Since its founding in 1964, the National Museum of American History has approximately 1.7 million artifacts in its collection include the following: 22,000 linear feet of archival documents, 52,044 photographs, 5,631 medals, 2,956 sound recordings, 3,797 models, 15,136 posters and 36,264 coins among several other artifacts.
Before 1400s ImageTitleYearCreatorOriginal ownerLocationI.D. NumberSourcesCuneiform Tablet2004-2112 BCUnknown Babylonian writerDhi Qar, Ur, NU.NU65375Cuneiform Tablet2004-1900 BCUnknown Babylonian writer Bābil, Babylon (modern day )NU.79.112.OC12Yuan Feng T'ung Pao coin1078 - 1086Northern Sung DynastyNorthern Sung Dynasty, 2017.0060.0162
1400s Italian Albarello1475-1499Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Italy1991.0664.0500
1500s Automaton of a Friar1500sUnknown Europe ME.336451Mexican reales1536Spanish Empire Government1992.0061.0459Scudo D'oro1541Genoa Republic, ItalyNU.68.159.3971Couronne D'or1542-1544Brabant, Spanish NetherlandsNU.68.159.2660European Planispheric Astrolabe1542Unknown EuropeMA.316759Ducat from Danzig, Poland1546Danzig, PolandNU.68.159.5047French Planispheric Astrolabe1548Unknown MA.316760
1600s ImageTitleYearCreatorOriginal ownerLocationI.D. NumberSourcesJames Forbes Flintlock Fowler Shotgun1620Unknown English gunsmithJames Forbes of Connecticut AF.78102MBeggar man and beggar woman conversing1630Rembrandt Van Rijn 1978.0534.40German flintlock rifle conversion from wheellock1655UnknownRalph G. PackardAF.43467
1700s ImageTitleYearCreatorOriginal ownerLocationI.D. NumberSourcesHide Painting of St. Anthony1700-1710Unknown friar CL.176402Small sword made in 17331733United Kingdom AF.35491Conestoga Wagon1750-1850Unknown German Pennsylvanians TR.321453British Cannon1751Jan VerbruggenRoyal ArsenalAF.32854"TOWNE OF BOSTON"before 1754Boston, MassachusettsUnknown AF.43450Silver Cigarette Box1756Unknown Ella Rice TemplinDL.61.0318Belton Repeating Flintlock Fusil1758Joseph Belton1982.0151.01Choate-Caldwell House1768Abraham ChoateDL.64.545Tumbler1769-1774Henry William StiegelDr. and Mrs. Arthur M. GreenwoodCE.389217Andrea Ferarra Broadsword1770Andrea FerraraUnknown British Revolutionary officerAF.43391A spoon engraved by Paul Revere1771-1772Edmé-Pierre BalzacPaul RevereDL.60.2214Declaration of Independence Desk1775-1776Thomas JeffersonPL.031819Musket wooden stock1776Unknown AF.58890-N(1)Musket brass trigger guard1776Unknown AF.58890-N(3)USS Philadelphia1776Hermanus SchuylerContinental NavyAF.58888-N(1)Guidon of the Second Regiment Light Dragoons1777Unknown Second Regiment Light DragoonsAF.73540MBenjamin Franklin's suit1778Unknown French tailorBenjamin Franklin2012.0187.001English plate 1778London, EnglandUnknown DL.388312Light Dragoon pistol1779Unknown Adriana and Edwin W. Bitter 1989.0149.01British Officer Tricorn1780United KingdomUnknown British Officer AF.UH-398George Washington's waistcoat1780Unknown George WashingtonAF.16149George Washington's BreechesUnknown George WashingtonAF.16150George Washington's uniformUnknownGeorge WashingtonAF.16148Washington family coach panel and labelbefore 1789Unknown Martha and George WashingtonPL.016107North African Miquelet JezaiSept. 21, 1789 - Sept 9, 1790Muhammad the gunsmithThomas Jefferson AF.16083200 £ check written by Aaron BurrFebruary 27, 1790Aaron BurrChase Manhattan BankNU.79.112.X00026Letter to a young gentleman at schoolJanuary 17, 1792Unknown Copp Family DL.006791.03.001Candle stand used by George Washington while writing the Farewell Address, 1796Unknown George WashingtonPL.1185
1800s