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Articles

The Arab Spring uprisings tell only part of the story.

The Struggle Within Islam

Terrorists get the headlines, but most Muslims want to reclaim their religion from extremists

Every day California sea otters spend 10 to 12 hours hunting and consume nearly a third of their body weight.

Otters: The Picky Eaters of the Pacific

Could the California sea otters’ peculiar dietary habits be impeding their resurgence?

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Wild Things: Wildcats, Pigeons and More…

Cleaner wrasse fish, black widow spiders and even bananas made the news recently as part of the latest wildlife research

Roller Rover is a definitive example of the work that has made William Wegman one of the world's most widely known conceptual artists.

Fay Ray: The Supermodel Dog

As photographer William Wegman tells it, his cinnamon-gray Weimaraner wasn’t content to just sit and stay

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Letters

The Smithsonian collection of 8,000-plus instruments includes 5 by Stradivari.

Sound Scholarship

"It really is a miracle that he came in as good shape as he did," says taxidermist Paul Rhymer, who spent a month carrying out Owney's first restoration since he went on display.

Owney the Mail Dog

For nine years, Owney rode the rails and the wagons on top of mailbags as the mascot of the mailmen

Gene Tunney's boxing gloves from the famous 1927 "long count" fight with Jack Dempsey.

Gene Tunney’s Gloves Enter the Ring

Fans still argue about who really won the 1927 “long count” fight between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey

Skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk recently donated his 1986 pro model Powell-Peralta deck with truck and wheels to the National Museum of American History.

Q and A with Tony Hawk

The skateboarding champion talks about the growth and evolution of his sport

More than 50 artifacts from the September 11 attacks, including Fire Truck Door, 2001, will be displayed at the American History Museum.

What’s Up

Branding a nation clearly poses many challenges.

Strike Up the Brand

In an ever more competitive world, nations strive for the perfect slogan

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A New Look at the Men of Baseball’s Past

Charles Conlon’s classic photographs of baseball players from the early 20th century offer a glimpse into a familiar sport at an otherworldly time

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Coming to Terms

In the United States and Finland

Union generals lost a week long siege of Lexington, Missouri, shown here, but took control of Ship Island, off Mississippi's coast.

September 1861: Settling in for a Long War

During this month, the civil war expands to Kentucky and West Virginia, and President Lincoln rejects an attempt at emancipation

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September Anniversaries

Momentous or Merely Memorable

The Taj backs up against the once-vibrant Yamuna River, now often dried to the point where locals can walk in the riverbed.

Ask Smithsonian 2017

How to Save the Taj Mahal?

A debate rages over preserving the awe-inspiring, 350-year-old monument that now shows signs of distress from pollution and shoddy repairs

There were emotional hugs on May 2, 2011, near the construction site of the new World Trade Center in New York City, after Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan by Navy Seals.

What 9/11 Wrought

The former editor of the New York Times considers the effects of the terrorist attacks on the 10th anniversary of the fateful day

Samuel Morse consolidated Louvre masterpieces in an imaginary gallery.

Samuel Morse’s Reversal of Fortune

It wasn’t until after he failed as an artist that Morse revolutionized communications by inventing the telegraph

Charles M. Conlon was a proofreader at the New York Telegram when he began shooting pictures as a hobby. Shown here is one of his iconic photographs of Ty Cobb sliding into third base.

Charles Conlon: The Unheralded Baseball Photographer

Stalwarts of early 20th-century sports pages, Conlon’s photos of the national pastime have their second chance at the plate

"This is what we do every day," says Kirkkojarvi Comprehensive School principal Kari Louhivuori, "prepare kids for life."

Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful?

The country’s achievements in education have other nations, especially the United States, doing their homework

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