American History
Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009 Passed by House of Representatives
"A fundamental principle of American democracy is that individuals should stand up for their rights and beliefs and fight for justice." ~ Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009.Yesterday, the House of Representatives unanimously agreed to fund a 5-year initiative to record oral and video historie...
April 23, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
Earth Day at the Smithsonian
Earth Day is an annual invitation to heighten your awareness and appreciation of the environment. Since nature is not equipped for verbal communication (with the rare exception of some species of household plants), it's our job to take care of the earth as best we can. Throughout the rest of the we...
April 21, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Events Week of 4/20-24: Commodores, Quilting, Keith Haring and Forensics
Monday, April 20: The Navy CommodoresThe Navy Commodores will be performing the jazz standards of Benny Goodman in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month. (Yes, note the word "navy" to avoid potential confusion with those other musical Commodores.) Free. American History Museum, 12:00 PMTuesday, April 21...
April 20, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Searching for a Mother-in-Law Sandwich
Eager enthusiasts track Chicago’s indigenous—and sometimes endangered—food traditions
April 20, 2009 |
By Jamie Katz
Design Announced for National Museum of African American History and Culture
The design concept of Foster + Partners/URS Group, Inc. may have claimed favorite in our readers' poll, but the stately, bronze structure submitted by architects Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup won the hearts of the official jury, charged with making the final decision about what the National Museum...
April 14, 2009 |
By Megan Gambino
Smithsonian Events Week of 4/13-17: A Little Jazz, a Glass of Wine and a House of Gorillas
Monday, April 13: Easter Monday: Celebrating the African American FamilyEaster Monday has been a long standing multicultural tradition in Washington, DC—and why not celebrate at the National Zoo? The day is rife with food and activities, which include an Easter egg hunt, crafts, live musical entert...
April 13, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
The Funny Things You Do: America's Funniest Home Videos, We Love You
It was a perfect site to host a donation ceremony. In a grand room with burgundy wallpaper, wood paneling and gold chandeliers, men and women dressed to the nines milled about and quietly chattered, ignoring the camera crew and rapid-fire photography flash, in anticipation of the morning's big even...
April 09, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
B-B-B-Billy and the Duke
Jazz Appreciation Month continues in full force with the opening of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn: Jazz Composers at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Now either one of those musicians by himself is exhibit-worthy, so the National Museum of American History wisely narrowed...
April 07, 2009 |
By Jeff Campagna
It's a Beautiful Night for a Ballgame
Cloudy and drizzling in Washington today, but I can almost hear old Jack Brickhouse, "It's a beautiful day for a ballgame." And Ernie Banks, "Let's play two." And Harry Caray, "let me hear ya!" at the Seventh Inning Stretch.It's early April and optimism thrives—every fan's team is headed straight f...
April 06, 2009 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Smithsonian Events Week of 4/6-10: Samuel Morse, Satellites and Bunnies
Monday, April 6: Book SigningCorkey Hay DeSimone will be available to sign copies of her children's book Cherry Blossom Friends, a book written especially for this year's Cherry Blossom Festival. Free. National Air and Space Museum, 12:00-3:00 PM Tuesday, April 7: Quilting DemonstrationVolunteers f...
April 06, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
That's Some Bad Hat, Chuck. (As in Mangione)
You might not recognize Chuck Mangione’s mega-hit "Feels So Good" by its title, but take a listen. Chances are you’ll recognize the timeless smooth jazz classic instantly. And then you’ll probably be humming it the rest of the day.I am, anyway. Because this morning I was on hand when a very dapper...
April 02, 2009 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Carving Out the West at the Great Smoke Conference
In 1851, American Indian tribes gathered to seek protection of their western lands from frontiersman on the Oregon Trail
April 02, 2009 |
By Paul VanDevelder
Designs for National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian Institution has revealed the six architectural designs vying to become the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The concepts—from boxy to spiral-shaped (like the inside of a conch shell, really), geometric to organic—certainly run the gamut. And there’s no shorta...
March 30, 2009 |
By Megan Gambino
Smithsonian Events Week of 3/30-4/03: Spartacus, Walt Disney and Duke Ellington
Monday, March 30: 2009 National Sciences Bowl CompetitionCome see high school students show off their oceanographic know how in this Jeopardy-style trivia challenge. Free. National Museum of Natural History, 10:45 AMTuesday, March 31: Spartacus: The True StoryYeah, we all know of Spartacus. At some...
March 30, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
March Madness for the Mind at the Smithsonian
Has this ever happened to you?After purchasing a set of new speakers for your living room entertainment station, you set aside a few hours on Saturday afternoon to make the switch. A few hours turns into an afternoon as you navigate through heaps of wires coming out of the DVD player, flat screen t...
March 25, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
Smithsonian Events Week of 3/23-27: Marcel Duchamp, The Peacock Room and more!
Monday, March 23: Historic Theater: Letters HomeDeliver the letter, the sooner the better. During times of war, correspondence is of critical importance to the service-people who are far away from home. See how the art of letter writing has evolved over the years in this dramatic presentation that ...
March 23, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Weekend Events: March Madness, Moving Images and a Treasure Hunt
Friday, March 20: March Madness of the Mind: DemonstrationsOur nation's best and brightest scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs are at the American History Museum to show off their latest inventions. And don't forget to visit the Spark!Lab where you can enjoy hands-on demonstrations. Free. Natio...
March 20, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Events Week of March 16-20: March Madness!
Monday, March 16: Octopus FeedingI'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden—wouldn't you? But the question is: what do octopi eat that would merit them having a garden in the first place? Come out to the National Zoo where you can observe an octopus feeding! Free, but space is limited. Repe...
March 16, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
I am Pi: Thoughts on the Ratio of the Circumference of a Circle to Its Diameter
Every year, the celebration of Pi Day (March 14 is 3.14) grows more ambitious. Math teachers love to dream up unique classroom activities to celebrate Pi for it endless opportunity to calculate (3.14159265358989 and so on and so on.) This week Congress made it official. Tomorrow is National Pi Day....
March 13, 2009 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Lincoln's Pocket Watch Reveals Long-Hidden Message
The Smithsonian opens one of its prized artifacts and a story unfolds
March 11, 2009 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
