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Smithsonian Books

How Art Shapes Our Perception of American Workers

Explore the fascinating intersection of portraiture and labor

Three men sit under the shade of a massive airplane wing; one of the men is wearing an officer's hat. Two huge aircraft are parked in the background, both are painted black. Behind them is a lush island landscape. The photo has been given a green tint.

National Air and Space Museum

A World War II Veteran Recalls the Adventure of Patrolling the Pacific Aboard Flying Boats

This 100-year-old Navy veteran flew PBYs in World War II

an absentee ballot used during the Civil War

Office of the Secretary of the Smithsonian

How the Civil War Spawned the Mail-In Ballot

At the National Postal Museum, a new exhibition traces the long history of a newly popular way of voting

More From Smithsonian Voices
A black silhouette of a jumping woman against a colorful fabric background.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Foregrounding Fiber in American Art

The Renwick Gallery’s newest exhibition, Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women, showcases artists who used everyday materials such as cotton, felt, and wool to tell deeply personal stories and offer an alternate view of American art.

A group of thirteen people stand together in front of green shrubs and the Smithsonian Castle.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Because of Her Story Interns Uplifted Women’s History Across Smithsonian

See what projects the Because of Her Story interns worked on this summer to amplify and uplift American women’s history across the Smithsonian.

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National Museum of Natural History

This Fall at the Museum: Fossils, Fossils and More Fossils!

There are also events about mushrooms, bats and much more at the National Museum of Natural History in September and October

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National Museum of American History

The 2024 Political Conventions Find a Home in the Smithsonian Collections

The cheering, clapping and speechifying are over. Historians from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History have returned after their trips to the 2024 political party conventions to collect materials – from balloons to banners to blinking wristbands – at each of them.

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Smithsonian Books

A Nightmare Snake Once Roamed the Colombian Swamps

Enter the land of the reptilian monsters and other extinct beasts

A stunning composite images of stars appearing in a crab formation deep in space

Smithsonian Associates

Discoveries of the Webb Space Telescope and More Programs in September

Expand your mind with Smithsonian Associates’ online and in-person programs

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National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery Announces Winner of the 2024 Director’s Essay Prize for Scholars in the Field of Portraiture

Laura Katzman Receives $3,000 and Will Present Lecture Oct. 15

Silver twin engine flying boat over a vast ocean. A small boat leaves it's wake below.

National Air and Space Museum

Flying Boats Were Once the Luxury Liners of the Air

Flying boats opened up travel destinations around the world—then they went to war

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National Museum of American History

What's Happening in September: Events, Exhibits and More!

Here’s what’s happening this month at the National Museum of American History

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Smithsonian Books

Five Powerful Stories That Are Perfect for Women's Equality Day

From Congress to the Olympics, women have made their mark on history

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National Museum of American History

Smithsonian Curator's Encounters at the Democratic National Convention

At the 2024 Democratic National Convention alongside politicians and delegates from across the country are political history curators from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, who are collecting what museum curators call “ephemera” – items that people wear, carry, hand out, display or otherwise use during the convention.

An illustration depicts a large planet orbiting a distant star, amid a cloud of dust and rocky debris.

National Air and Space Museum

Patience Is a Virtue for Astronomers Searching for Signs of Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The search for radio signals from an extraterrestrial civilization

Elizabeth Babcock from the waist up against a white background. She is leaning against a wall with her arms crossed in front of herself.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Plans, Partnerships and Powerful Women: An Interview with Director Elizabeth Babcock

In this interview, Elizabeth Babcock discusses her goals for her first year as founding director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, plans for building successful partnerships, and the women who have inspired her and surprised her

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Smithsonian Global

Looking Back to Look Forward in Morocco

How the Smithsonian collaborated with the Tangier American Legation to help a historic building look to the future

An artist's renderign of a cavernous museum exhibit space with a dark ceiling illuminated by images of bright white stars and a spiral galaxy. On the floor of the gallery, numerous visitors wander past glass display cases filled with artifacts.

National Air and Space Museum

A New Museum Exhibit Gives a Grand Overview on the History of the Telescope

Behind-the-scenes of the upcoming U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe gallery

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

How to Perform a Black-Footed Ferret Health Exam

The ferret kits at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's breeding facility in Front Royal, Va., just passed their 90-day health check with flying colors.

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Smithsonian Books

Early 20th-Century Painters Took a Radical Approach to Color

Learn about artists who pushed boundaries and explored color for color's sake