Smithsonian Institution News & Insights

At the exhibition "On the Water," learn about pirates.

Events Post July 4-8: a tour of Air and Space’s highlights, jury duty for the John Brown trial, a trip to the Ocean Hall, Pirates and the dancing Siletz

The week of July 4, join the Smithsonian Institution in offering you a look at the Air and Space Museum, an exploration of piracy, an Ocean Hall scientist

July 5, 2011

"What I like best about myself is my demeanor. I'm seldom ruffled," said Arthur Ashe following his five-set triumph in the men's final of the 1968 U.S. Open (above).

How Arthur Ashe Made Tennis History

On July 5, 1975, Arthur Ashe beat heavily-favored Jimmy Connors to become the first African-American man to win Wimbledon

July 5, 2011

An example of Colombian highland weaving at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

July 4: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

July 4, 2011

Smithsonian Castle serves as a backdrop to the the Motor City stage at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

July 3: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

July 3, 2011

Presenters at the Peace Corps Home Cooking stage at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

July 2: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

On Day 3 of the Folklife Festival, taste traditional Moroccan food, try your hand at the marimba and get schooled on Afro-Colombian hairstyles

July 2, 2011

“One Life: Ronald Reagan” Opens at National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery tells the story, through portraits, of Reagan’s ascension from radio announcer to president of the United States

July 1, 2011

Kenyan basket weavers at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

July 1: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

On day 2 of the Folklife Festival, enjoy music from South America, doo-wop and Martha Reeves, as well as cooking lessons from the Peace Corps

July 1, 2011

To Fly, showing this weekend at the Air and Space Museum

Weekend Events July 1-3: Air and Space Museum’s 35th Birthday, Babe Ruth and Cave temples of China

June 30, 2011

A New Exhibition Features the Work of Smithsonian Staffers

Smithsonian magazine photo editor Molly Roberts is among the many Institution employees with work on view in this exhibit

June 30, 2011

The tents go up for the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

June 30: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

Today at the Folklife Festival: Colombia, The Peace Corps, and Rhythm and Blues

June 30, 2011

Michael Collins stands in front of the steel skeleton of the new National Air and Space Museum in July 1974

The List: Six Things You Didn’t Know About the Air and Space Museum on its 35th Anniversary

Since it opened on July 1, 1976, the museum has hosted a grand total of 303,674,128 visitors

June 29, 2011

Film still from Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)

Earth vs. the Flying Saucers @ the Hirshhorn

It seems as though the film might have been exhibiting camp tendencies back in 1956, too

June 29, 2011

Even while rushing through the Smithsonian Sprint, the team had time to see the pandas at the Zoo.

What is the Smithsonian Sprint?

Seven D.C. interns tackled a challenging task: visiting 17 Smithsonian museums located in Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia in one day

June 28, 2011

One Hundred Years Ago Today, A Mars Meteorite Fell in a Blaze

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Nakhla meteorite falling to Earth. See and touch this piece of Mars at the Natural History Museum

June 28, 2011

This Day in History: Remembering James Smithson (1765-1829)

James Smithson died June 27, 1829, setting in motion a series of circuitous events that would lead to the eventual creation of the Smithsonian Institution

June 27, 2011