Legacies of Resilience
A National Museum of African American History and Culture Exhibition frames the history of slavery in a global context
Abigail Pocasangre is a digital design manager and web editor for the Smithsonian’s Office of Advancement.
A National Museum of African American History and Culture Exhibition frames the history of slavery in a global context
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossSmithsonian oral histories unblock American voices
Abigail Pocasangre & Sarah McGavranLearn about escaramuzas, a Texas tradition, by taking a closer look at Mexican American Verónica Dávila's dress featured in the National Museum of American History's exhibition, <em>Girlhood (It's Complicated)</em>.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossCurrent methods of identifying fish species require scientists to examine specimens through a microscope or conduct DNA testing. But what if identification could be achieved simply by taking a cell phone photo?
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossCould there be life on planets outside our solar system? For astrophysicists, it’s a big unanswered question, and one that AI technology can help investigate.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossTo tell the story of the first American in space, the Smithsonian Digitization Program Office and the National Air and Space Museum are digitizing in 3D—with the help of AI—one of the museum’s most iconic objects: astronaut Alan Shepard’s 1961 Mercury space suit.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossSouth Korean artist Park Chan-kyong brings new perspectives to the National Museum of Asian Art this fall with the opening of <em>Park Chan-kyong: Gathering</em>, the inaugural exhibition in the museum’s just-opened modern and contemporary galleries.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossThe Smithsonian American Art Museum’s reimagined galleries for modern and contemporary art invite visitors to reconsider what American art is and can be.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterIn the air, on land and in the sea, the Smithsonian is building new tools for resilient ecosystems—innovative approaches and technologies that will provide knowledge and open up avenues to understand and protect our planet.
Abigail Pocasangre , Elise Walter & Julia RossNebraska Educators and the Smithsonian Bring Learning to Life
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterThe National Museum of American History's newest exhibition explores the power of pop culture.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossWhat do you know about what you eat? Where does it come from? How was it grown, fished or harvested, and by whom? From Virginia farmlands to Alaskan headwaters and Panamanian shores, the Smithsonian is working with scientists, farmers and fishermen to illuminate the connections between food and sustaining a diverse planet—working with nature to protect and nourish the land, streams and oceans that feed us.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterFood History Weekend 2022 Spotlights Advocates, Innovators
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossLa edificación más antigua de la colección del Smithsonian abre al público por primera vez.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossThe oldest building in the Smithsonian’s collection opens to the public for the first time.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossLa Galería latina de la familia Molina—un sueño desde mucho tiempo se hace realidad en el Smithsonian.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterThe Molina Family Latino Gallery—A long-held dream comes to life at the Smithsonian.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterThe making of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum started with two sisters. Learn more about the sisters, their family and the origins of the nation's design museum.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterA behind the scenes look at art conservation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art
Abigail Pocasangre & Miranda EllisonWe spoke with three Smithsonian art curators about recent acquisitions that capture the spirit and vision of each museum’s vast and growing collection.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterThe power, lasting impact of activist Chicano artists
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterEach spring across the forests, lakes and suburbs of North America, millions of birds take a long journey north in search of summer nesting territory.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossThe Smithsonian was founded in the early days of a brand-new democracy, as the United States was developing its identity as a nation that applies new ideas and scientific inquiry to better society. From the beginning, the Smithsonian helped shape that identity. The institution still does, innovating to meet the evolving needs of the American people. Explore moments of innovation that shaped the Smithsonian over 175 years.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterExplore the Smithsonian’s iconic buildings from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to the forests of Panama and beyond.
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterExplore some inspiring threads of continuity in the Smithsonian’s pursuit of its mission during the course of 175 years
Abigail Pocasangre & Heather EwingThe Smithsonian came into being around the same time as the medium of photography
Abigail Pocasangre & Heather EwingThe COVID-19 pandemic changed everything for arts and culture institutions worldwide. At the Smithsonian, we are confronting challenges and embracing opportunities presented by “a new normal.”
Abigail Pocasangre & Elise WalterIn a year marked by widespread protests against racial injustice and calls to reckon with America’s racial past, the Smithsonian is taking a big step toward helping the country heal. A new Race, Community and Our Shared Future initiative—to launch nationwide this winter with generous support from founding partner Bank of America—will explore how Americans understand, experience and confront race.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossA celebration of the woman who originally designed the iconic Smithsonian sunburst.
Nikki Rosato, Advancement Events Associate, and Sarah Leibach, Donor Relations and Events Manager, Office of AdvancementThis month the Smithsonian becomes Creative Commons Zero (CC0). This means we are opening the digital doors, making our content available under user-friendly copyright laws. Artists, researchers and anyone with an internet connection can download, remix, reuse and share Smithsonian collections—just about any way they like.
Nick Pyenson and Sara SnyderSmithsonian museums and research centers are bringing more diverse voices and perspectives to educational programs. Here, two Smithsonian educators talk about presenting new narratives, challenging stereotypes and creating role models.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossWhat if you tried to write the American story using only half the alphabet? Even if you could include a few more letters the important ones, the most visible ones or some that haven't been given their due you'd be hard pressed to capture what happened.
Abigail Pocasangre & Mary Kay ZuravleffDarren Walker is president of the Ford Foundation. Under his leadership, the foundation has given generously to help build the National Museum of African American History and Culture; the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center to support culture labs that foster a deeper understanding of Asian Pacific Americans; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum for two groundbreaking exhibitions, Design for the Other 90% and Access + Ability; and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative. This fall, Walker was honored by Cooper Hewitt with the Director’s Award for his courageous vision for fighting social inequality, inspiring leadership and unwavering support of organizations that build a more inclusive and strong civil society.
Laura HambletonThe Smithsonian Latino Center’s first gallery, the Molina Family Latino Gallery, will open at the National Museum of American History in 2021 to showcase the Latino Experience in the United States and connect the community’s rich past with its dynamic present.
Abigail Pocasangre & Ranald WoodamanThe National Design Awards celebrate 20 years of inspiration.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossAs they wrapped up their Smithsonian assignments this month, interns reflected on their summer experience and individual research projects, which included studying the skeletal remains of 19th century African American women; planning a major traveling exhibition on the history of American girlhood; and writing about the women who worked on the Apollo space program.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossAs they wrapped up their Smithsonian assignments this month, interns reflected on their summer experience and individual research projects, which included studying the skeletal remains of 19th century African American women; planning a major traveling exhibition on the history of American girlhood; and writing about the women who worked on the Apollo space program.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossThough the "public face" of the U.S. space program in the 1960s was male, many women played essential roles in building the Apollo program and making the Moon landing a success. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, here are a few women whose stories deserve to be celebrated.
Abigail Pocasangre & Maddi HellmichIn celebration of Pride Month, we honor LGBTQ women who have made remarkable contributions to the nation and helped advance equality in fields as diverse as medicine and the dramatic arts. Here are a few of their stories, represented by objects in the Smithsonian collections.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossIn Hawai'i, the art of carving outrigger canoes has traditionally been a male pursuit. Many women have captained and paddled the canoes, but few have learned to build them—an undertaking that requires carving a vessel of 25 feet or more out of a massive tree trunk. In an effort to bring a new wave of women into the trade, the Smithsonian recently organized a canoe carving workshop in Hilo, Hawai'i, as part of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival celebrating Hawaiian culture.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossEffie Kapsalis has a cool job. As the Senior Digital Program Officer for the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, she works with curators and researchers to uncover girls' and women's stories embedded deep within the Smithsonian and give them a new life—and long-deserved recognition—online. Recently, we talked with her about the Smithsonian's "digital-first" approach to women's history, correcting the Wikipedia gender imbalance and finding inspiration from an early 20th century museum elevator operator who became an expert on insects.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossWhen an illustrator recently posted a blurry, black and white photo (below) of a group of scientists attending a 1971 whale biology conference, the question reverberated across Twitter. Who was the sole unidentified figure and only woman in the picture, partially hidden behind a male colleague?
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossWhen Débora Nazareno, an Afro-Indian woman who lived in remote Ecuador in the early 20th century, sat in her hand-carved boat seat to tell stories to her grandson, little did she know the seat would be the first object donated to a new Smithsonian museum nearly a century later.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossIn October 2018, New York-based designer, writer and educator Gail Anderson received the Lifetime Achievement National Design Award, bestowed by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The award recognizes Anderson’s innovative body of work and longtime leadership in the design field; her 30-plus-year career has spanned magazine covers to theatre posters and postage stamps.
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia RossFrom the time she received a Kodak Brownie at age 10, South Africa-raised Constance Stuart Larrabee captured the world around her with an unsparing eye, ensuring her place as one of the 20th century’s foremost photojournalists
Abigail Pocasangre & Julia Ross