A Greek amphora dating from 510 B.C. depicts Olympic athletes and is shown below. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. They were based on the original incarnation of the games, believed to have first begun at a festival held in Zeus’s honor at Olympia in 776 B.C. In 2028, the Olympics will take place in Los Angeles, California. Explore modern Olympic history through collection items, including postage stamps, from across the Smithsonian. Learn how the National Museum of American History aquires Olympic objects and how sports inspire and unite us.
Going for the Gold: Summer Olympics
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Divers Warming Up, U.S. Indoor Diving Championships, Indianapolis, from the series, Shooting for the Gold
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Denis Milton, Boxer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Kevin Robertson, Water Polo, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Mark Schultz, (right) Wrestling, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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U.S. Team, Opening Ceremonies, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Wendy Wyland (Diver) and Coach, Mission Viejo, California, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Jeff Buckingham, Pole Vaulter, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Tiffany Cohen, Swimmer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Discus Thrower, Martin Luther King Games, Los Angeles, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Timothy Glass (left), Fencer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Evander Holyfield, Boxer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Steve McCrory, Boxer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Tracy Ruiz, Synchronized Swimmer, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Luanne Ryon, Archery, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Dave Saunders, (Spiking) Volleyball, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Swimmer after Race, Pan American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Wrestling singlet worn by Kyle Snyder during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
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U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team, Pan-American Games, Caracas, Venezuela, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Track shoes worn by Jackie Joyner-Kersee at the 1984 Olympic trials
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Craig Virgin, (leader) and Alberto Salazar, 10,000 Meters, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Clifford Gray (center), Boxer and Trainers, North American Boxing Championships, Colorado Springs, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Michael Phelps
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Michael Matz, Rider, Garden State Grand Prix, Leonia, New Jersey, from the series Shooting for the Gold
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Julianne McNamara, Gymnast, McDonald's Cup, Madison Square Garden, New York City, from the series Shooting for the Gold
Facets
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Resource Type
- filter Photographs 96 Exclude Photographs
- filter Postage stamps 48 Exclude Postage stamps
- filter Posters 16 Exclude Posters
- filter poster, olympics 10 Exclude poster, olympics
- filter poster, summer olympics 10 Exclude poster, summer olympics
- filter Medals 6 Exclude Medals
- filter olympic pin 6 Exclude olympic pin
- filter pin, summer olympics 6 Exclude pin, summer olympics
- filter Exterior views 5 Exclude Exterior views
- filter Bags (containers) 3 Exclude Bags (containers)
- Culture
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Date
- filter 1920s 5 Exclude 1920s
- filter 1930s 10 Exclude 1930s
- filter 1945-1989 7 Exclude 1945-1989
- filter 1950s 2 Exclude 1950s
- filter 1960s 11 Exclude 1960s
- filter 1970s 10 Exclude 1970s
- filter 1980s 110 Exclude 1980s
- filter 1990s 45 Exclude 1990s
- filter 2000s 12 Exclude 2000s
- filter 2010s 9 Exclude 2010s
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Place
- filter United States of America 48 Exclude United States of America
- filter California 36 Exclude California
- filter Los Angeles 21 Exclude Los Angeles
- filter United States 16 Exclude United States
- filter Indiana 10 Exclude Indiana
- filter Indianapolis 10 Exclude Indianapolis
- filter North and Central America 8 Exclude North and Central America
- filter Colorado 7 Exclude Colorado
- filter Europe 7 Exclude Europe
- filter Georgia 6 Exclude Georgia
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Set Name
- filter Graphic Arts 84 Exclude Graphic Arts
- filter Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection 84 Exclude Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- filter Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure 54 Exclude Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
- filter National Postal Museum Collection 48 Exclude National Postal Museum Collection
- filter National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 15 Exclude National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
- filter Sports & Leisure 13 Exclude Sports & Leisure
- filter National Portrait Gallery Collection 11 Exclude National Portrait Gallery Collection
- filter Currently not on view 10 Exclude Currently not on view
- filter Clothing - Sports Uniforms 6 Exclude Clothing - Sports Uniforms
- filter Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 6 Exclude Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection
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Topic
- filter Sports 140 Exclude Sports
- filter Recreation 82 Exclude Recreation
- filter Sport and play 81 Exclude Sport and play
- filter Landscapes 76 Exclude Landscapes
- filter Portraits 71 Exclude Portraits
- filter Olympics 68 Exclude Olympics
- filter Men 55 Exclude Men
- filter Women 53 Exclude Women
- filter Festivals 51 Exclude Festivals
- filter Rites and ceremonies 51 Exclude Rites and ceremonies
- Media Usage
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