Smithsonian Launches American Aspirations Exhibit for 250th Anniversary

The Smithsonian Institution has opened a limited-run exhibition titled American Aspirations at the Smithsonian Castle to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibit, which is free to the public through July 26, features 30 artifacts selected from a total collection of 150 million objects to represent seven central pursuits: liberty, new horizons, fairness, democracy, hope, defending freedom, and progress.

Curator Abeer Saha and a team of experts selected key items to highlight the nation's tradition of aspiration, including Thomas Jefferson's portable desk, George Washington's candlestand, a Frederick Douglass broadside, and the space suit worn by Dr. Sally Ride. The curated selection aims to demonstrate how the country's history builds upon past steps and to prompt visitors to consider their own aspirations for the next 250 years.