Museum inspection precedes Trump administration review at National Museum of American History by NPR

The National Museum of American History, one of the main buildings within the Smithsonian Institution, stands proudly on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., nestled between the National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Known as America's Attic, the museum remains free and open to the public, offering a vast array of historical artefacts and exhibits.

Recently, the museum has been at the centre of controversy, with the closure of an exhibit on the future National Museum of the American Latino. The exhibit, which included a painting criticised by the White House, was met with no official requests for change from the Smithsonian.

One of the museum's most iconic exhibits is the Star-Spangled Banner, an immense American flag that measures 30 by 34 feet, roughly the size of a restaurant or a three-car garage. The flag, steeped in history, is displayed in a dim, reverent space, with distant sounds of battle echoing in the background. Nearby, extra materials are available, including a History Channel video showcasing various ways Americans have displayed the flag throughout history.

The Star-Spangled Banner is not the only historical relic on display. The museum also houses a bomb fragment from the War of 1812, a stark reminder of the battle that inspired the flag's creation. Other exhibits delve into American popular culture, such as the ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz", and the life and work of Benjamin Franklin, with text acknowledging his ownership of enslaved people.

Visitors to the museum can engage in thought-provoking conversations, such as the exhibit on democracy, where tourists Michael Blaylock and Jamie Ramirez expressed a desire for more content like that found in the African American History Museum. The museum has also attracted the attention of historians, with Lindsay Chervinsky, a biographer of John Adams and the head of George Washington's Presidential Library, visiting the museum during a school trip in the 8th grade.

Recently, Chervinsky revisited the museum and noticed that they had restored an item that was briefly removed - text about President Trump - in a display on impeachments. The museum's commitment to preserving and presenting history, warts and all, is evident in its exhibits.

Jessie Stockham, a tourist, is aware of the debate surrounding the Smithsonian and its role in presenting history. She expressed that being able to see things as they are right now is important because we don't know what things will look like in the future. The National Museum of American History, with its rich and diverse collection, continues to provide a window into the past, offering visitors a chance to reflect on the history of the United States and its ongoing evolution.

Museum inspection precedes Trump administration review at National Museum of American History by NPR