“From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage” is a groundbreaking new exhibition commemorating America’s 250th anniversary through more than 600 rare objects and specimens representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories.
The 5,000-square-footexhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. draws from the museum’s collection of more than 148 million artifacts and specimens and explores the people, landscapes, discoveries, traditions, and defining moments that have shaped the United States across millions of years of natural and cultural history.
Many of the objects on display have rarely or never before been exhibited publicly.
Oregon's Exhibition
Representing Oregon in the exhibition is a Dungeness crab, one of twelve objects from the state featured in the From These Lands exhibition. Each state, district and territory has selected organisms and minerals that represent its character, and these symbols can be found throughout the museum’s collections.
The Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is Oregon’s state crustacean and a key species throughout the coastal United States. Native to the Northeastern Pacific from Alaska to Mexico, the crab supports a major commercial fishery and plays an important role in the seafood industry.
In 2009, fourth-grade students successfully lobbied for the Dungeness crab’s official state designation, showing how public engagement can help recognize local wildlife.
The exhibition highlights the unique natural, cultural, scientific, and historical contributions connected to Oregon and is expected to be viewed by millions of visitors from around the world during its multi-year engagement in Washington, D.C.
“This exhibition brings the entire country into one gallery,” Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Sant Director Kirk Johnson said. “As the country marks its 250th anniversary, ‘From These Lands’ presents an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our landscapes, the depth of our history and the connections that link people and the natural world across borders.”
The “From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage” exhibition opens June 18 at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
© 2026 The World, Coos Bay, Ore.. Visit theworldlink.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
