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Articles

The NASA mission, called Stardust, brought back the only material—other than moon rocks—taken directly from a extraterrestrial body.

The Secrets Within Cosmic Dust

Dust captured by a spacecraft from a comet’s tail holds clues to the origin of the solar system

"If we don't do something," says Knowlton, who has earned the nickname Dr. Doom, "we could lose all corals by 2050."

A Coral Reef’s Mass Spawning

Understanding how corals reproduce is critical to their survival; Smithsonian’s Nancy Knowlton investigates the annual event

Brighton is South England’s fun city and the destination for students, bohemians, and blue-collar Londoners looking to go “on holiday.”

Brighton: Fun, Sun, and Candy Floss

The carnival game and nature walks make this beach town on England’s southern shore a popular vacation spot for Londoners

Avebury is 16 times the size of Stonehenge. Tourists are free to wander among 100 stones, ditches, mounds and curious patterns from the past.

A Guide to Mysterious Britain

Glastonbury, Stonehenge, Avebury and Dartmoor hold secrets of the island’s prehistoric past

With its forest of skyscrapers perched on the banks of the Main River, Frankfurt has been dubbed Germany's "Mainhattan."

Frankfurt—No Longer Bankfurt

Home to Germany’s banking district, Frankfurt also boasts major museums, winter gardens and bustling main square

Rothenburg is still Germany's best-preserved walled town. In the Middle Ages, Rothenburg was Germany's second-largest city with a population of 6,000.

Rothenburg: The Best of Medieval Germany

In the country’s best-preserved walled city, tourists get a taste of medieval history and some of the best modern shopping

Parts of a typical medieval castle.

Castle Architecture

Learning a few terms will enhance your experience among Europe’s medieval fortresses

Life spills into the El Alto outdoor market of Puebla, where "present and past coexist and harmonize," says Francine Prose.

Savoring Puebla

Mexico’s “City of Angels” is home to gilded churches, artistic treasures and a delectable culinary culture

In the Ecuador wilderness (guides Nelson, at the helm, and Paa), Charles Bergman sought the roots of the illegal animal trade (a blue-headed parrot chick).

Wildlife Trafficking

A reporter follows the lucrative, illicit and heartrending trade in stolen wild animals deep into Ecuador’s rain forest

The cards and letters aboard the Graf Zeppelin bore a distinctive mark on their envelopes: a small image stamped in ink.

Holiday Delivery From the Graf Zeppelin

In 1934, a zeppelin originating in Germany and bound for Brazil carried a cargo of Christmas cheer

A retrospective of artist William T. Wiley's work is on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Q and A: William Wiley

For over 50 years, the artist has approached serious topics with wit and a sense of the absurd

"Bittersweet Harvest," a Smithsonian exhibit about braceros (California, 1956), fits neatly into the new strategy.

Our Plan

The iconic Graflex Speed Graphic was used by photojournalists from the 1930s to the late 1950s.

What’s Up

Pablo Cano, a Miami-based artist who creates marionettes, sent this holiday card to Miami art critic Helen L. Kohen in 1989.

Artists’ Homemade Christmas Cards

Seasonal greetings from artists such as Alexander Calder and Philip Guston celebrate the handmade holiday card

George Frideric Handel (at age 64 in 1749) produced works, including Messiah that dazzled even the musical titans who would succeed him.

The Glorious History of Handel’s Messiah

A musical rite of the holiday season, the Baroque-era oratorio still awes listeners more than 250 years after the composer’s death

Handel House was reopened in 2001. Shown here are musicians practicing on period instruments.

Handel Slept Here

The composer’s early-Georgian town house reflects his life and times

Norman Rockwell recruited Stockbridge neighbors, including state trooper Richard Clemens and 8-year-old Eddie Locke, to model for The Runaway.

Norman Rockwell’s Neighborhood

A new book offers a revealing look at how the artist created his homey illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post

Shopping, no matter the state of the economy, remains our true national sport.

Shopping Maul

The first rule of holiday shopping: There are no rules

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December Anniversaries

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