Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Explore

  • Let's Go to the Movies
  • Early Movies
  • Silent Era
  • Golden Age

The Movies

Silent Era

The National Museum of American History is known for cinematic treasures such as Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz (1939), but it also holds a remarkable collection of silent film artifacts. Made from the 1890s to the late 1920s, silent films lacked synchronized sound; live music and shots of printed text conveyed emotion and dialogue. These selected artifacts offer a glimpse into the early days of cinema as a global art and entertainment form.


  • Posters 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Velocipede 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • dandy horse 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • hobby horse 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • pedestrian curricle 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • swift walker 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Los Angeles 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Truckee 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Popular Entertainment 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Director's Office 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Gatewood W. Dunston Collection 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Movie Collection 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Movies 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photo History Collection 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Transportation 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Work and Industry: Photographic History 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Motion pictures 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycling 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Gatewood W. Dunston Collection 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Movie Collection 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photo History Collection 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Transportation 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Museum / Unit: National Museum of American History close

William S. Hart Poster

Velocipede used by Buster Keaton in the film Our Hospitality

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use