Smithsonian National Museum of American History, About the Museum

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Slideshow Tags: history museums smithsonian usa washington-dc Posted: July 23, 2010 by Val

Inside National Museum of American History

About the Museum

America is a young nation in comparison to many other counties in the world first and foremost in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Nevertheless, during several centuries of its existence, this nation has gone though tremendous transformation in all aspects of its life be it social or cultural aspects, or wars, or political changes, or scientific and technological advancements. All this created one of the richest historical heritages which influenced and continue influencing in the most significant way literally everything that is happening on our planet. Because of the leading role America plays in our world and because of the very dynamic changes the Unites States continues undergoing, without knowledge and understanding of this heritage, there is little hope to understand where our civilization stands, and what it strives for.

The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center (of NMAH, or simply American History Museum) is a very good place for kids and adults to start learning or to improve knowledge about American history. I also think that this museum can be interesting for visitors from other countries. American History museum is located on the National Mall, at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. (see it on map). The Museum is open daily except December 25. Regular hours are 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. with extended hours until 7:30 pm during summer time (check museum web site for additional information). Admission is free and no tickets are required.

If you want to use public transportation to visit the museum (which can be a good idea since the parking space in areas surrounding the museum is very limited), you can use The Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations, on Metrorail's Blue and Orange lines. On the other, if you like to use your car and ready to pay parking garage fees you can rely on numerous commercial parking lots throughout the city. One of them rather convenient is located on the corner of F Street and 13th Street : it's about five - seven minute walk from the garage to the museum entrance on Constitution Avenue.

The museum first opened its door to the public as the Museum of History and Technology in 1964. This name was changed in 1980 to the National Museum of American History to represent its new mission as it's described on museum's Web site: "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". The museum underwent a multi-million renovation project from September 2006 to November 2008, during which time it was closed.

This four-page presentation with 170 photos, comments and tips is designed to give you an idea of what you can find in this museum. We tried to focus not on specific artifacts exhibited in the museum but rather on introducing you to various thematic collection and museum environment. Here are links to all four pages structured following the layout of the museum with two wings on each of its three exhibition floors:

National Museum of American History: About the Museum (this page).

National Museum of American History, 1st Floor: Science, Innovation, Technology and Transportation.

National Museum of American History, 2nd Floor: American Lives and American Ideas

National Museum of American History, 3r Floor: American Wars and Politics

Washington DC, corner F Street and 13th Street, Parking Garage - a convenient place to park your car when you come to Museum of American History	Washington DC - Pennsylvania Avenue on weekend morning is empty. You cross it if you move from parking garage on corner F St. and 13th St.	Washington DC, Ronald Reagan Building - it is on 14th Street and very close to Constitution Ave and American History Museum.	Harry Potter used platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station to get to Hogwarts. You can actually use 13 1/2 Street in Washington DC to get to Museum of American History.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall - across 14th Street. American History museum is on your left on this photo.	Washington DC, The National Mall map with various Smithsonian museums. You will see many displays with similar maps in the area.	American History Museum - Mall entrance (technically, it is Madison Dr. that separates the museum from National Mall and its Enid A. Haupt Garden). Usually, it is less busy than the Constitution Ave. entrance.	There are several Information Centers at the museum. Nina and Ivan Selin Welcome Center is on the first floor of the Mall side of the building.
American History Museum, Constitution Avenue entrance. It is considered to be the main entrance and more convenient for visitors. The only problem is that during pick hours, there may be a line.	American History Museum, Constitution Avenue entrance as seen from inside. The line of visitors is formed because of security checks and metal detectors.	One of the museums security guards - they are nice and polite but that does not prevent them from doing their job.	American History Museum, first floor near entrance - information desk.
American History Museum, the first floor area that separates the West and East Wings. Staircase to the second floor is in the background.	Displays with artifacts are on both sides of the first floor entrance hall (American History Museum). These displays are used frequently and thematic exhibitions.	The Pacemaker Speed Graphic manufactured by Graflex, a Rochester, New York based camera producer. The camera is on the Artifact Wall display, "Cameras Before Digital" exhibition (total 22 cameras)	Restrooms and lockers on the first floor in the main entrance area of the American History Museum.
Floor plans - this is a photo of official floor plans displayed in American History Museum.	There are several museum stores in the American History Museum. This is one of them, the biggest located on the first floor behind the staircase to the second floor.	Another store in the American History Museum. This one is located on the second floor not far from the Mall entrance.	Museum exhibitions are located in the West and East Wings of all three floors of the museum. This is how a "wing entrance" looks like.
American History Museum organizes guided tours. This is one of them. If you want to join one of them, watch for signs with tours time and starting points.