The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC is marking the 250th anniversary of US independence with a major exhibition titled "In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness," opening on 14 May. The show displays 250 objects spanning all three floors of the museum, ranging from a Revolutionary War-era gunboat (the Philadelphia) to a Donald Trump "Make America great again" hat. Seventy-six rarely seen objects are concentrated in entry hall cases, while the rest are embedded throughout existing galleries, connected by a "ribbon" design. Director Anthea Hartig frames the exhibition as a commemoration of moments where individuals and communities fought for recognition and identity, pairing each object with an action verb to emphasize democracy as participatory.
The exhibition matters because it confronts a deeply divided America during an election year, using material culture to tell a more inclusive and complex national story. By juxtaposing objects from different eras—from Thomas Jefferson’s desk to a hockey player’s gloves—the museum invites visitors to reflect on both the triumphs and contradictions of US history. The preservation of the Philadelphia gunboat, a rare surviving Revolutionary War vessel, also highlights the museum’s commitment to conserving fragile artifacts through innovative science. This project underscores how museums can serve as spaces for collective reflection and dialogue during politically charged times.