The Smithsonian National Museum of American History will soon open the doors to one of the most ambitious exhibitions in its history.
In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness opening May 14. It transforms all three floors of the museum into a sweeping tribute to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Admission is free, and the exhibits are meant to be meaningful for visitors of all ages. In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness will remain on view through the end of the year.
Bringing “Learning to Life”
“Trips to the American History Museum truly bring learning to life,” says Ashley Fisher, assistant principal of Forest Edge Elementary School in Reston. “My students love seeing exhibits and it helps them better connect to the history units we study. Most importantly, it gives them meaningful opportunities to explore and experience America’s past firsthand.”
Spanning 250,000 square feet, the museum-wide exhibition features 250 objects drawn from centuries of American life. It uses iconic artifacts and everyday items to explore how generations of Americans have worked, struggled, and sacrificed to realize the nation’s founding ideals.
The exhibition title reorders the familiar phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” into In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness to emphasize the ongoing journey toward those promises rather than their completion.
250 Objects, 250 Stories
It is a true “who’s who” of American memorabilia. The featured artifacts combine national icons with deeply personal objects. Among them are:
- The desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence
- The Revolutionary War gunboat Philadelphia
- A faux-pearl necklace worn by Abigail Adams
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- Gloves worn by a player from the Miracle on Ice team
- A steelworker’s hard hat from the September 11 attacks
- A handmade Earth Day flag from 1970
Seventy-six of the featured objects will be on public display for the first time or have been shown only rarely.
Preserving History: The Gunboat Philadelphia
Among the exhibition’s most compelling centerpieces is the gunboat Philadelphia, the oldest surviving intact American fighting vessel. It’s one of the most remarkable surviving artifacts of the Revolutionary era.
Built in 1776 as part of a Continental fleet assembled to slow British forces on Lake Champlain, the vessel sank during the Battle of Valcour Island after being struck by enemy fire. Recovered in 1935 and later moved to the museum, the Philadelphia is now undergoing a major conservation effort.
Visitors can watch museum experts at work through viewing windows as they stabilize the vessel’s aging timbers and iron fastenings, helping preserve the ship for future generations.
A Living Museum
Beyond the galleries, the museum will offer an extensive schedule of activity throughout 2026. The museum will host theater programs, live music, hands-on demonstrations and participatory exhibits.
Experts, historians, and educators will be on hand for talks and tours designed to illuminate the stories behind the objects on display.
“The American History Museum is the perfect trip for our third graders,” notes teacher Caroline Hagerty, from Lemon Road Elementary in Falls Church. “The exhibits are interactive and engaging, allowing students to put their learning into action. It gives students context and real-world examples of the things we read about in Benchmark and explore in social studies and science.”
Feature image courtesy Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
