The Promise of a Nation

The 250th anniversary of the United States marks a major milestone, representing two-and-a-half centuries of upholding democracy, building communities, defining freedom, and working to become a more perfect union. In The Promise of a Nation, Smithsonian curators share aspirational stories that have shaped the nation in chapters representing each decade from the 1770s to the 2020s. Smithsonian objects help bring each decade to life and personalize the history, from George Washington’s sword (1770s) to an African American volunteer fire company badge (1860s) to Marian Anderson’s attire worn at her Lincoln Memorial concert (1930s) to Space Shuttle Discovery (1990s).