The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History dedicates its collections and scholarship to inspiring a broader understanding of our nation and its many peoples. We create opportunities for learning, stimulate imaginations, and present challenging ideas about our country�s past.

The Museum collects and preserves more than 3 million artifacts�all true national treasures. We take care of everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln�s top hat to Dizzy Gillespie�s angled trumpet and Dorothy�s ruby slippers from �The Wizard of Oz.� Our collections form a fascinating mosaic of American life and comprise the greatest single collection of American history.