Discover the History of America’s Road Trip Culture and More Learning Experiences From Smithsonian Associates

Embark on your next great learning adventure with Smithsonian Associates

Smithsonian Associates produces vibrant educational and cultural programs for people of all ages. Hundreds of online and in-person lectures, seminars, performances, hands-on studio arts classes, one-of-a-kind study tours and children’s programs are offered annually. To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org.  

 

Monday, April 14

How to Read a Poem: For most of us, poetry is intimidating. Humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson marks National Poetry Month by offering ways for those who are new to the form to approach poetry with comfort, confidence and joy. For those who know poetry well, he provides a reminder of why good poetry is so satisfying—and necessary to a healthy civilization. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET.  $30-$40

 

Tuesday, April 15

99% Perspiration: Does America’s Work Culture Still Work?: Americans work more hours, take fewer days off, move more for their jobs and enjoy fewer benefits than anyone else in the Western working world. Drawing on his book 99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life, Adam Chandler examines the realities of how work defines us and what work culture costs us. He unpacks what he sees as the misguided obsession with hard work that has come to define both the American dream and nightmare, offering insights into how we got here and blueprints for a better and more sustainable way forward. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Wednesday, April 16

The Language of Symmetry: Linking Theoretical Physics and the Everyday World: What do the music of J.S. Bach, the fundamental forces of nature, Rubik’s Cube and the selection of mates have in common? They are all characterized by certain symmetries—the concept that bridges science and art. Astrophysicist and author Mario Livio explains how symmetry underlies not only some of the most important phenomena in our lives and in the evolution of humans, but also the laws governing our universe. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. $25-$30

Where Harry Met Sally: The Cuisine and Culture of the Jewish Deli: For much of the 20th century, the deli was an iconic institution in both Jewish and American life, a kind of homeland for the soul—with pickles on the side. Today, after a long period of being considered hopelessly old-fashioned, the Jewish deli is experiencing a resurgence. Ted Merwin, author of Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History, discusses the past, present and future of the deli in an age of ethnic nostalgia, sustainability and artisanal food and drink. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Monday, April 21

How the Sixties Shaped Today’s Politics: From civil rights to feminism to gay liberation to the environmental movement to the silent majority, a period that began more than half a century ago has shaped and influenced our country ever since. Leonard Steinhorn, a professor in the School of Communication at American University, explores the 1960’s meaning and its legacy—one that may have created the dividing line in our current politics and society. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Monday, April 28

The Great American Road Trip: From early settlers arriving on the Mayflower to white settlers moving west in wagon trains in the 1800s to Black Americans making the great migration to the North in the 1930s, scholars argue that the culture of the United States has been shaped by people pushing into new territory in search of better opportunity. Historian Allen Pietrobon looks at the ways Americans traveled in the past, the rapid growth of interstates in the 1960s, the associated rise of fast food and roadside motels, and, most importantly, the birth of the notion that the open road is the epitome of American freedom. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Saturday, May 3

Quick-Sketch for a Day: Celebrating America: Discover how to draw with fluid lines and paint with flowing watercolors as you capture scenes from coast to coast. Explore a variety of creative techniques to help you transform your watercolor journey. This class is great for all levels as you learn how to simplify and quickly compose your own drawings and then add mingling captivating watercolors. This program is presented on Zoom from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. $160-$185

 

Sunday, May 4

May the 4th Be With You: The Smithsonian Celebrates Star Wars Day: Star Wars is a global phenomenon that people celebrate on May 4th every year. In conversation, curators from the National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of American History celebrate the Star Wars universe, its monumental legacy in pop culture and its place in a familiar galaxy not so far, far away. This program is presented on Zoom from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Monday, May 5

Honoring America’s Fallen: The Cemeteries of WWII: After World War II, the federal government sought to honor the sacrifice of American troops who died abroad by creating military cemeteries to commemorate the fallen at sites including the Normandy beachheads, the Ardennes, and the Italian peninsula. Distinguished by their striking rows of white crosses and Stars of David, they have become enduring symbols of the conflict. Historian Christopher Hamner surveys the design and layout of some of those cemeteries and examines how decisions made in the late 1940s and 1950s helped shape the way Americans remember World War II. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Tuesday, May 6

The NASA Landolt Space Mission: George Mason University will be the home of the recently approved NASA Landolt space mission that will put an artificial star into orbit around Earth. It will allow scientists to calibrate telescopes and more accurately measure the brightnesses of stars. The science associated with the mission and what astronomers hope to learn from it are explained by Peter Plavchan, the mission’s principal investigator and associate professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason University. Following the talk and a question-and-answer period, Rob Parks, director of the George Mason Observatory, brings the skies into your living room with remote control of the university observatory, weather permitting. This program is presented on Zoom from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. $25-$30

 

Monday, May 12

Andy Warhol and Pop Art: During the heyday of Pop Art, Andy Warhol was its king. His talent as an artist, filmmaker, photographer, and publisher made him a household name for far more than the “15 minutes of fame” he quipped that everyone would experience. Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton traces Warhol’s life and profound impact on modern culture, examining how his revolutionary art broke with all previous movements and expanded the definition of art itself. This program is presented on Zoom from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET. $20-$25

 

Thursday, May 29

How Animals Heal Themselves: Ages before the dawn of modern medicine, wild animals were harnessing the power of nature’s pharmacy to heal themselves. Drawing on interviews with scientists from around the globe as well as his own research, biologist Jaap de Roode reveals what researchers are learning about such practices. Hear about apes who swallow leaves to dislodge worms, sparrows who use cigarette butts to repel parasites, and bees who incorporate sticky resin into their hives to combat pathogens. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET $20-$25

 

Tuesday, June 10

Sherlock Holmes: A Sleuth's Legacy in a Modern World: Why does Sherlock Holmes remain such an intriguing figure generations after his debut? English professor Kristopher Mecholsky highlights his origins and worldwide popularity. He also focuses a magnifying glass on his unique impact on contemporary fans—who are fascinated by searching for clues to whether Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless detective would be classified as neurodivergent today. This program is presented on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET $20-$25

 

Thursday, June 26

Sketching the Smithsonian: Weekly Lunchtime Drawing Series: In a six-session series, take an artful break and explore the fascinating, vast collections of the Smithsonian. Each week, learn about a featured collection object and follow along with the instructor to create a new sketch. Interesting facts and tidbits about the collection items are shared. This drawing break is designed to be easy to join: All you need is a pencil and paper. This program is presented on Zoom from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET. $20-$125

 

To view the Smithsonian Associates digital program guide, visit smithsonianassociates.org.  

Lauren Lyons | Read More

Lauren Lyons is a public affairs specialist at Smithsonian Associates.