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Today in History
Nov. 20, 1820
he Sinking of the Whaleship Essex gives Herman Melville the idea for Moby Dick
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People & Places
The Pirate Hunters
As buccanneering is back with a vengeance, stepped-up law enforcement and high-tech tools work to help protect shipping on the high seas
Travel
California Academy of Sciences: Greening a Higher Ground
San Francisco's new science museum hosts its own rooftop ecosystem
Travel
Dispatches from Colombia
Colombians are hopeful about the future even though their past has been marred by violent conflict
History & Archaeology
Two Hundred Years of Abraham Lincoln
This February, the country will commemorate the 200th birthday of our beloved 16th president, Abraham Lincoln
History & Archaeology
Star-Spangled Banner Days
The flag that Francis Scott Key saw flying over Fort McHenry was loved almost to death. Now, after a decade's conservation, the Star-Spangled Banner returns to its place of honor on the National Mall
Science & Nature
Things Are Looking Up for Niger’s Wild Giraffes
In desolate Niger, wild giraffes are making a comeback despite having to compete for resources with some of the world's poorest people
Arts & Culture
John Hodgman Gives “More Information Than You Require”
As the stoic voice of fake authority, John Hodgman, best recognized for his appearances as “PC” in the Apple advertising campaign, discusses trivia and how humans distinguish fact from falsehood
History & Archaeology
Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First Temple?
Predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years, Turkey's stunning Gobekli Tepe upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization
Arts & Culture
Roy Lichtenstein:
Making History
A well-known sculpture works its way back from 9/11 damage
Arts & Culture
From the Castle: History Ahead
A renovated National Museum of American History opens up American history and culture to millions of visitors
Science & Nature
Wild Things:
Life as We Know It
Bats' barotrauma, fallow deer, Tahitian vanilla, lucky dinosaurs
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Think Fast
Giraffes, snakes, elephants and a few other animals have a sensory organ in their mouth called Jacobson’s organ. What does this allow the animal to do?
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Smithsonian Videos
Star-Spangled Salute
Re-enactors relive the Battle of Baltimore
One Life: The Mask of Lincoln
National Portrait Gallery historian David C. Ward discusses images of Abraham Lincoln
Fallow Groan
Watch a fallow buck groan
Fishermen's Fate
In the town of Fort Bragg, California, fishermen scramble to make a living
Coral Reefs and Creatures
The Phoenix Islands provide an unspoiled center for marine science
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In The Magazine
CultureSpotter
Experience Mexico Choose from seven videos to learn more about Mexico and its rich history.
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Cultured FurnishingsBernhardt Furniture, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, announces new additions to its line of home furnishings.
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Where to Live Next
Check out the 15 cities and towns in our guide to cultured retirement—then tell us what you think
The Smithsonian Life List
Keeping our readers' interests in mind, we've traveled the globe in search of destinations certain to inspire
Wonders of the Deep
The National Museum of Natural History's Sant Ocean Hall illuminates the murky waters of the deep blue sea
Celebrating American Indian Heritage
Sitting Bull's legacy, Native American languages, a national list of events and more
Excavation at Stonehenge
Two renowned Stonehenge academics share stories from their archaeological dig at the ancient site
Dinosaur Dispatch
Follow a paleontology team as their dinosaur dig gets underway in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin
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