Smithsonian Museum Celebrates 250th Anniversary of American Founding with 250 Artifacts and Tells the Nation's History

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is holding a special exhibition titled "Pursuing Life, Liberty, and Happiness" featuring 250 selected artifacts to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The exhibition showcases a variety of items from the 18th century to the present, including George Washington's military uniform, the Greensboro lunch counter, and relics from the Philadelphia gunboat, aiming to demonstrate the breadth of American history and the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness by the American people throughout different historical periods. Additionally, a 408-kilogram time capsule representing contemporary America has been assembled and is scheduled to be buried in Philadelphia on July 4th, to be opened in 2276.

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The marble statue of George Washington, the first President of the United States, the ruby slippers from the classic film "The Wizard of Oz," and the Greensboro lunch counter, which later became an important symbol of the American Civil Rights Movement, are three iconic items from different chapters of American history, selected from the 250 artifacts in the special exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.

Megan Howell-Smith, chair of the museum’s 250th-anniversary steering committee, said the exhibition, titled “The Pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness,” brings together many artifacts that showcase the breadth of the American story. “In this exhibition, we are looking at the impact of the Declaration of Independence on American history and how Americans have pursued life, liberty, and happiness throughout different historical periods.”

The artifacts span from the 18th century to the present day, covering American politics, history, and culture. We have George Washington’s military uniform, which people immediately associate with 1776 and the birth of America, and this 250th anniversary.

Another highlight is the Greensboro lunch counter. It came from a Woolworth’s store in North Carolina, where four African American students sat at the counter in protest after being denied service. This sparked a series of protests that many believe helped lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It’s an extremely important object, and it also clearly embodies the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

As part of the 250th-anniversary project, the museum is also conserving and restoring some of its older collected artifacts. He is currently working with a conservation team from Texas to restore the Philadelphia, an important historical shipwreck. This gunboat was built in 1776 and sunk by the British that same year in the Battle of Valcour Island. It is the oldest intact American warship in existence. It lay at the bottom of Lake Champlain from 1776 until it was discovered in 1935. It was later salvaged and finally transported to the museum in 1964.

For museum visitors, one of the highlights is being able to see remnants of American history firsthand, such as a boxcar that was used as an ambulance by Clara Barton, an American nurse during the pioneer era. She was one of the first nurses to advocate for the establishment of the Red Cross. “As a nurse myself, this resonates with me. It’s really exciting to see the artifacts.”

Sol, a visitor from Argentina, toured the history exhibits. “I really enjoyed it, especially the part about democracy, where you can see how elections, voting, and voting rights have evolved over time. It’s very appealing to me. My favorite exhibit would have to be the new star-spangled banner; I love America, and I love it.”

For Megan Howell-Smith, this is exactly what the museum hopes to achieve. “I hope that visitors to the museum this year will see the richness of American history and connect with the elements that are meaningful to them.”

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, a 408-kilogram cylindrical time capsule has been assembled. The capsule, containing items representing contemporary America, is scheduled to be buried in Philadelphia on July 4th and will be opened on the nation's 500th anniversary in 2276. This is VOA News, Washington.