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The Thailand display at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Photos: Impressive Floral Displays Unveiled at the U.K.’s Most Prestigious Garden Show

Flower sculptures and elaborate themed gardens are on display at London’s annual Chelsea Flower Show

The crater measures almost 230 feet across.

This Hellish Desert Pit Has Been On Fire for More Than 50 Years

In the Turkmenistan desert, a crater dubbed “The Door to Hell” has been burning for decades

Riverbank of the Mississippi River as the dusk sun sets on a summer evening.

My Life as a Mississippi River Rat

A half century spent on, in, and around our most all-American body of water

Kayakers paddle along the roadway of the historic waterfront of Annapolis, following Hurricane Isabel. As much as four feet of water flooded the historic capital city.

Which of America’s Most Precious Historical Sites Are Threatened By Climate Change?

A new report warns that rising sea levels could destroy many of the nation’s important—and beloved—locations

The northernmost statue of Lenin.

A Soviet Ghost Town in the Arctic Circle, Pyramiden Stands Alone

This outpost in the high north looks much as it did when it was abandoned in 1998, providing visitors with a glimpse into Soviet-era life and culture

In March 2012, shipwrights at the Mystic Seaport Museum replace planks in the hull of the Charles W. Morgan. The restoration of the ship required more than 50,000 board feet of live oak and other woods for framing, planking and other structural elements.

For the First Time in 93 Years, a 19th-Century Whaling Ship Sets Sail

Built in 1841, the Charles W. Morgan is plying the waters off New England this summer

Monks lead a candlelight procession around the ordination hall during Vesak celebrations in rural Nakhon Nayok, Thailand.

Photos: Vesak, Buddha’s Birthday, As Celebrated All Across Southeast Asia

One of the holiest Buddhist holidays, Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha

Tuberculosis Pavilion Lobby

Exploring New York City’s Abandoned Island, Where Nature Has Taken Over

Nestled in between the Bronx and Manhattan, North Brother Island once housed Typhoid Mary, but now is an astonishing look at a world without humans

Man posing with construction workers at the top of the Washington Monument. The first restoration of the Monument began in 1934 as a Depression-era public works project.

Washington, D.C.

Historic Photos of Washington’s Great Monuments, Memorials and Buildings Under Construction

Take a step back in time to see the building of some of D.C.’s most famous icons

The mash floor of George Washington's Distillery. The 210 gallon boiler, left, heats water to 212 degrees so it can be used to make mash in the barrels on the right.

Washington, D.C.

Long Before Jack Daniels, George Washington Was a Whiskey Tycoon

The Founding Father spent his post-presidency years presiding over a booming alcohol business

A fire box, still and barrels at George Washington's Distillery. Washington's Distillery had five copper pot stills.

Washington, D.C.

Top Cities For the Cultural Traveler: Washington, D.C.

Leave politics at the door, and explore D.C.’s most fascinating cultural hotspots

A view of the Tidal Basin with the Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr., Memorials.

Washington, D.C.

The Best View of Washington is Now Open to the Public

Take in views of our nation’s capital from the Washington Monument, more than 500 feet about the National Mall

Advertisement for a United stateroom trunk, 1911, with the familiar proportions of a modern suitcase.

The History of the Humble Suitcase

Modern luggage has been constantly reinvented during its short 120-year history

Brown and Silver: Old Battersea Bridge, James McNeill Whistler, 1859—1863

Washington, D.C.

See 19th-Century London Through the Eyes of James McNeill Whistler, One of America’s Greatest Painters

The largest U.S. display in 20 years of Whistler artworks highlights the artist’s career in England

One of the National Zoo's new lion cubs, born this spring.

Meet the Babies of the National Zoo

The National Zoo is home to babies of all species this Spring. You can just smell the cuteness in the air

Springer Auditorium in Music Hall.

Exploring the American Experience

Exploring the American Experience

Bayou crawfish boil

Why Crawfish Are Louisiana’s Culinary Gift to the Nation

What makes the crustacean a springtime treat, whether its in gumbo or an etouffee

Hikers explore fields of California poppies near Antelope Valley in Lancaster, California, Sunday, April 26, 2014.

Photos: Southern California Bursts into Color as California Poppies Take Over Hillsides

This spring’s bloom is one of the best in years

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Decades of Political Strife Have Left Myanmar’s Jungles Unexplored and Unchartered

Now as the country opens up, what will happen to its endangered species? A new three-part series on the Smithsonian Channel explores the issue

Take in the Sights and Sounds of the National Parks

Enjoy a nature break and listen to birds from America’s greatest natural wonders

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