About History Explorer

About History Explorer

Smithsonian’s History Explorer was developed by the National Museum of American History in partnership with the Verizon Foundation to offer hundreds of free, innovative online resources for teaching and learning American history.

The site is designed for use by K-12 teachers and students, afterschool program providers, families, and individuals interested in lifelong learning.

History Explorer’s resources focus on learning history by “reading” objects for the stories they hold about the nation and its many peoples. Learning activities feature artifacts selected from over 3 million items in the Museum's collections, and draw on the expertise of the Museum's renowned curatorial staff.

Participate in Smithsonian’s History Explorer online community of self-directed learners—both inside and outside the classroom. Interact with other users in a dialog about American history and its connections to our lives today. To share an idea or to be considered for inclusion in focus or evaluation groups, send an email to: thinkfinity@si.edu.