The Most Surprising Carnival Treat Might Just Be Pickle on a Stick
Pickles are having a moment, even at small-town fairs, where vendors are serving them up like popsicles
Why Did Van Halen Demand Concert Venues Remove Brown M&M’s From the Menu?
An investigation of the rock band’s unusual concert rider suggests the stipulation was a savvy marketing move
When Barbie Broke the Glass Ceiling
The iconic doll traveled to space, flew with the Thunderbirds and joined the NBA, beating real-life women to an array of career milestones
England’s ‘Well Dressing’ Tradition Features Striking, Elaborate Floral Murals
Also made with other natural materials, the artworks are used to decorate wells and water features around the Peak District
How the Mother of Modern Weaving Transformed the World of Design
Dorothy Liebes was committed to making quality textiles available to consumers of all classes
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month With These 15 Mouthwatering Treats
These highlights from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest feature creamy frozen delights to help beat the summer heat
The Real History Behind Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’
The “father of the atomic bomb” has long been misunderstood. Will the new film finally get J. Robert Oppenheimer right?
See a Life-Size Portrait of Queen Lili‘uokalani, the Last Reigning Monarch of Hawai‘i
The William Cogswell painting, now on display at the National Portrait Gallery, was likely a means for the ruler to assert her right to the throne
How Popping Open a Can Became the Sound of Summer
More than 60 years ago, an unfortunate picnic set Ohioan Ermal C. Fraze on a path to inventing the first pop-top tab opener for canned beverages
The Hidden History of the Hollywood Sign
Now 100 years old, the iconic billboard started out as an advertisement for an upscale housing development
Ornamental Hermits Were 18th-Century England’s Must-Have Garden Accessory
Wealthy landowners hired men who agreed to live in isolation on their estates for as long as seven years
The Architectural Genius of the Geodesic Dome and the Challenge of Putting It All Back Together
A new exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History puts the engineering innovation back on display after decades in storage
For Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Family, This Exhibition Was a Means of Grieving
Visitors to “Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure,” now in Los Angeles, walk through the late artist’s studio and connect with him on a personal level
The Evolution of American Barbecue
How America’s meaty tradition grew from Caribbean roots to the four distinct styles we know today
An Archaeologist’s Take on What Indiana Jones Gets Right—and Wrong—About the Field
The movie franchise speaks to ethical issues at the very heart of anthropological thinking
Six Native Artists Share Their Honors and Burdens in This Year’s Renwick Invitational
The emerging and established Native American and Alaska Native creators bring innovation to traditional art practices
The 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Explores the Many Ways Americans Express Their Spirituality
Tibetan Buddhist monks, Yiddish musicians and many more creatives will share their cultural practices with visitors to the National Mall
How Graffiti Left a Mark on the Art Scene
Hip-hop’s street artists created a splashy new genre that burst into galleries and museums
The Real History Behind the Archimedes Dial in ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’
A device called the Antikythera mechanism is the true-life basis for the object at the center of the franchise’s latest installment
A Rap Legend Looks Back on 50 Years of Hip-Hop
Outkast’s Big Boi traces the genre’s indelible impact on global music and culture
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