At the Smithsonian | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/smithsonian-institution/RSS feed for At the SmithsonianenThu, 14 May 2026 19:03:48 +0000The National Museum of American History Is Displaying 250 Objects to Commemorate the Country’s Big Birthday. Here’s the Story Behind Ten of the Artifactshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-national-museum-of-american-history-is-displaying-250-objects-to-commemorate-the-countrys-big-birthday-heres-the-story-behind-ten-of-the-artifacts-180988745/Featuring iconic and everyday items, including a Revolutionary War gunboat and a first-generation iPod, “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness” is open now at the museumThu, 14 May 2026 19:03:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-national-museum-of-american-history-is-displaying-250-objects-to-commemorate-the-countrys-big-birthday-heres-the-story-behind-ten-of-the-artifacts-180988745/A Century Ago, an Explorer and His Pilot Claimed to Be the First People to Fly Over the North Pole. Here’s Why Experts Doubt That Achievementhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-century-ago-an-explorer-and-his-pilot-claimed-to-be-the-first-people-to-fly-over-the-north-pole-heres-why-experts-doubt-that-achievement-180988712/While the success of Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett’s polar flight has been disputed, the former went on to accomplish expeditions in AntarcticaFri, 08 May 2026 19:05:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-century-ago-an-explorer-and-his-pilot-claimed-to-be-the-first-people-to-fly-over-the-north-pole-heres-why-experts-doubt-that-achievement-180988712/Jack Kirby Was a Kid From the Lower East Side Who Became the ‘King of Comics’ and Made Superhero Mythology. Now, New York City Has Named a Street After Himhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/jack-kirby-was-a-kid-from-the-lower-east-side-who-became-the-king-of-comics-and-made-superhero-mythology-now-new-york-city-has-named-a-street-after-him-180988700/The artist who co-created Captain America and other iconic characters is being honored in the neighborhood where he grew upThu, 07 May 2026 19:31:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/jack-kirby-was-a-kid-from-the-lower-east-side-who-became-the-king-of-comics-and-made-superhero-mythology-now-new-york-city-has-named-a-street-after-him-180988700/The Bison Is America’s National Mammal. Here’s How Indigenous Tribes and Conservationists Aided Its Return to the Prairies After Near Extinctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-bison-is-americas-national-mammal-heres-how-indigenous-tribes-and-conservationists-aided-its-return-to-the-prairie-lands-after-near-extinction-180988683/The past, present and future of the giant bovine are front and center in a new exhibition as the country approaches its 250th birthdayWed, 06 May 2026 15:02:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-bison-is-americas-national-mammal-heres-how-indigenous-tribes-and-conservationists-aided-its-return-to-the-prairie-lands-after-near-extinction-180988683/This 12-Foot Abstract Sculpture Near the National Mall Embodies the Beauty of Outdoor Arthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-12-foot-abstract-sculpture-near-the-national-mall-embodies-the-beauty-of-outdoor-art-180988640/Artist Arlene Shechet’s recently installed aluminum work now occupies the grounds of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture GardenWed, 29 Apr 2026 18:12:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-12-foot-abstract-sculpture-near-the-national-mall-embodies-the-beauty-of-outdoor-art-180988640/Scorpions Are So Metal—Literally. New Images Reveal Patterns in How Their Weaponry Is Fortified With Iron, Zinc and Manganesehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/scorpions-are-so-metal-literally-new-images-reveal-patterns-in-how-their-weaponry-is-fortified-with-iron-zinc-and-manganese-180988633/Scientists knew the stingers and pincers of these arachnids generally contained metals, but a new Smithsonian-led study maps out how these components are distributedTue, 28 Apr 2026 23:05:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/scorpions-are-so-metal-literally-new-images-reveal-patterns-in-how-their-weaponry-is-fortified-with-iron-zinc-and-manganese-180988633/The Planet Needs Prosperous Forests. These Scientists Are Planting More Than 33,000 Trees to Find the Perfect Species Blendshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-planet-needs-prosperous-forests-these-scientists-are-planting-more-than-33000-trees-to-find-the-perfect-species-blends-180988618/Forests provide myriad benefits, including timber, wildlife attraction, local cooling and climate resilience. At the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, ecologists are testing which tree combinations might create flourishing woodlandsFri, 24 Apr 2026 18:43:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-planet-needs-prosperous-forests-these-scientists-are-planting-more-than-33000-trees-to-find-the-perfect-species-blends-180988618/A Young Black Girl Was the First to Desegregate a Maryland Carousel in the 1960s. Now, the Historic Merry-Go-Round Will Entertain Visitors on the National Mallhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-young-black-girl-was-the-first-to-desegregate-a-maryland-carousel-in-the-1960s-now-the-historic-merry-go-round-will-entertain-visitors-on-the-national-mall-180988596/The ride from Gwynn Oak Amusement Park has been out of commission for renovations since 2023. It opens to the public on April 24Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:00:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-young-black-girl-was-the-first-to-desegregate-a-maryland-carousel-in-the-1960s-now-the-historic-merry-go-round-will-entertain-visitors-on-the-national-mall-180988596/See the Most Adorable Photos of Baby Elephant Linh Mai, the National Zoo’s Newest Starhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-the-most-adorable-photos-of-baby-elephant-linh-mai-the-national-zoos-newest-star-180988532/Since her birth in early February, the calf has been growing and beginning to bond with her care team and herd. She will go on view in-person and online starting April 22Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:12:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-the-most-adorable-photos-of-baby-elephant-linh-mai-the-national-zoos-newest-star-180988532/The James Webb Space Telescope and the Parker Solar Probe Changed How We See the Universe. Now, Their Models Have Found a Home at the Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-james-webb-space-telescope-and-the-parker-solar-probe-changed-how-we-see-the-universe-now-their-models-have-found-a-home-at-the-smithsonian-180988524/The National Air and Space Museum’s Virginia location now displays the objects which represent critical leaps forward in technology and exploration by NASAFri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-james-webb-space-telescope-and-the-parker-solar-probe-changed-how-we-see-the-universe-now-their-models-have-found-a-home-at-the-smithsonian-180988524/See the Amazing Images That Showcase the Short, Brilliant Lives of Honeybees Throughout the Seasonshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-the-amazing-images-that-showcase-the-short-brilliant-lives-of-honeybees-throughout-the-seasons-180988495/A new book follows the insects through rain and shine and highlights the unique behaviors of each bee in a colonyTue, 07 Apr 2026 16:24:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-the-amazing-images-that-showcase-the-short-brilliant-lives-of-honeybees-throughout-the-seasons-180988495/The Gunboat ‘Philadelphia’ Lasted One Day in Battle. It’s Still Telling Us About the Revolution 250 Years Later.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/gunboat-philadelphia-lasted-one-day-battle-still-telling-us-revolution-250-years-later-180988412/The 29-ton ship went to war against the British, then sat at the bottom of Lake Champlain for 160 years. Now it’s a relic of ragged gloryMon, 06 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/gunboat-philadelphia-lasted-one-day-battle-still-telling-us-revolution-250-years-later-180988412/How the Chocolate Bunny Became the Mouthwatering Mascot of Easter Sweetshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-the-chocolate-bunny-became-the-mouthwatering-mascot-of-easter-sweets-180988480/In the 19th century, chocolatiers crafted these tasty treats with “complexity and artistry,” says a food curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American HistoryFri, 03 Apr 2026 16:00:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-the-chocolate-bunny-became-the-mouthwatering-mascot-of-easter-sweets-180988480/Why Do So Few Mammals Go Through Menopause? And More Questions From Our Readershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-do-so-few-mammals-go-through-menopause-and-more-questions-from-our-readers-180988416/You’ve got questions. We’ve got expertsFri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-do-so-few-mammals-go-through-menopause-and-more-questions-from-our-readers-180988416/'The King and I' Spotlights an English Governess Who Modernized Siamese Society. The Real Anna Leonowens Exaggerated Her Influence and Lied About Her Originshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-king-and-i-spotlights-an-english-governess-who-modernized-siamese-society-the-real-anna-leonowens-exaggerated-her-influence-and-lied-about-her-origins-180988394/The beloved musical is loosely based on a Eurasian schoolteacher's accounts of her time at King Mongkut's court. These memoirs masked her mixed-race status and unfairly portrayed the monarch as a tyrantFri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-king-and-i-spotlights-an-english-governess-who-modernized-siamese-society-the-real-anna-leonowens-exaggerated-her-influence-and-lied-about-her-origins-180988394/A New Book of Toni Morrison's University Lectures, Now Collected for the First Time, Shares Some of the Legendary Novelist's Most Important Lessonshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-new-book-of-toni-morrisons-university-lectures-now-collected-for-the-first-time-shares-some-of-the-legendary-novelists-most-important-lessons-180988398/At Princeton, the author analyzed the depictions of Blackness in the works of canonical American authorsMon, 23 Mar 2026 16:45:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-new-book-of-toni-morrisons-university-lectures-now-collected-for-the-first-time-shares-some-of-the-legendary-novelists-most-important-lessons-180988398/