How to Use This Site

Tips for Searching

Start with the most obvious term that describes what you are looking for and type it into the search box. If you are looking for resources about the U.S. Constitution, try typing constitution.

If you are searching for a phrase like "civil rights," use quotes around the phrase so that you don't get results that include "civil war" or "civil defense."

When you see the results of your search, use the filtering tools on the right side of the screen to narrow your results by grade, resource type, or historical era. You can also add words to your original search to help refine your search.

Subscribing to RSS Feeds

You can subscribe to an RSS feed that notifies you whenever Smithsonian's History Explorer is updated with new content. A separate RSS feed provides a link to our weekly Featured Artifact.

To subscribe to a feed:

• Click on an RSS feed icon
• Select your feed reader from the list
• Click "Subscribe Now"

You can unsubscribe at anytime from within your feed reader software.

Note to users with IE 6 or older browser:
Older browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 do not support RSS feeds.
To subscribe to a feed you will need to:
• Set up a separate feed reader program or service
• In Smithsonian's History Explorer, right-click (control-click for Mac users) on the RSS icon and select copy shortcut
• Manually paste the link into your feed reader.

Additional Software

Some resources require the latest FREE software plug-ins to display properly.  Make sure to download the correct version for your computer's operating system.

Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Flash Player
Apple QuickTime Player

Problems?

Please report problems with the site. We appreciate your help in making this site the best resource for American History content on the Web!