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National Museum of Natural History

After 50 Years, Scientists Still Love Lucy

Paleoanthropologists have learned a lot about Lucy, the world’s most famous hominin fossil, since she was discovered in 1974. And her fossils are still yielding new insights

Black and white portrait of Dat So La Lee seated in a chair and surrounded by six decorative baskets on the floor by her feet.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Basket Maker Dat So La Lee’s Artistry Was a Means of Survival

Meet Dat So La Lee, a Washoe basket weaver whose signature degikup style preserved her cultural heritage and offered a means of survival as she adapted to the American economy.

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National Museum of Natural History

To Understand How Species Evolve, Scientists Flock to Where Charismatic Birds Intermingle

For decades, researchers have explored a region in Panama that serves as a “manakin melting pot”

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Smithsonian Books

'Life on Mars?' Is More Than a David Bowie Song—It's a Question Humans Keep Asking

A former chief historian of NASA reflects on the history and future of Mars exploration

A portion of a violin is shown accented with red ribbon and an ornament

Smithsonian Associates

Celebrate the Spirit of the Season With These Festive Smithsonian Associates Programs

Get in the holiday spirit with programs, studio arts classes, and performances, offered online and in person

a giant panda eating bamboo

Office of the Secretary of the Smithsonian

What the Smithsonian (and the Public) Have Learned About Pandas in More Than 50 Years at the National Zoo

Cue the panda cam: The Zoo’s two newest residents, Bao Li and Qing Bao, will make their debut in January

Entertainment Nation Entrance

National Museum of American History

What's Happening at the National Museum of American History in December

Exhibits, Programs, Music and More!

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Smithsonian Journeys

Ancient Egypt Meets the 21st Century at the New Grand Egyptian Museum

Egyptologist Huub Pragt and Smithsonian Journeys traveler Kellie Mecham share first impressions from their visit to the museum just days after its long-awaited opening.

Candid photo of Elena Terry smiling holding a white dish full of colorful beans, peppers, and corn tilted away from her.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

How Chef Elena Terry Revisited Heritage Seeds to Cultivate Hope

Ho-Chunk Chef Elena Terry cultivates and cooks with ancestral seeds that were preserved despite forced tribal relocations. She focuses on providing opportunities to community members to eat and prepare traditional tribal foods as a method of healing.

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Smithsonian Books

Uncovering the Secrets of Dinosaurs With Amazing Fossils

Learn about three momentous dinosaur findings from the fossil record

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National Museum of Natural History

Scientists at the National Museum of Natural History Discover Two Squirrel Species Long Obscured by Mistaken Identities

Using a variety of techniques, the researchers realized that two subspecies of squirrels from Southeast Asia were actually unique species in their own right

A 65-year-old Black woman sits in the left seat of an airliner cockpit. She is smiling and wearing an airline captain's uniform, including a white shirt and a hat.

National Air and Space Museum

Meet the U.S. Air Force's First Black Female Pilot

Theresa Claiborne looks back on her outstanding career in military and civil aviation

A white man in his early 70s stands inside a museum gallery. He is wearing glasses and smiling. Behind him, is the nose and forward fuselage of a Boeing 747 airplane. The 747 is painted in a red, gray, and white paint scheme.

National Air and Space Museum

How to Display a 747 in a Museum

Boeing's 747 is big, but not so big that the forward fuselage can't be part of a museum exhibit

Selfie of Joy Dean in her flight helmet. Clouds are reflected in the visor.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

These Groundbreaking Pilots Made History 30 Years Ago as the First American Women to Fly Combat Missions

Launching from the deck of the USS Eisenhower, these women showed that being a good aviator has nothing to do with gender

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Smithsonian Books

How the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Continues to Impact Modern Life

A new Smithsonian book reckons with the enduring legacies of slavery and capitalism

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

How Keepers at Smithsonian's National Zoo Help Giant Pandas Feel at Home

Get a behind the scenes look at how staff are helping giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao settle into their new home at the Zoo's Asia Trail exhibit.

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National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery Premieres Season Six of PORTRAITS Podcast

Hosted by the museum’s director, Kim Sajet, PORTRAITS explores art, biography, history and identity.

A small black and white tv monitor displays a fuzzy image on the screen. On top of it sits a box with nobs.

Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery

See You Later, Wobbulator

Exploring Nam June Paik's innovative use of technology to transform video art.

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Smithsonian Education

A New Smithsonian Guide Honors the Service and Sacrifice of America’s Veterans

In collaboration with USA TODAY, “America’s Veterans: Honor, Service, and Sacrifice” is a tribute to veterans—covering Veterans Day history, personal stories, military branches and awards, and intergenerational activities to honor the legacy of the country’s veterans

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National Museum of Natural History

The Murder Mystery Linking a Bird Specimen at the National Museum of Natural History to the Mysterious Death of an Arctic Explorer

In 1871, a naturalist aboard the U.S.S. Polaris collected scientific specimens — and possibly poisoned the ship’s captain