Bringing 250 Years of U.S. History to Life at the Smithsonian

By sifting through troves of ancient documents and designing object display layouts, Watts reanimated the past two-and-a-half centuries of American life in preparation for 2026’s celebration.

An environmental studies major with minors in art and art history, Watts straddles the line between humanities and science. Her interest in museums began at a young age when she volunteered at museums such as the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla. During her first year at Hamilton, Watts started working at the Wellin Museum of Art. Now, she sees that museums can be a space where her disparate interests intertwine.

“Museums bring together experts across so many different disciplines, like history, science, math, and art. I’ve loved learning how all these different perspectives shape the way objects’ stories are told,” Watts said. “I’ve always been drawn to places that combine education and public engagement. The Smithsonian’s mission, which is centered around education, research, and public outreach, aligns with my values and the kind of work I hope to do in the future.”

Through her position at the National Museum of American History, Watts has experienced the whole gamut of museum work, with each day bringing new tasks and challenges. Under the guidance of Dr. Abeer Saha, curator of engineering and agriculture, Watts helped design the physical layout for the 250^th anniversary special exhibition.

“Museums bring together experts across so many different disciplines ... I’ve loved learning how all these perspectives shape the way objects’ stories are told.”

“My supervisor asked me, ‘If you were the curator walking into this room, how would you arrange the space and highlight different objects?’” Watts said. “It gave me the chance to step into a curator’s role and consider how visitors might move through the space and what objects should be centered where.”

Watts also photographed and wrote historical descriptions of objects from the museum’s archives, some of which have never been seen by the public. The results of her efforts are published on the museum’s website, allowing anyone to engage in history from anywhere.

“One highlight was photographing and handling an original lamp that was made by Thomas Edison. It was amazing to interact so directly with such a historical object,” Watts said.

Watts also led a project cataloging the materials of the engineering and agriculture archives, organizing the photographs, blueprints, patent paperwork, manuscripts, and other objects found in the collection.

Drawing on her multidisciplinary background, Watts weaves together science, art, and history to connect people with our past. Her curatorial work will be displayed next summer in the Smithsonian Castle.