How an American Merchant, a French Official and a Pioneering Chemist Smuggled Much-Needed Gunpowder to the Continental Army
The trio’s scheming became a crucial element of the fledgling nation’s success in the Revolutionary War
Through Good Teams and Bad, Wrigley Field Remains the Coziest Park in Baseball
The Chicago landmark represents the purest form of the American pastime
Readers Respond to the March 2025 Issue
Your feedback on a pioneering surgeon, a diligent historian and a sacred Southwestern site
Two Great Empires Traded for Financial Gain and Achieved a Brilliant Cultural Exchange as Well
A new show illuminates the rich artistic wonders that arose out of the 400 years of commerce between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire
What Spurred the South to Join the American Revolution?
How a disagreement with a Scottish lord over westward expansion, a cache of gunpowder, and the future of enslaved labor helped kick-start the southern colonies’ embrace of the radical cause
This New Book Reveals the Daredevil Lives of Four Italian Women Who Stood Up to Hitler and Mussolini
By delivering newspapers, munitions and secret messages to resistance groups, among many other incredible tasks, the brave fighters strove for a freer world
How a Forgotten Bean Could Save Coffee From Extinction
One leading botanist is scouring remote corners of the earth to find new species that could keep our mugs full
See for Yourself One of the World’s Rarest Red Diamonds at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum
Unraveling the surprising science that gives colorful diamonds their special allure
These Dramatic Photos Reveal How It’s Always High Noon in Tombstone
Saddle up for a visit to the most notorious town in the West, where a certain infamous showdown happens day after day
How Do Space Programs Get Their Names? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
A Swirl of Intrigue Surrounds Swedish Painter Hilma af Klint’s Newfound Status as an Icon of Abstract Art
Long overlooked, the artist made pioneering works in the early 20th century. Today she’s a global star—but some scholars insist she should be sharing the spotlight
See the Spectacular Winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 22nd Annual Photography Contest
By toying with perspective, this year’s best photos capture the sublime—and the uncanny
The Salty, Sweet and Irresistible History of Baseball’s Most Famous Snack
Candy-coated popcorn, peanuts and a prize? That, and so much more, is what you get with a Cracker Jack
A Peculiar, Short-Lived Office at the Smithsonian Once Explored Reports of Bizarre Natural Phenomena
From surprising squirrel migrations to islands popping up out of nowhere, the organization’s scientists tracked strange events as they happened
What Archaeologists Are Uncovering About the Buddha in His Legendary Nepali Hometown
The birthplace of the Buddha beckons worshipers from around the world, as well as researchers hoping to dig up new evidence about the revered spiritual leader
How Far Did Neolithic Britons Carry Stonehenge’s Most Famous Boulder?
In a find that provides insights into the remarkable abilities of these ancient humans, new research studying the chemical footprint of the rock identified the source to be more than 400 miles away
Explore Rome’s Hidden Underworld, Where a City Lurks Beneath a City
A journey into the vast subterranean grounds preserved under Rome—from ancient aqueducts and apartment buildings to pagan shrines
This Intrepid Team of Bee Lovers Are Doing Everything They Can to Save Rare Native Species From Extinction
Iridescent sweat bees, hairy-faced mining bees, tiny Perdita minima the size of a gnat. Thanks to swarms of apiary enthusiasts, native species are finally getting the buzz they deserve
Five Unusual Ways People Used Lead—and Suffered For It
Cultures throughout history have put lead to use for wacky and often deeply poisonous purposes
Readers Respond to the January/February 2025 Issue
Your feedback on Faneuil Hall, canoe discoveries and teeny-tiny marmosets
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