The American Story: Your First Look at Uncle Sam Presents and Innovation Nation
We are gearing up for the opening of The American Story at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. this fall.
We’re offering a "virtual" first look in the lead up to this exciting new exhibition. Each week, we will take you through the various galleries, showcasing original records that will be featured. This week, we will walk you through Uncle Sam Presents and Innovation Nation. We are thankful to Microsoft for making the Innovation Nation gallery possible, and to John and Christie Johnson for their support of its central interactive table.
Film has the power to capture our imaginations, transport us around the world, and reflect the range of human experience. Among the 450 million feet of film at the National Archives, there is vivid footage of major historic moments as well as glimpses into daily American life. Uncle Sam Presents is a theater gallery that will show a small sampling of the films in the National Archives.
Rendering of Uncle Sam Presents
This gallery features a seven minute film, made up of 13 clips that showcase the many ways the government has used film to disseminate information to the public to inform, document, and inspire. Also featured in the gallery is a collection of posters that were used to inform and inspire citizens.
One memorable example of informing the public is the Smokey Bear campaign. In addition to housing the original Smokey Bear film, the National Archives Motion Picture Branch preserves a wide range of classic public service announcements (PSAs) promoting forest fire prevention. Produced by the Ad Council with support from the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Agriculture, these PSAs feature Smokey Bear and famous voices like John Wayne spreading the timeless message: “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”
Beyond PSAs, iconic moments in American history are housed in the reels stored at the National Archives, such as the film that documents the 1909 official test flight of the Wright Brothers' military airplane in Fort Myer, Virginia.
Various government agencies have used posters as a simple way to inspire and inform citizens. More than 50,000 government posters are held in the National Archives, some of which will be on display in the theater.
Records at the National Archives document the evolution of technologies sparked by the U.S. government. Innovation Nation examines how inventions and scientific advances impact national defense, the economy, and our personal lives.
Rendering of Innovation Nation
Many government agencies have been the starting point for innovations that are now everyday objects. Tools that were originally invented for space exploration and national security can be found throughout our communities. In the gallery, visitors can explore how these innovations came to be through an interactive table surrounded by seemingly unrelated physical objects. From the lunar rover’s impact on electric vehicles (EVs) to insulation, you may be surprised to learn the everyday objects that were spurred by government innovation.
Stay tuned: each upcoming edition of the Archives Experience newsletter will give you exclusive sneak previews from the galleries within The American Story. From artifacts to the people behind it all, we'll continue to take you behind the scenes, revealing new treasures and stories that deepen our understanding of America’s past and present.
