What did the American Dream mean to Hungarians? How did emigrants shape their own destinies, and what mark did they leave on the history of the United States? This exhibition, marking the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, presents the more than two-and-a-half-century history of Hungarian-American relations through stories of migration, freedom, upward mobility, and new beginnings.

The exhibition recounts the stories of Hungarians who set out for the other side of the ocean during various eras. Some sought a living, others freedom or opportunities for intellectual and artistic fulfillment, while many were forced to leave their homeland. Their stories speak of hope and loss, success and failure, homesickness and the creation of a new home.

The exhibition does not aim to present this diverse world exhaustively, but rather offers a kaleidoscopic glimpse of the defining moments of “Hungarian America.” It features extraordinary life journeys and ordinary destinies, world-renowned scientists, artists, and inventors, as well as the stories of those who quietly built their new lives overseas through persistent hard work.

Together, the artefacts, documents, and personal mementos paint a shared story in which Hungarians not only found a new homeland but also became active shapers of it.

Through numerous unique artefacts and personal mementos, the exhibition recounts the history of Hungarians in America. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the legendary Ford Model T, in whose development József Galamb, a Hungarian engineer at the Ford Motor Company, played a pivotal role. Also on display are mementos of Lajos Kossuth, Albert Szent-Györgyi, Zsazsa Gábor, and Zita Szeleczky that have survived overseas, each telling a story of the Hungarian presence in America through their individual life journeys. Together, these personal items, documents, and rarely seen artefacts paint a picture of a story in which Hungarians were not only participants in but also shapers of the American Dream.

The exhibition also highlights that the history of Hungarians living in the diaspora is an inseparable part of Hungary’s national heritage. It illustrates how American and Hungarian history have shaped one another, as well as how Hungarians have contributed to the economic, scientific, and cultural development of the United States. The history of emigration is thus not merely a story of losing one’s home, but also one of creating new opportunities and enduring values.

The exhibition titled “The American Dream - Hungarians in the United States, 1776–2026” will be open to visitors at the Hungarian National Museum through November 1, 2026.