x
Breaking News
More () »

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is collecting pandemic artifacts | It's A DC Thing

The collection includes everything from artwork to PPE.

WASHINGTON — The history of this country is kept in part here in D..C, and another addition is being prepared.  

The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History have announced their plans to display artifacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff from the Library and the Smithsonian started collecting the artifacts in the early days of the crisis. This includes everything from artwork, like artist Toni Lane’s drawing of a patient visiting a doctor, to the empty vial of the first vaccine dose given by nurse Sandra Lindsay. They even have the clothes she wore the day she gave it.  

PPE, masks, face-shields, gloves--all of this will also be included, as well as Dr. Fauci’s personal, softball-sized model of the coronavirus that sat on his desk. 

A poster of Fauci that hung in Adams Morgan will also be included.  

This has been a tough chapter in American history. Now, through these items, future generations will be able to get a sense of what we went through. And hopefully they’ll learn something from us too. That’s a DC thing.

RELATED: 'The story of the vaccine' | Smithsonian obtains vial from 1st US COVID-19 vaccine dose

RELATED: Key moments that defined the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

RELATED: Dr. Fauci addresses vaccine misinformation in appeal to Prince George's County

RELATED: 'Everyday people making history' | Smithsonian museum documents 2020 through submissions from the public

RELATED: Dr. Fauci presents his personal coronavirus model to Smithsonian

RELATED: TIMELINE: 18,000 dead. 1 million sick. It's been a roller coaster of a year since the first case of COVID in the DMV

Before You Leave, Check This Out