The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History opened "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America," a new, permanent exhibition designed to engage the public in an exploration of America's maritime heritage. The 8,500 sq ft exhibition builds on the Smithsonian's National Watercraft Collection of rigged ship models, patent models, documents and images to bring the sights, sounds and stories from the oceans, inland rivers and coastal communities to the museum's millions of visitors.