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National Museum of American History

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of the National Museum of American History

North facade of the Museum of History and Technology, 1972 Negative number: 72-5114
The north facade of the National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, in 1972.

George Washington's on exhibit in the Arts and Industries Building, 1891 Negative number: 48727-A
The relics of George Washington on exhibit as part of the Ethnology exhibit in the North Hall of the Arts and Industries Building, 1891. Washington's relics were one of the earliest collections of the United States National Museum.

First Ladies Hall in the Arts and Industries Building, 1920's Negative number: 11064-B
The First Ladies Hall was housed in the Arts and Industries Building from 1912 until it moved in the 1960's to the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History. From 1912 until 1955 the gowns were displayed in cases, as seen here in the 1920's. After 1955 they were displayed in room settings.

Frank Taylor at the construction site of the Museum of History and Technology Negative number: 83-2074
Frank A. Taylor, founding director of the National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, inspects the History and Technology Building as construction nears completion, ca. 1963. He is standing on the fifth floor terrace.

Pacific type passenger steam locomotive being moved into Museum of History and Technology Negative number: 2004-10283
Pacific-type passenger steam locomotive built in 1926 by the Richmond, Virginia works of the American Locomotive Company. The locomotive weighs 280 tons. It is seen here being moved into the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, while the building is still under construction, ca. 1961.

Folk art Carousel on exhibit in the Museum of History and Technology, 1965 Negative number: 61331
Children viewing a folk art carousel in the Van Alstyne American Folk Art Collection on exhibit at the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, January, 1965.

Atlas Computer in the Museum of History and Technology Negative number: X3794
Atlas Computer Exhibit in the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, 1970's.

Pendulum Hall in the Museum of History and Technology, ca. 1970 Negative number: P64131-F
Visitors watching Foucault's Pendulum in Pendulum Hall on the first floor of the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, ca. 1970.

Installation of reconstructed Renaissance clock tower, Museum of History and Technology Negative number: P6427C
A reconstruction of a Renaissance clock tower in the Hall of Light Machinery, Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History. The basic clock mechanism is that of the town clock of Frederick, Maryland, made by clockmaker Frederick Heisley in 1790. On each face of the clock tower is a different kind of dial: a sun dial (shown on the right), a civil time dial (here being installed by John Vernon of Thwaites & Reed, London), an astronomical dial and an automaton dial. Each was specially designed for this exhibit.

Demonstration of 18th century printing done on a restored wooden press, Museum of History and Technology Negative number: 73-5907-3
In the Hall of Graphic Arts in the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, Stanley Nelson demonstrates printing the 18th century way on a restored wooden press, 1973.

Negative number: 92-1711
The cast of the television sitcom "All in the Family" came to the National Museum of History and Technology, later renamed the National Museum of American History, to donate Archie and Edith Bunker's chairs to the "A Nation of Nations" exhibit in September of 1978. (l-r): Jean Stapleton, Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, Norman Lear, Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner. Photo by Richard Hofmeister.

John Bull on the Anniversary Run, 1981 Negative number: 167298-2-7A/8
The John Bull locomotive at its anniversary run in 1981 on the Southern Railway, with (l-r): Larry Jones, National Museum of American History curator John White, museum specialist John Stine and fellow Bill Withuhn. The John Bull is thought to be the oldest operable self-propelling vehicle in the world. It was built in 1831 in England and was used through 1861. It was aquired by the United States National Museum in 1885. Photo by R. Vogel.

Mementos left at the Wall Negative number: 92-13272-4a
Duery Felton and Jennifer Locke examine a few of the 30,000 mementos that have been left during the years by visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Some of them are a part of the"Personal Legacy: The Healing of A Nation" exhibit which opened in 1992. Photo by Dane Penland.

Star Spangled Banner Negative number: 93-13286-2
The center hall of the National Museum of American History with the Foucault pendulum and the Star Spangled Banner, 1993. Photo by Jeff Tinsley.

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