatic history in a two-part program focused on the collection of the United States Diplomacy Center. While many Americans may know the publicized outcomes of diplomatic negotiations – treaties to end wars or international…

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