Part two of our tour through a selection of Smithsonian museum gift shops in Washington, DC.
Part two of our recent look at the Made in America offerings at some of the Smithsonian museum gift shops in Washington, DC.
Last week, we explored what was American-made in the gift shops at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. For items there, check out part one. In this article, we go through American-made items you can purchase at the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum. For items available at the Natural History Museum and across multiple Smithsonian museums, check out part one!
American History Museum
At the gift shop of a museum dedicated to the history of the United States, one would hope to find a plethora of Made in USA options. And while most of the for-sale souvenirs are foreign-made, I was pleasantly surprised to find a good amount of American-made merch. Right when you walk in, you’ll find an entire large section dedicated to such products.
One of the first items I found was an American flag T-shirt that was Made in America by Prairie Mountain, another wholesale company like Bayside and Royal Apparel.
And on the nearby wall were a variety of sweaters made by wholesale apparel company Town Pride.
One of my favorite finds, however, was one of several blankets from Faribault Mill, a Minnesota company that’s been making high quality woven goods for 160 years. You can also read information about the history of textile manufacturing in the United States in the nearby exhibits.
But if you’re instead looking for a smaller souvenir the tote bags and pouches from Maptote are a good option. It’s based in Brookyln and sells items featuring maps from NYC to Seattle and even Paris. Super unique and functional, these would make for a great keepsake.
A more unconventional choice are these plates. Adorned with an intricate design of a bird, they’re handmade by Vermont-based Laura Zindal Design.
And these small purses and wallets are made by a Minnesota company that’s been in business since 1972. The Buffalo Billfold Company prides itself on its handmade leather goods.
Across the room, all of the American History Museum’s military-themed merch is Made in America. You can buy shirts and tote bags adorned with the logo of the museum’s military history exhibit, “The Price of Freedom.”
There are several American-made hats for each service branch, including this one celebrating 250 years of the U.S. Navy made by Eagle Crest, a wholesaler that specializing in 100% American-made and military-branded gear.
Bayside, who makes many shirts for the Smithsonian, sells a unique shirt for each branch, including this one for the U.S. Air Force.
And these ornaments are all made in Lincoln, Rhode Island by Beacon Design.
Finally, the shop’s jewelry case contains lots of Made in USA options, but to highlight just one: These bracelets and necklaces are made from guitar strings. This jewelry connects very well to the museum’s famous entertainment exhibit in a subtle way, too.
Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall has been undergoing renovations for several years now. While a third of the museum is still closed until July 2026, several new exhibits have just come online so it’s a perfect time to visit. And, of course, its gift shop has remained open. Air and Space has easily the biggest gift shop of the three museums I visited: three whole floors of Air and Space-themed souvenirs. I was a little concerned when I first entered since all I could find initially were goods made in China. However, just like the other museums I visited, I soon found some cool Made in USA options.
Beyond the Smithsonian apparel (available at multiple museums) are plenty of Air and Space-themed shirts from American-made Bayside for sale. A highlight is this vintage-style moon landing t-shirt.
Royal Apparel and Prairie Mountain have also produced some Air and Space-themed shirts (although this Royal Apparel option is made with imported yarn).
But hands down, the coolest apparel available at the three museums I visited were the Hawaiian shirts with planes patterns. They’re high quality, unique, and made by Hawaii-based RJC Kalaheo.
It’s not just the apparel that’s American-made here, though. This leather wallet with the NASA logo is made by Holtz Leather Co. in Huntsville, Alabama (you can also find Holtz products in the American History Museum).
Nearby, you can find these impressive desk displays of elements found in space; perfect for the astronomy enthusiast in your life.
There’s also some American-made magnets and keychains. I have this Apollo 13 magnet from Impact Photographics at home (and, as a collector of magnets, it’s fantastic to see some Made in USA options). Morris Magnets also sells this We Can Do It keychain (made in the USA with global parts).
If you are more interested in the air side of Air and Space, these limited-edition Plane Tags are your go-to. Made by Moto Art from actual plane skin..
This vintage World War I poster is produced by San Diego-based Found Image Press.
You should also consider these posters and postcards from Aviation Illustrations. All the drawings are done by artist Doug Kinsley, a veteran who has been creating these highly detailed pieces since 1989. His art is featured around the United States, including at Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
Finally, if you’ve got little ones with you (or are simply young at heart), there are some Made in USA toys available. Most of the plastic toys are made overseas, but not this replica of the Discovery space shuttle. It’s made by American Plastic Toys in Michigan.
There’s also an entire shelf dedicated to the wooden planes made by Guillow’s. These are a great (and classic) American-made alternative to some of the other toys available.
A visit to Washington, D.C. is incomplete without a visit to at least one Smithsonian museum. With this guide, we hope you’ll be able to find some Made in USA souvenirs to take home with you. Here’s part one of the guide, and remember: Always check your labels!