National history museum

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Smithsonian directly catalogs the original Medal of Honor awarded to Korean War Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton and lists it on view in the Military History Gallery. It also catalogs First Lieutenant John Earl Warren Jr.’s original Vietnam War Medal of Honor, but his medal page is not evidence of current public exhibition.

MOH-MUS-000095Evidence reviewed 2026-10-12Open to the public

National Museum of African American History and Culture, exterior in 2025Photo: Frypie; CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · Source ↗

Historical context

About this institution

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall presents national collections spanning slavery and emancipation, military service, community organizing, arts and culture. The military gallery connects recipients’ service to the broader history of African Americans in the armed forces and the struggle for equal citizenship.

Why it matters to Medal of Honor research

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall presents national collections spanning slavery and emancipation, military service, community organizing, arts and culture. The military gallery con Original object provenance and public visitor status are kept distinct.

Collection guide

What to look for

The following highlights summarize the strongest verified reasons to include this institution in the archive. They are a planning guide, not a promise that every object is on view at all times.

Cornelius H. Charlton original Medal of Honor documented on view

John Earl Warren Jr. original Medal of Honor documented in the collection

Military History Gallery explores more than ninety African American recipients

Verified connections

Medal of Honor relationships

2 total2 original medals

Original Medal of Honor

Cornelius H Charlton

The Smithsonian catalogs Charlton’s original posthumous Medal of Honor and identifies it as on display in its Military History Gallery, within the Double Victory exhibition.

Record: Smithsonian accession 2013.165.1.1ab-.3

Verified 2026-10-10 · Current, display status not specified

Evidence sources and scope

Cornelius Charlton Medal of Honor, accession 2013.165.1.1ab-.3 ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC
African Americans Awarded the Medal of Honor, military gallery ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC

Direct item provenance is sourced. Physical ownership and regular visitor viewing are separate statements.

Original Medal of Honor

John Earl Warren Jr.

The Smithsonian collection catalog identifies the actual Medal of Honor awarded to John Earl Warren Jr. in 1970. The catalog supports collection custody, not any claim that the item is currently on public view.

Record: Smithsonian accession 2017.112.1.1abc

Verified 2026-10-10 · Current, display status not specified

Evidence sources and scope

John Earl Warren Jr. Medal of Honor, accession 2017.112.1.1abc ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC

Direct item provenance is sourced. Physical ownership and regular visitor viewing are separate statements.

Collection focus

Historical specialties

African American military serviceKorean War and Vietnam War original medalsCivil rights and military history

Service connections

U.S. Army

Conflict connections

Korean War · Vietnam War

Visitor planning

1400 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20560
United States

Open location in OpenStreetMap ↗Official website ↗Current visitor information ↗Collection or exhibit information ↗

The Charlton medal is cataloged as on view; confirm galleries and admission before visiting.
Warren museum collection ownership is documented, but current public display is not independently established.
Museum visitor instructions may require entry passes.
M040 adds a qualified, source-backed map point for visitor orientation; it does not claim a surveyed entrance coordinate.

Admission prices, opening schedules, installation rules, and object availability are left to the institution because they can change.

Access status

Open to the public

Map point: 38.891303, -77.03275 · Verified Federal Design Reference

Institution sources

Cornelius Charlton Medal of Honor, accession 2013.165.1.1ab-.3 ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC · Priority 1
John Earl Warren Jr. Medal of Honor, accession 2017.112.1.1abc ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC · Priority 1
African Americans Awarded the Medal of Honor, military gallery ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC · Priority 1
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗Smithsonian NMAAHC · Priority 1
National Museum of African American History and Culture design page ↗U.S. Commission of Fine Arts · Priority 1

Archive standard

“Original Medal of Honor” relationships require direct source evidence. A location record is not described as a current public display unless the institution confirms display status.