March 22, 2026 - To mark the country’s momentous 250th anniversary, Smithsonian Books will release the new book The Promise of a Nation: Commemorating 250 Years of Patriotism, Resilience, and Aspirations from the National Collection. The semiquincentennial and this volume both offer an opportunity to contemplate and celebrate the past, present and future of the United States.

Available April 14, 2026.

Taking a decade-by-decade approach from the 1770s to the present, Smithsonian scholars explore pivotal events, people and ideas across American history in 26 essays such as “A House Divided,” “Patriotism and the Promise of Education,” “Televising a Changing Nation” and “Morning in High-Tech America.” Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian, wrote the foreword and an essay called “The Past Is Prologue,” and together all these essays reflect on both well-known and lesser-known stories that have shaped the country, including social developments, technological advances, revolutionary ideas and cultural experiences. 

The book highlights 615 Smithsonian objects that represent uniquely American experiences, achievements, challenges and innovations, from the gunboat Philadelphia, the oldest surviving American fighting vessel, to NASA’s prototype for the first spacecraft to fly in another planet’s atmosphere. With fossils, fashion, artwork, technology and more, the artifacts selected from across the Smithsonian make history immersive, while timelines of key events in each decade further develop a panoramic view of the country and its people. This sweeping book is the perfect way for readers of all ages to engage with the ever-evolving United States in this major moment in time.

Smithsonian Associates will present an evening with the curators and members of the editorial committee to share the story of how the publication came together, reflect on its themes and highlight selected decades from the 1770s to the 2020s. The free event will be held Tuesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the National Museum of the American Indian’s Rasmuson Theater. To register, the public may visit the Smithsonian Associates website or call (202) 633-3030.

About the Authors

The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum, education and research complex in the world, with an average of 17 million in-person visits annually.

About the Book 

Title: The Promise of a Nation: Commemorating 250 Years of Patriotism, Resilience, and Aspirations from the National Collection
On-Sale Date: 4/14/26
Price: $40.00 US / $54.00 CAN 
Pages: 348
ISBN: 9781588348098
Available wherever books are sold.
Smithsonian Books

Source: Smithsonian