Exhibitions

The exhibition reveals how Plath shaped her identity visually as she came of age as a writer in the 1950s. Visitors will get a look into Plath’s personal life and her dualistic nature.

The biggest Hollywood star at a time when “talkies” were still new, Dietrich captured men’s hearts and women’s admiration on screen and off.

April 25 marks the 100th birthday of American jazz and popular song vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. The museum is recognizing the anniversary by displaying her photograph by William Gottlieb for the first time in the museum.

Smithsonianmag.com voters choose between portraits of Gibson, Eleanor Holm and Helene Madison, and Duke Kahanamoku to go on view. Gibson’s photograph received the most votes.

One Life: Dolores Huerta highlights the significant role of this Latina leader in the California farm workers movement of the 1960s and 70s.

Elaine de Kooning’s gestural portraits of friends and family were much admired during her lifetime, and included many well-known Americans.

On view is a portrait of pop singer Katy Perry by distinguished New York academic portrait painter Will Cotton.

See a portrait of writer, poet, and activist Maya Angelou (1928-1914) by painter Ross Rossin.

Portraits of aviator Amelia Earhart tell the story of her career and pay special attention to her work on behalf of women's rights.

Learn about the achievements of women in the late 18th century and see portraits of eight prominent American women of the period.

See Dave Woody's portrait of chef Alice Waters, founder of the restaurant Chez Panisse and the Edible Schoolyard and champion of the Slow Food Movement.

Celebrate the centennial of the Girl Scouts of the United States, founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912. The Girl Scouts has grown from 18 members in 1912 to 3.3 million today.

More than 50 artifacts and 100 works of art reveal Gertrude Stein in her many roles.

The exhibition narrates key moments in the Washington Post publisher's extraordinary life during extraordinary times.

Women of Our Time is a photographic celebration of 91 women who have challenged and changed America.

Photographer Zaida Ben-Yusuf (1869-1933) was an important figure in the pictorialist photography movement in late 19th and early 20th century New York.

This exhibition is dedicated to Hepburn, who carefully constructed and maintained her own myth through more than 50 years on stage, screen, and television.

The exhibition examines how a group of artists, The Painting Group, interprets the same subject—Justice Sandra Day O’Connor—at the same time.

The exhibition celebrates Baker’s life during the 100th anniversary year of her birth.