Smithsonian Voices

From the Smithsonian Museums

Buy war bonds, 194-, Charles Green Shaw, artist. Charles Green Shaw papers, 1874-1979, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Archives of American Art

Valentine's Shmalentine's

St. Croix ground lizards are one of the world's rarest lizards. (Nicole Angeli, Smithsonian)

National Museum of Natural History

Why Aren't St. Croix Ground Lizards on St. Croix?

Finalists in the design competition for National Native American Veterans Memorial to be built on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. From left to right: Leroy Transfield (Māori: Ngai Tahu/Ngati Toa), Daniel SaSuWeh Jones (Ponca), Stefanie Rocknak, Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne/Arapaho), James Dinh; not shown: Enoch Kelly Haney (Seminole). (Travis Helms, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian)

National Museum of the American Indian

Finalists Present Their Design Concepts for the National Native American Veterans Memorial

Why does a curling stone curl?

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Why Does a Curling Stone Curl?

The V flying position is important to increase distance. (Image: Ben Pieper Photography)

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Falling With Style: The Science of Ski Jumping

Mel Henderson, San Francisco, California postcard to Eleanor Dickinson, San Francisco, California, Not after 5 December 1976. Eleanor Dickinson papers, 1951-2003. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Archives of American Art

Udder Madness: One Artist's Adventure with 4,000 Cows

Schools of snappers, grunts and jacks on a seagrass plain at Hol Chan marine reserve, Belize. (Pete Oxford, International League of Conservation Photographers)

National Museum of Natural History

Can Genetics Improve Fisheries Management?

Gene Davis' studio, summer 1971, detail from contact sheet with images of Andrew Hudson, Bill Christenberry, and Gene Davis, 1979 / Mary Swift, photographer. Mary Swift papers, circa 1970-2005. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Archives of American Art

Acquisitions: Mary Swift Papers

In the exhibition

National Museum of the American Indian

The entangled history of non-Native Americans and American Indians has shaped and defined who we are as a people

Young Jewess Arriving at Ellis Island / Lewis Wikes Hine / 1905 / Courtesy Alan Klotz Gallery / Photocollect, Inc. / New York City

National Portrait Gallery

Starting at the Source: Lewis Hine and Labor

There are scientific investigations into whether animals use the Sun and Moon, Earth’s magnetic field, or recognition of landmarks to repeat their long journeys. (chantalrutledge/iStock/Thinkstock)

Smithsonian Science Education Center

How Do Birds Navigate?

Abbott Thayer in his sleeping hut with his dog Hauskuld, circa 1903 / unidentified photographer. Nelson and Henry C. White research material, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Archives of American Art

Why Abbott Thayer and His Family Slept Outside During a Polar Vortex

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History traveled the world and made many new discoveries this year--like this Cyrtodactylis payarhtanensis, a new species of bent-toed gecko. (Daniel G. Mulcahy)

National Museum of Natural History

Countdown to the New Year: 7 of Our Favorite Discoveries from 2017

Temple of Man promotional postcard featuring Robert Alexander, 1970s. Robert Alexander papers and Temple of Man records, 1956-1992. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Archives of American Art

Acquisitions: Robert Alexander Papers and Temple of Man Records

Around December 21, the Northern Hemisphere tilts the farthest away from the Sun. This is called the northern winter solstice, and it is when we have the least amount of daylight of any time of the year.

Smithsonian Science Education Center

What is the Winter Solstice?

National Museum of the American Indian

The Winter Solstice Begins a Season of Storytelling and Ceremony

Captain Jefferson Keel (U.S. Army retired), Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. (Courtesy of Jefferson Keel)

National Museum of the American Indian

A tradition of service: Captain Jefferson Keel

Specialist Allen Kale‘iolani Hoe (U.S. Army retired), the son and grandson of veterans and a Gold Star father, serves on the advisory committee of the National Native American Veterans Memorial. (Courtesy of Allen Hoe)

National Museum of the American Indian

A tradition of service: Specialist Allen Kale‘iolani Hoe

In 1988, artist Laura Farabough exhibited Santa Dog, a site–specific video installation at the Hanson Gallery in Sausalito, California. That same year, Farabough featured “Santa Dog” on her holiday card to artist David Ireland. Laura Farabough christmas card to David Ireland, 1988. David Ireland papers, circa 1910s-circa 2009, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Archives of American Art

Dog Days of December

Children's books written by Native American authors or by non-Natives who have consulted with Native communities highlight the diversity of Native cultures throughout the Western Hemisphere. (All images courtesy of the publishers)

National Museum of the American Indian

Happy holidays! Six favorite picture books from imagiNATIONS Story & Discovery