The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Over the past year, hundreds of ordinary Americans have been photographing its exhibits — not because they’re enthusiastic tourists, but because they’re afraid parts of American history could be altered or even disappear because of political pressure.
Nearly 180 years after Congress created the Smithsonian, the White House is trying to change how the nation’s museums tell the American story. It has demanded reviews of exhibits, threatened federal funding, targeted museum leaders, and ordered government signs posted outside the National Museum of American History warning visitors that the museum is ideologically biased.
In response, a grassroots organization called Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian has mobilized hundreds of volunteers to document every Smithsonian exhibit in Washington, D.C., and New York City. So far, they’ve compiled an archive of more than 73,000 photos and videos.
Joining us to discuss the administration’s attacks on—or reforms of—the Smithsonian, is Jessica Dickinson Goodman, co-founder of Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian.
Timestamps:
00:00 Preorder Nico’s book Free Speech Generation
01:04 Intro
03:05 The origins of Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian
04:48 The chilling effect on museum staff
06:58 Changes to Smithsonian exhibits and national parks
11:50 Who should decide how history is told?
20:30 The White House’s objections to Smithsonian exhibits
32:26 Impact on America’s 250th anniversary celebrations
37:28 Could political pressure strengthen public resistance?
44:35 Editorial independence in public institutions
51:50 The future of the Smithsonian’s independence
55:46 Outro
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