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Arts & Culture

Partially submerged trees are reflected in the waters of a dam lake.

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

Honor the Natural Beauty of These Tremendous Trees With 15 Photographs From the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Find your inner Lorax and enjoy the glory of the forest and the trees in these submissions

Bridge Over the Water Lily Pond, 1905. In earlier works, Monet painted the footbridge in a crisp, distinct arc. Here, its faint, shadowy curves blend into greenery of the natural surroundings.

Later in Life, Claude Monet Obsessed Over Water Lilies. His Paintings of Them Were Some of His Greatest Masterpieces

Completed more than a century ago, these artworks reveal the Impressionist’s triumphs—and struggles

From inside of the Hirshhorn, the museum's circular design creates an oculus effect.

How the Hirshhorn Museum Went From Iconoclast to Icon

Celebrating 50 years of the modernist masterpiece that shocked critics—and helped turn Washington into an arts capital

Visitors look at posters in the Third Man Museum in Vienna.

Eight Movie Museums Cinephiles Need to Visit

From Chaplin’s World in Switzerland to Popeye Village in Malta, these spots celebrate much-loved films and filmmakers

Station VI: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, Bruce Onobrakpeya, linoleum block print on rice paper, 1969

After Nigerian Independence, One Renowned Artist Made Jesus a West African Savior in His Vibrant Work

Painter and printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya put forth a new vision of biblical figures for African Christians in the early post-colonial life of his country

José Santiago of Palenque Don Lencho, in San Pablo Guilá village, with wooden vats of fermenting agave prior to distillation

The Race to Save Mezcal From the World

Climate change, corporate money, soaring demand—can Mexico’s local agave growers find a viable path for a beloved beverage?

Artist Tyrus Wong, with kites of his own design, at California's Santa Monica Beach

How Tyrus Wong Spent 106 Years Making the World More Beautiful

The Chinese American artist left a breathtaking legacy that ranged from fine art to Disney movies to Christmas cards

Germany’s Schwarzwald, or Black Forest, has been the backdrop for myths and fairy tales for centuries.

From Sprites to Schnapps, Take a Spirited Trip Through Germany’s Black Forest

On the scenic Oberkircher Brennersteig trail, home of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, travelers won’t go thirsty

In Sweden, a popular pie is topped with bananas, cheese, curry and salty ham.

Bananas and Curry on Pizza? That’s How the Swedish Do It

Before you turn your nose up at the sweet and spicy combination, consider its roots in the country’s post-World War II food culture

Tutankhamun's tomb was one of the few royal Egyptian burials left largely untouched by ancient looters.

Discover the Hidden History of Tomb Robbing in Ancient Egypt

Criminals plundered the riches of Egyptian pyramids and underground burials, often within a few years or, in some cases, within a few hours of occupants’ interment

Percebes are generally under two inches long, with a fleshy body and pieces of shell that lead to a point on one end. Let's be honest, they look like dinosaur toes.

Why Are Fishermen Braving Dangerous Waters to Harvest Bizarre-Looking Sea Creatures? They’re Delicious

Gooseneck barnacles are tasty, but expensive, given the skill and guts it takes to gather them from slick rocks slammed by waves

William E. Leuchtenburg's new book spotlights (from left to right) George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams.

What the American Revolution Taught the United States’ First Presidents

A new book by historian William E. Leuchtenburg examines how the first six commanders in chief embodied the revolutionary spirit and set precedents that shaped their successors’ tenures

A fire dancer lights a fire beneath Zozobra during the 99th Annual Burning of Zozobra at Fort Marcy Park on September 1, 2023 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

For 100 Years, Santa Feans Have Burned New Mexico’s Boogeyman in a ‘Sacred Rite of Purification, Laughter and Rebirth’

The original “burning man” was the brainchild of a local artist and involves volunteers constructing a 50-foot-tall villain

A surviving section of the Themistoclean Wall, built in the fifth century B.C.E., is hidden underground on Athens' Dragatsaniou Street.

See the Historic Ruins Hidden Inside Everyday Buildings in Athens

Houses and businesses across the Greek capital incorporate—or obscure—structures spanning the city’s ancient, Byzantine, medieval and Ottoman eras

An 1838 illustration of Pindar, the lyric poet from ancient Greece, reciting one of the Olympian odes

The Paris Olympics

Poetry Was an Official Olympic Event for Nearly 40 Years. What Happened?

Pierre de Coubertin hoped the modern Games would encourage the ancient Greek notion of harmony between “muscle and mind”

A few weeks after Harriet Beecher Stowe crossed paths with John Andrew Jackson, she began drafting Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The Black Fugitive Who Inspired ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ and Helped End Slavery in the U.S.

New research sheds light on John Andrew Jackson, who sought help from Harriet Beecher Stowe during his escape from bondage

Whether decorated with a photo of a bustling subway stop or a striking Andy Warhol painting, album cover designs can constitute masterpieces in their own right.

The Stories Behind Six Iconic Album Cover Shots Taken in America—and Where to Recreate Them

These picture-perfect album covers have turned unassuming street corners, empty beach stretches and looming buildings into musical monuments

Members of the U.S. team participate in the opening ceremony at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

Untold Stories of American History

At the 1960 Olympics, American Athletes Recruited by the CIA Tried to Convince Their Soviet Peers to Defect

Al Cantello, a star of the U.S. track and field team, arranged a covert meeting between a government agent and a Ukrainian long jumper

Johnny Weissmuller (left) and Duke Kahanamoku (right) at the 1924 Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics

At the 1924 Paris Olympics, Tarzan Faced Off With the Ambassador of Aloha

The second Paris Games, exactly one century ago, hosted a 100-meter freestyle race that became an instant classic

In the first century B.C.E., Fulvia, Octavia and Cleopatra competed for Mark Antony's heart.

Who Were Cleopatra’s Rivals for Mark Antony’s Love?

The Roman general’s third and fourth wives, Fulvia and Octavia, adopted varying strategies for luring their husband away from the queen of Egypt

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