Special Report

Food, Glorious Food

From jambalaya to Tex-Mex or apple pie, food is a central hub of American culture, celebrations and history. As part of the 2019 re-opening of the National Museum of American History's "Food: Transforming the American Table" exhibition, we pulled together this list of stories that show how eats, sweets and other sustenance are fundamentally linked to our history, culture and technological advances.

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The Smithsonian has launched the first national-scale, scholarly research and collecting project to gather and preserve the artifacts, documents and voices associated with the beer industry’s craft revolution (above: label, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company).

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Here’s What’s Brewing in the New Smithsonian Beer Collections

Julia Child and her husband Paul Child at their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Remembering Julia Child

Dani Nierenberg wants to ensure equal access to healthy food, produced in a way that’s sustainable for the planet.

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Meet the Award-Winning Activist Campaigning for Food Justice

American Food History

The History of the Doughnut

To celebrate its centennial, KitchenAid released a passion red limited edition stand mixer.

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

The KitchenAid at 100

Bottles of the two triumphant vintages 1973 Chateau Montelena chardonnay and 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars cabernet sauvignon are now held in the Smithsonian collections.

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

In 1976, California Wines Bested France's Finest

The traditional Thanksgiving turkey is delicious, but is it paleo?

Thanksgiving and the Start of TV Dinners

Amelia Ceja is breaking boundaries at Ceja Vineyards, which was founded by Amelia, Pedro, Armando and Martha Ceja.

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

¡Salud! to the Mexican-American Wine Revolution

Hungering for Halloween?

Candy Corn Hasn't Changed Since the 19th Century

Throwing money into the air during the celebration of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Festivals of the Dead Around the World

The Halloween Tradition Best Left Dead: Kale as Matchmaker

A zombie enjoys a bite of pan de muertos at a Day of the Dead celebration in Atlanta, Georgia.

Barmbrack, Toffee and Other Around-the-World Halloween Treats

Savoring Thanksgiving Day

It took thousands of years, but the pumpkin went from one squash among many to American icon.

How the Pumpkin Became a Thanksgiving Treat

The Woman Who Invented the Green Bean Casserole

This Man Made the First Canned Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin spice has become completely divorced from pumpkin pie.

Even Colonial Americans Liked Pumpkin Spice

Fabulous Finds for Your Holiday Fare

Eggnog is connected to a medieval drink called posset.

The Long, Rich, Boozy History of Eggnog

Why Japan Is Obsessed With KFC on Christmas

The tradition of decorative gingerbread dates back to the Middle Ages.

The Un-Christmassy Origin of Gingerbread Houses

A Brief History of Figgy Pudding

At the Museum

Visit the exhibition

Art of Brewing Beer

The Refined Process Behind a Perfect Pint of Beer

The process of making beer is a science, and a messy one at that. Here, a brewmaster at Flying Dog Brewery walks Josh Ozersky through the art of the brew

BBQ in America

How Three Guys From Houston Are Cooking Up a Revolution in Texas Barbecue

A tiny suburban eatery is breaking all the rules to create some of the freshest-tasting grub on the horizon

From the Museum

Reviving Indigenous Food Cultures

Origins of a Fortune Cookie

Place on the Plate: Smith Island, Chesapeake Bay

The World's First Frozen Margarita Machine