How have clocks and watches intertwined with our sense of time? When did they come to play central roles in our lives? To answer these questions, On Time at the National Museum of American history explores the changing ways Americans have measured, used, and thought about time during the past 300 years. Time and Navigation at the National Air and Space Museum explores the surprising connection between time and place—if you want to know where you are, you need an accurate clock. And the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is home to timepieces featuring a parade of styles.
Explore clocks and watches in the Smithsonian's collections.