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The history of business is often overlooked, even in America. But this summer, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History will dedicate 40,000 square feet to the story of how innovation shaped the country.
On July 1, the Washington, D.C. musuem will open its brand new Innovation Wing, headlined by the "American Enterprise" exhibit. The 8,000-square-foot gallery located in the museum's Mars Hall of American Business is designed to take visitors on a journey through the history of business in America.
In a statement, museum director John Gray said "our goal is to make history essential by presenting the compelling ideas and ideals of America and animating them through transformative experiences."
"American Enterprise chronicles the tumultuous interaction between capitalism and the common good," he added.
The exhibit is set to boast more than 600 different objects, images, videos and activities for visitors to both examine and participate in.
American Enterprise will detail the U.S.'s complex business history through four chronological eras, beginning as early as the 1770s and concluding with where we are today. "Eli Whitney's cotton gin, a Fordson tractor, Alexander Graham Bell's experimental telephone, a 1929 New York Stock Exchange booth, Alfred Bloomingdale's personal credit card and Michael Bloomberg's Bloomberg terminal are among the artifacts in the exhibition," states the museum's press release.
The exhibit's official website is also scheduled to launch on July 1.
There's also a book, American Enterprise: A History of Business in America, published by Smithsonian Books that accompanies the upcoming attraction.
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