Museum Happenings in June at the National Museum of American History

Featuring Civic Season, Flag Day and Pride Month Events

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will kick off celebrations of the nation’s patriotic holidays, with Flag Day, June 14, followed by Civic Season programming beginning Juneteenth through the Fourth of July. This initiative invites and engages young adults to reflect on the nation’s past and consider their role in its future. The museum was one of the founding members of “Made By US,” a coalition of museums, historic sites and cultural institutions that established Civic Season in 2021. During this Civic Season, the museum will offer a variety of programs, including a way to share dreams for the future of the nation. 

National History Day 2025:
“Rights and Responsibilities in History”
Student Exhibit Showcases and Performances
Wednesday, June 11; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Various locations within the Museum

In collaboration with the National History Day Organization, the museum’s three public floors will be taken over by 50 table-top displays created by middle and high school students competing in the 2025 National History Day contest. Students will also present a selection of their own performances between Noon and 5:30 p.m. in the museum’s Hall of Music. Displays and performances will explore this year’s theme of “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” 

Celebrate Flag Day – June 14
Visit The Star-Spangled Banner, the Flag That Inspired the National Anthem

10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily
Second Floor, Center

The American flag is the symbol of our nation, and the museum has been the home to the original Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the National Anthem, since it opened in 1964. On the morning of September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a large American garrison flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812, often called the second War of Independence. The sight of those broad stripes and bright stars inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that in 1931 became the United States national anthem. Key’s words gave new significance to a national symbol and started a tradition through which generations of Americans have invested the flag with their own meanings and memories.

“Wish For U.S. Wall” (Civic Season 2025)
Wednesday - Sunday June 19 - July 3; Noon - 4 p.m.
Second Floor, East - Temporary Civics Pavilion 

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, visitors will encounter an opportunity to share their wish for the nation. Civic Season is an initiative that invites and engages young adults to reflect on the nation’s past and consider their role in its future. The museum was one of the founding members of “Made By US,” a coalition of museums, historic sites and cultural institutions that established Civic Season in 2021. At the heart of the Civic Season experience is the Wish Wall, a 28-foot-long installation inviting visitors to share their hopes for the country’s future. This will be a facilitated experience for on-site audiences to submit their responses and a rotating selection will be displayed. Wishes submitted onsite and online will be preserved in a time capsule housed at the Smithsonian Institution Archives, to be opened in 2075. For those who can’t visit in person, birthday wishes may be shared at OnOur250th.org.
 
The temporary “Civic Pavilion” will include daily activities, ranging from “Ask a Curator” talks with museum experts, programming with Civic Season partners such as “Made by US,” D.C. Public Library, Monticello and the White House Historical Association among others. Most programming will be between Noon and 4 p.m. Detailed listings and times will be available on the museum’s events page online. 

• June 19: Civic Season 2025 kicks off with Wish Wall graphic designer Katie Costa
• June 20: “Programming with Smithsonian Gardens
• June 21: Summer Solstice Saturday features on-site programming with D.C. Public Library and Mars American Heritage Chocolate (Noon – 4 p.m.) The museum will be open late until 10 p.m.
• June 22: Programming with American Heritage Chocolate and the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
• June 25: “Ask a Curator” with Political History Curator Modupe Labode; programming with Smithsonian Interns & Fellows and Ford’s Theatre
• June 26: “Ask A Curator" with Monticello’s Thomas Jefferson reenactor and additional programming with Monticello
• June 27: "Ask a Curator” with Political History Curator Jon Grinspan; programming with Ford’s Theatre and Smithsonian 3D
• June 28: Programming with American Heritage Chocolate; gallery tours of the “Presente” exhibition by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino
• June 29: Programming with American Heritage Chocolate and the White House Historical Association
• July 2: “Ask a Curator” with museum staff planning programming for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 and the museum’s “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness” exhibition
• July 3: “Ask a Curator” with Medical History Curator Katherine Ott and programming with the museum’s Archives Center

June Pride Month/WorldPride in D.C.
Saturday, May 24 - Thursday, June 5, various times
Various Locations

Washington D.C. is hosting WorldPride May 17 – June 8, 2025, and the museum will participate in the citywide event by hosting a series of programs between May 24 and June 8. Offerings include ongoing and special displays, a documentary screening, book signing and choral performances. A selection of activities is below, complete listings and registration links will be available on the museum’s events page online. 

• Carl Nassib’s National Football League Jersey, worn during the Las Vegas Raiders season opener on Sept. 13, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium, will be on view beginning May 21; closing TBD.
• The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, will offer several choral performances as part of the WorldPride International Choral Festival, May 24, 30 and 31, 2 p.m. each day. May 28 at 3:30 p.m.
• Curators will share Objects Out of Storage, currently not on display, focused on artifacts from the entertainment and archival collections; Thursday, May 29, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 1 - 4 p.m.
• Author Greg Smithers will sign copies of his book “Reclaiming Two Spirits” Tuesday, May 27.
• Author Neil Young will sign copies of “Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right” Tuesday, June 3.
• Channing Gerard Joseph, author of “House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens” will discuss his book during a colloquium May 27, Noon - 1 p.m.
• The museum is convening an intergenerational panel discussion between elders and members of the GenZ generation May 28, 2 - 4 p.m.
• Curators will showcase Objects Out of Storage, currently not on display, with a focus on the museum’s Medicine and Science and archival collections; Wednesday, June 4, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 1 - 4 p.m.
• Afterhours events for adults include a History Film Forum Screening of the “The Dyke Show” documentary June 2, 7 p.m.; and a trivia night June 5, 7 p.m. Free registration online.

MUSIC

“Music from the Hearts of America:
U.S. Air Force Max Impact Band presents American Pop Music”
Thursday, June 12, Noon & 1 p.m.
Flag Hall, Second Floor Center

Max Impact, stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Featuring six active-duty musicians, Max Impact regularly presents high-intensity performances throughout the nation and abroad.

“Music from the Hearts of America:
Sais Kamalidiin & Tarnation - Blues Music”
Saturday, June 14, Noon & 2 p.m.
Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, Third Floor West

Saïs Kamalidiin (harmonicas, jug, jaws harp, tin whistle, spoons, bones, bamboo flute, washboard, vocals and Leonard Brown (fiddle, guitar, vocals) will present two hourlong sets of Blues music from the 1940s-1970s, reflecting the musical styles of Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry Brownie McGhee and others and the regional styles of the Mississippi Delta Blues, The Piedmont Blues, Texas Blues and Chicago Blues.

The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra presents: Jazz Rides the Rails
NOTE: NEW DATE & LOCATION
Saturday, August 23; 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Waren Bros. Theater
 

Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 34-year history as one of the preeminent programs of the National Museum of American History. Led by A. Philip Randolph, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was organized in 1925 to fight the substandard treatment and working conditions of African Americans in Pullman car service. To celebrate the centennial of this historic railroad labor union—the first of its kind—the SJMO presents music highlighting railroads across America. Concert selections will include “Last Train from Overbrook” by James Moody; “Blues in the Night” by Harold Arlen; and “9:20 Special” by Earle Warren, Bill Engvick and Jack Palmer.  

Purchase Tickets:
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Jazz Rides the Rails - Smithsonian Associates
Members: $30; Non-members $40
 
“Print-O-Rama: Objects out of Storage and Demonstration"
Thursday, June 26; 1 – 4 p.m.
Wallace H. Coulter Plaza, First Floor West

This free event will explore printing history going back to the 1791 U.S. Bill of Rights. Print-O-Rama will showcase printed objects from the museum’s Graphic Arts collection along with objects from other museum collections. Members of the American Printing History Association will demonstrate printing presses and help visitors make their own impressions.

VISITING
What to know:
The museum is open seven days a week, except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and passes are not required. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu/visit

Food:
The Eat at America’s Table Cafe is open for complete food and beverage service. This summer, executive chef Mollie Kaufman presents a “Backyard BBQ” inspired menu, including BBQ Pork ribs, House Smoked Chicken Thighs with Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, and a variety of salads such as Macaroni Pasta Salad, Chopped Coleslaw and Watermelon Tomato Salad. The Leroy Neiman Jazz Cafe also offers a new spring/summer menu featuring a turkey sandwich, classic Muffaletta, vegetable wrap, as well as a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup combo; along with desserts and hot and cold beverages, including Starbucks coffee. For more information, visit the website.

Bottled water is allowed in the museum. We recommend bringing a refillable water bottle for fountains.

Stores: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25 and in 2025, Jan. 20, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The doors of the museum are always open online and the virtual museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibitions, K–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media via Instagram and Facebook. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.
 

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