National Museum of American History and the Star-Spangled Banner

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History houses the original Star-Spangled Banner - the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key's poem and later became the national anthem - and preserves it as a central artifact on long-term display. The museum's current building opened in 1964 and its collections document political, social, cultural, and technological history of the United States. Notable objects in the collection include Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and Julia Child's kitchen.