What’s Happening in September: Events, Exhibits and More!

Exhibition Openings

A Story of Community
Within the “Giving in America” Exhibition
Third Floor, Center
Opens Sept. 6 through September 2025

“A Story of Community” will open Sept. 6 within the museum’s “Giving in America” exhibit highlighting the history of Mary’s Center, which began in 1988 as a Washington, D.C. clinic dedicated to providing medical care to women fleeing violence in Central America.  A large Mary’s Center wall sign will be a focal point of the display case along with various photographs from the clinic, protective equipment worn during the pandemic and a Venezuelan folk sculpture of José Gregorio Hernández, a late 19th and early 20th century physician who became a symbol of the healthcare charity. “Giving in America” is a long-term exhibition that looks at the history of philanthropy’s role in shaping the United States. More information about the display and the Smithsonian Philanthropy Initiative is in the press release.

Neil Simon’s Eyeglasses and Typewriter
New Acquisition Case, Entertainment Nation
Opening Sept. 26
Third Floor, West

The iconic eyeglasses and typewriter used by Neil Simon, influential American playwright and author, will go on view in the new acquisition cases associated with the museum’s “Entertainment Nation” exhibition. He used this typewriter to compose more than 30 of his famous plays including his first production, “Come Blow Your Horn” (1961) and the Tony award winning show, “The Odd Couple '' (1965), which embodies Simon’s passion for making people laugh through theater. Growing up in New York City during the Great Depression, Simon found a sanctuary at the movie theater watching early comedians such as Charlie Chaplin. He drew on his own experiences, family dynamics and adversities to create a new style of comedy that endures today. Simon’s work was recognized with a number of industry awards, including three Tony Awards and a Golden Globe Award, along with numerous nominations. Simon passed away in August 2018 at the age of 91.

EXHIBITION EXTENDED

De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News
Extended to May 2026.
Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman Gallery, Second Floor, West

“¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News” is a bilingual exhibitionshowcasing the work of Latina broadcast journalists and how they wrote the first draft of history for major U.S. events for the Spanish-language communities they report on and for. Working in the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of broadcast news, these journalists became powerful advocates for Spanish-speaking communities. “¡De última hora!” uses the collective experience of Ilia Calderón, Dunia Elvir, Marilys Llanos, Gilda Mirós, Lori Montenegro, María Elena Salinas and Blanca Rosa Vílchez, to illustrate how Latina journalists have navigated their field and shaped the narrative for major historical events. The exhibit provides a look at the different paths they took and the tools of the trade: reporter’s notebooks, microphones, press badges and media credentials, clothing, shoes and even a can of hairspray. A glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work of broadcast journalism can be seen through personal and press photos and through a multi-media presentation of the women on air. 

CLOSING

Reckoning with Remembrance: History, Injustice, and the Murder of Emmett Till
Closes Sept. 15
Second Floor, East

During a visit to see his great uncle in Mississippi, 14-year-old Emmett Till, of Chicago, was brutally lynched Aug. 28,1955. When his mutilated body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River, his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, insisted on an open-casket funeral in Chicago to “let the people see what they did to my boy.” In Mississippi, citizens of Tallahatchie County formed the Emmett Till Memorial Commission in 2006 and erected nine historical markers to remember Till. Over the years, the signs have been stolen, riddled with bullets, or thrown in the river but have always been replaced. This temporary display of the defaced River Site historical marker preserves the memory of Till while demonstrating the contested nature of racism’s violent legacy in America.

PROGRAMS

Historic Change: An Evening Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Celia Cruz 
Sept. 20; 7 - 10:30 p.m.  
First Floor
Free, Registration highly recommended through Eventbrite

Celebrate the life and legacy of Celia Cruz, the legendary queen of salsa, with a night of music, dance and culture. The Friday evening will kick-off with a program on the 2024 Celia Cruz Quarter, the 14th coin in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program and will culminate in a dance party. Cruz’ impact on music and culture can be experienced through a panel discussion moderated by Anamaria Sayre of NPR's Alt. Latino with Latino history and salsa music experts including National Museum of African American History and Culture Curator Ariana Curtis, Northwestern University Professor Frances Aparicio and Cruz’ niece, Linda Pritchett. Objects-Out-Of-Storage will showcase artifacts related to her career and attendees can enjoy salsa lessons, tours and a performance by the all-woman salsa band, Lulada Club.

The event is a collaboration between three Smithsonian museums, including the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, as well as the United States Mint. ASL Interpretation will be available throughout the program. For more information, contact [email protected].

ONLINE STUDENT PROGRAM

National Youth Summit: Elections & Politics
Virtual Program for Middle and High Students
September 17–24, 2024
Registration Required

How can young people engage in political action and elections? The 2024 National Youth Summit on Elections & Politics will explore questions of representation, power, and accountability to examine how young people have boldly driven change in our democracy. The virtual summit will feature guest speakers including teens, scholars, and organizational leaders and offer ideas for students to consider as they develop their civic identities. Participants will be able to access this year's digital materials and supplemental learning resources in September.
For more information and to register please visit the website.

VISITING

What to know:
The museum is open seven days a week, except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and passes are not required. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu/visit

FOOD:

The Eat at America’s Table Cafe is open for complete food and beverage service. This month, Chef Kyre and his team will present highlights from the cuisines El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia and Mexico for Hispanic Heritage Month, including platanos, empanadas, pupusas, casamiento and enchiladas. The Leroy Neiman Jazz Cafe offers light lunch, including sandwiches and pastries, as well as hot and cold beverages. The Jazz Cafe serves Starbucks coffee. For more information, visit the website.

Bottled water is allowed in the museum. We recommend bringing a refillable water bottle for fountains.

Stores: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25 between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The doors of the museum are always open online and the virtual museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibitions, K–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media via Instagram and Facebook. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.

Amy Kehs | READ MORE

Amy Kehs is a brand strategist and communications expert for museums.