The first Thanksgiving was observed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. A good autumn harvest led the Pilgrims to hold a feast to give thanks that lasted for three days.

Learn more about Sarah Josepha Hale and why she so desperately wanted President Abraham Lincoln to adopt the idea of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Copied Did you know that for much of the ...

Abraham Lincoln would later declare Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863. Minnesota usually raises the most turkeys, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Around 38 million birds ...

specifically as a new way to use Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup. It wasn’t originally intended as a Thanksgiving favorite, but quickly became one.

From local harvest festival to national holiday, art and objects in the spirit of giving thanks. Enjoy a tour through the collections with a Thanksgiving playlist from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.