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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

See How the Animals Enjoyed a Snowy Week at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

While the Zoo was closed, staff members captured some rare scenes of the animals experiencing the falling snow.

Aerial view of the National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History

Museum Happenings in February 2026 at the National Museum of American History

Here's what's happening this month at the museum.

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National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery Announces Winners of the Seventh Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and Opening of “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture"

Kameron Neal Receives $25,000 and New Commission as First-Prize Winner of the National Triennial

More From Smithsonian Voices
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National Museum of Natural History

Scientists Discover New Species of Poison Dart Frog with One-of-One Specimen Collected More than Sixty Years Ago

If not for a pair of Smithsonian scientists, the fingernail-size frog from Brazil would have likely gone extinct without ever being described

Poster with four images and white text on a blue background reading, “Out Front with Us: documenting solidarity.” Black text just below on a white background reads, “January 23rd, 1pm, McEvoy Auditorium.” The four images clockwise from top left are: 1. A

Archives of American Art

January Programs at the Archives of American Art

What can archives show us about solidarity today? Two programs explore legacies of activism and parenthood in art

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Smithsonian Books

Learn How Theodore Roosevelt Prepared for His Smithsonian Expedition to East Africa

Ahead of his year-long expedition, Roosevelt had to figure out which guns, tents, and even books to bring on the trip

Rebecca Northen seated with her hands crossed in her lap facing the camera.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Where Are All the Women? Notability and Digital Discovery

Rebecca Northen was called the 'Julia Child of Orchids,' yet her story is hard to find online. Discover why women disappear from digital history and what can be done to change it.

A variety of art images appear in a collage including a portrait of a woman in a red dress, a nightscape, a large marble domed building, an equestrian state and a statue of a man holding a calf on his shoulders

Smithsonian Associates

Earn a Smithsonian World Art History Certificate This Year

Your Passport to a World of Art

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Smithsonian Books

Beat the Winter Blues by Learning How to Fly Smithsonian Paper Airplanes With Your Kids

Learn about the science behind paper airplanes

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Office of the Secretary of the Smithsonian

How Curators Collect Pieces of History as It Unfolds

The dynamic nature of the world means that anything can become an artifact, and the professionals put themselves in position to collect it

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Welcomes Two Sloth Bear Cubs

The tiny cubs, currently off-exhibit, are expected to debut in Spring 2026.

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National Museum of Natural History

A New Pterosaur, Ancient Asteroid Brine and More Discoveries from the National Museum of Natural History in 2025

The year’s most notable findings also include insights into dog and sheep domestication and a new species of manta ray in the museum’s collection

Left: Black and white image of a young man sitting at a desk, examining bird bones and holding a bird skull. Right: A young woman in an orange safety vest bends over a stream, collecting a water sample in a bottle.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Six Ways the Smithsonian Shaped Environmental Science in 60 Years

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center turned 60 this year. We're celebrating with six of our favorite stories since 1965.

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National Museum of American History

What Five Objects Can Tell Us About the Life of Filipino Americans in the Early 20th Century

Large trunks discovered in a basement offer a window into the lives and struggles of early Filipino migrants

In a warmly lit room, a woman in a floral dress tells a story, both hands outstretched, for a small seated audience that watches her and smiles.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

Top Five Folklife Stories of 2025

#ICYMI, here are the most-read articles from the Center’s online magazine this year.

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

How Human Health Technology Is Improving Orangutan Welfare at the National Zoo

Redd’s daily treatment reveals how orangutans with chronic respiratory diseases are adapting to use certain medical tools designed for humans.

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National Museum of the American Indian

How Native Americans Are Celebrating the Holiday Season With Festive Meals, Public Service and Cherished Traditions

The winter holidays and especially Christmas have different meanings to tribes and Native individuals across Indian Country as they commune with friends and family

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Small Stories, Big Science: 2025 in Review at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute

A collection of short highlights from our year in conservation science work.

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

The Animal Care Stories That Shaped 2025 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

We’ve gift-wrapped a few short highlights that capture the spirit of the year in animal care.

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National Museum of Natural History

For 25 Years, the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program Has Kept Weekly Tabs on Volcanic Eruptions Around the World. Here’s How They Do It

Since 2000, specialists at the National Museum of Natural History have produced the world’s foremost report on active volcanoes