The White House has launched a thorough review of exhibits and materials at the Smithsonian Institution to ensure they comply with President Donald Trump’s directive on how US history and culture should be presented. In a letter sent to Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch III on August 12, senior aides said the review seeks to “celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”
The review will examine all public-facing content, the curatorial process, current and future exhibition plans, and narratives.
The move follows Trump’s executive order earlier this year accusing the museum network of embracing a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and tasking Vice President JD Vance with blocking federal funding for programs deemed inconsistent with “shared American values.”
The Smithsonian Institution is the umbrella organization for 21 museums, 21 libraries, 14 education and research centers, a zoo, and historical and architectural landmarks located in Washington, D.C., Maryland, New York, and Virginia. There are also Smithsonian affiliates in Puerto Rico and Panama.
Established in 1846, the Smithsonian is highly regarded as a symbol of American excellence and considered a global icon of cultural achievement. The institution draws over 30 million annual visitors to its facilities, with most admitted free of charge. An addition to this enviable portfolio of cultural attractions will be the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, a future museum dedicated to women's history, to be located in Washington, D.C.
Click through the following gallery for a brief history of this venerated institution.