The Smithsonian will be giving a special tribute to Indian Americans by displaying a “Beyond Bollywood” exhibit this weekend.

This eye-opening exhibit will put the spotlight on Indian Americans and their many contributions within the United States, from the early 1900s to present day. The main purpose of this exhibit is to dispel the stereotypes which society has developed over time about Indian Americans. They plan on achieving this by showcasing the lives of the early Indian immigrants and their part in helping to shape the US. The exhibit will showcase artifacts, music, photographs and much more. It will be presented by the Asian Pacific American Center at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, DC, on February 27th.

The title “Beyond Bollywood” was chosen to capture the attention of people who want to learn about the 3 million Indian Americans, who reside in the US today. The focus will be set on Indian heritage and the numerous accomplishments which Indian Americans have made throughout the years, that go beyond entertainment.

“Beyond Bollywood” is the first major national exhibition to focus on Indians in America. Despite the fact that Indians have been here since 1790 and now number more than 3 million, we’ve been largely left out of this country’s history. Beyond Bollywood marks a significant step toward not only documenting the history of Indians in America but also imprinting this history onto the collective conscience of this country.” said Curator Dr. Masum Momaya.

Very cool! The exhibit is said to be up for the remainder of the year.