Why the World Became So Obsessed With William Morris’ Colorful Floral Prints
The British artist’s designs appear on mugs, plates, shoes and more. A new exhibition explores how his signature style became so ubiquitous—and how Morris would feel about his 21st-century legacy
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The History of Ma’amoul, a Middle Eastern Cookie That Is a ‘Love Letter’ to Our Ancestors
Stuffed with nuts or dates, the shortbread cookie is enjoyed around Muslim, Christian and Jewish holidays
These 15 Dynamic Photos Will Make You Want to Dance
Get footloose with these Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest dance scenes
This Exiled Romanov Princess Fled the Bloodshed of the Russian Revolution and Reinvented Herself as a Fashion Icon
A new exhibition spotlights Natalia Pavlovna Paley, the granddaughter of a czar. She built a new life for herself in France and the U.S., appearing in films and on the pages of glossy magazines
The Effervescent History of Seltzer, From the Early Days of Home Delivery to Today’s Trendy Cans
A century before LaCroix or Spindrift were refrigerator staples, factories in New York City were carbonating gallons and gallons of tap water each day
Meet Martha Swope, the Legendary Broadway Photographer Who Captured Iconic Moments From Hundreds of Productions and Rehearsals
She spent nearly 40 years taking theater and dance pictures, providing glimpses behind the scenes and creating images that the public couldn’t otherwise access
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025
From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this year
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Get Your Day Back on Track With These 22 Photos of Trains Around the World
Take to the rails with inspiring images of life on and around train lines
This Renowned Artist Brings Plants, Shea Butter and Black Soap Into His Groundbreaking Work
In Rashid Johnson’s largest show of art yet, the power of mixed media is on full display
From Peasant Fodder to Fine Dining, Feast on the Tasty History of How Snails and Oysters Became Luxury Foods
Humans have eaten mollusks for millennia, but they weren’t always viewed as elite treats
Would You Wear a Wedding Dress Made of Disposable Paper? These 1960s Brides Donned Them to Save Money—and Make a Daring Fashion Statement
Created with synthetic textiles, the “nonwoven” gowns could be shortened for the reception or easily packed away for the honeymoon
A New Exhibition Brings Fresh Recognition to a Groundbreaking But Largely Forgotten Surrealist
At London’s Tate Britain, a major retrospective takes a long look at the work of Ithell Colquhoun
How the Grand Ole Opry Put Uniquely American Music at Center Stage
Through daring business decisions and an eye for talent, the vaunted country radio program still stands as a tastemaker for the fastest-growing genre in popular music
The Last Operating Woolworth’s Lunch Counter Will Be Up and Running Once Again in California
A neighborhood icon, the Bakersfield luncheonette will mix modern design touches with classic decor
These 15 Mind-Bending Murals Turn the Mundane Into the Memorable
See 15 images of superb street art from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Three Formerly Enslaved Artists Created Beautiful Pottery 150 Years Ago, and Now Their Wares Are Coveted Around the World
The stunning vessels from the H. Wilson & Company were forgotten for generations, only to gain new appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into them
The Real History of the Complex Relationship Between Chinese and Black Americans in the Mississippi Delta
The remarkable success of the movie “Sinners” has sparked a renewed interest in how the two communities wrestled with life under Jim Crow
An Ohio Earthwork Where Thousands Once Gathered for Celestial Observations and Religious Ceremonies Is Open to the Public
An earthen enclosure called the Octagon is drawing much-deserved attention to the state’s history-filled mounds built some 2,000 years ago by the Hopewell culture
Meet the Mysterious Renaissance Muse Immortalized in the Only Leonardo da Vinci Painting in the Americas
Ginevra de’ Benci was a poet famed for her beauty and intellect. But art historians know little about her beyond the writings and artworks left behind by the men who admired her
When a Historian Saw This Haunting Photograph of a Nameless Native Girl, She Decided She Had to Identify Her
In 1868, Sophie Mousseau was photographed at Fort Laramie alongside six white Army officers. But her identity—and her life story—remained unknown for more than a century
The Many Myths of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the 19th-Century Royal Whose Beauty and Tragic Death Transformed Her Into a Legend
The reluctant empress known as “Sisi” painstakingly crafted her image through portraits and photographs, ensuring she would be remembered in a specific way
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