American History Happenings

Taco Nation/Planet Taco: How Mexican-American Food Conquered the World! Whether in-person or via webcast, please join us on Saturday, February 9 to celebrate, discover, and savor the legacy of Mexican food in the United States and the world. Enjoy a lively discussion with historian Jeffrey Pilcher (Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food), syndicated columnist Gustavo Arellano (Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America), and Smithsonian curator Rayna Green. Smithsonian Partners with American Farm Bureau Federation on Initiative to Document Farm Innovation This spring, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is reaching out to farmers, ranchers and American agri-business to build a collection that reflects modern agricultural practices. Curators are seeking stories, photographs and ephemera to record and preserve the innovations and experiences of farming and ranching. Spark!Lab “Pops Up” at the D.C. Auto Show The museum’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation and Ford are sponsoring a “pop-up” Spark!Lab at the Washington Auto Show on the first three days of the public opening—Friday, Feb. 1 through Sunday, Feb. 3—so families attending the show can experience the invention process. The workshop will offer three different exercises: Invent a Vehicle, the Pasta Concept Car Challenge, and Soundscapes. Events Black History Month Family Day Feb 2, 11 AM Taco Nation/Planet Taco: How Mexican-American Food Conquered the World! Feb 9, 1:30 PM National Youth Summit on Abolition Feb 11 (online) Feeding America: Labor, Politics, and Food Feb 23, 1:30 PM Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra 2012-2013 Concert Series Feb 23, 7:30 PM The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement Feb 28, 7:00 PM On the Web Save the Date: The 39 Clues Reading Club presents Decoding History virtual field trip, March 5 New York Times Bestselling author David Baldacci takes students on a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to explore some of history's great mysteries. American Enterprise website For Educators There's still time to register for our National Youth Summit on Abolition, Feb. 11 12-1 pm EST Q&A with author Sara Schwebel: Doubly Historical: Consider this layer of historical novels. Digital Learning Day is February 6! Find resources for the day on our themes page. On Feb. 13, join us for a webinar on the Emancipation Proclamation and March on Washington and related K-12 resources. For Kids & Families For African American History Month, explore the story of the Greensboro sit-ins with the book Freedom on the Menu. Planning a visit? Join us on Saturday, February 2 for our Black History Month Family Day. Heat up your February with some hot Mexican food! In conjunction with our February 9 and February 23 programs that look at the evolution of Mexican food in America, the chef of our Stars and Stripes Café will prepare various Mexican specialties. From soup to desserts, there will be many delicious treats. There will be plenty of chocolate, as we celebrate National Chocolate Month, too!