(This exhibit closed on June 2, 2019)
As an African American woman who founded her own media company and became a cultural icon watched by millions of viewers around the world, Winfrey harnessed the power of the media to break down barriers, empower herself, and inspire others.
Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture considers the story and impact of Oprah Winfrey in her many roles: as host of a world-famous television talk show; as an actress, film producer, and media mogul; as a philanthropist and educator; and as a daughter of the civil rights generation whose phenomenal story of success illuminates the struggles and achievements of African American women throughout history.
Museum visitors will come to better understand how Winfrey and The Oprah Winfrey Show reflected and influenced changes in American society, especially in regards to issues of race, gender, and the mass media.
The exhibition features original artifacts from Harpo Studios in Chicago, home of The Oprah Winfrey Show for over two decades, along with other items from the personal collection of Oprah Winfrey. Photographs and video provide additional context and illuminate key topics and themes. The exhibition content is organized into three primary sections, "America Shapes Oprah," "The Oprah Winfrey Show, " and "Oprah Shapes America."
Exhibition Open Through June 2019
Special Exhibition Overview
I. America Shapes Oprah: 1954–1985
This biographical section examines Oprah Winfrey in the context of her times, as an African American woman who came of age as America struggled with the promises and challenges of racial integration and women’s liberation, and as television expanded its power and presence in people’s daily lives. Key events in Winfrey’s life, from her early childhood to the launch of her broadcast career, are considered in relationship to these broader political, social, and cultural changes.
II. The Oprah Winfrey Show: 1986–2011
This section explores the 25-year history of The Oprah Winfrey Show, including Winfrey’s role as host and executive producer, both on screen and behind the scenes. It examines how the show engaged with current events and race and gender issues, and how the format and focus evolved over time from a conventional talk show based on audience participation to a lifestyle-oriented show based on Winfrey’s celebrity brand.
III. Oprah Shapes America: 1980s to present
This section explores the 25-year history of The Oprah Winfrey Show, including Winfrey’s role as host and executive producer, both on screen and behind the scenes. It examines how the show engaged with current events and race and gender issues, and how the format and focus evolved over time from a conventional talk show based on audience participation to a lifestyle-oriented show based on Winfrey’s celebrity brand.
Ask Oprah: An Intimate Conversation
Over the years, Oprah Winfrey interviewed thousands of guests. In an exclusive interview produced for the #WatchingOprah exhibition, Winfrey responds to questions about her life, career, and legacy.
How do you see your place in history?
How would you describe the OWS?
How has money changed your life?
I want everyone watching to know that there's a story just like yours. #WatchingOprah
Highlights About The Oprah Winfrey Show
- 25 seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in Chicago, IL.
- 4,561 shows
- The Oprah Winfrey Show remains the highest-rated daytime talk show in American television history.
- In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Oprah Winfrey Show as the 19th greatest TV show of all time.
- The Oprah Winfrey Show averaged between 10-20 million viewers a day.
Awards for The Oprah Winfrey Show
- 47 Daytime Emmy Awards
- 12 NAACP Image Awards
- 4 People's Choice Awards
- 8 GLAAD Media Awards
- 2 Online Film and Television Awards
- 2 Primetime Emmy Awards
Explore More From The Museum Collection
Discover photographs, objects, and more from The Oprah Winfrey Show.