History as Seen from the National Museum of American History

On view are some 55 photographs taken at events near the Museum in 1984 and early 1985. The three categories are:

• "The patriotism of the 1980s," shown by Olympic festivities, the Presidential Inauguration, and others 
• "Protests," shown by a demonstration against involvement in Latin America, a demonstration against barriers to people with disabilities in public transportation, a rally supporting a proposed School Prayer Amendment, and others
• "Washington as a city," shown by the Japanese Sankai Juku Dancers, the Cherry Blossom Parade, and others.

The photographs were selected from more than 40,000 images, part of a continuing effort by the SI Office of Printing and Photographic Services to create a visual archive for curators and other scholars interested in 20th-century studies.