The Property Contract that Sheds New Light on James Smithson's Gift to the Smithsonian
The Hungerford Deed, a 1787 property contract donated to the Smithsonian Institution Archives in 2019, offers a unique glimpse at the family dynamics that shaped James Smithson into our founding donor. An upcoming web exhibition and program provide opportunities to learn more about this intriguing document.
Vintage Furniture Finds from the Early 20th Century
In the early 20th century, retailers John Wanamaker and Herr, Thomas & Co courted consumers with a wide range of furnishings. Take a look back at some very familiar home goods, like beds and drapes, and some lesser-known, like the biaphone and cuspidor.
How Yellowstone Was Saved by a Teddy Roosevelt Dinner Party and a Fake Photo in a Gun Magazine
An article from Forest and Stream in 1894 included chilling photos of slain buffalo in Yellowstone Park. It helped pass an act outlining punishment for poaching on public lands. But the photos were fakes.