History of the Smithsonian | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/history-smithsonian/RSS feed for History of the SmithsonianenWed, 26 Mar 2025 17:30:00 +0000A Peculiar, Short-Lived Office at the Smithsonian Once Explored Reports of Bizarre Natural Phenomenahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/peculiar-short-lived-office-smithsonian-once-explored-reports-bizarre-natural-phenomena-180986242/From surprising squirrel migrations to islands popping up out of nowhere, the organization’s scientists tracked strange events as they happenedWed, 26 Mar 2025 17:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/peculiar-short-lived-office-smithsonian-once-explored-reports-bizarre-natural-phenomena-180986242/The Head of the Smithsonian Talks About America’s 250th, Why Experts Still Matter and What to Expect From the Institution in 2025https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-head-of-the-smithsonian-talks-about-americas-250th-why-experts-still-matter-and-what-to-expect-from-the-institution-in-2025-180985821/In an extensive interview, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III spoke on the current political climate, the process of returning human remains from the Institution’s collections, the awe-inspiring scope of Smithsonian science and much moreTue, 14 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-head-of-the-smithsonian-talks-about-americas-250th-why-experts-still-matter-and-what-to-expect-from-the-institution-in-2025-180985821/Busting 13 of the Smithsonian’s Most Persistent Mythshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/busting-13-of-the-smithsonians-most-persistent-myths-135407460/From castle hauntings to hiding evidence of giant humans, the Smithsonian has long been the subject of wild rumors and tall talesTue, 01 Sep 2009 03:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/busting-13-of-the-smithsonians-most-persistent-myths-135407460/Secretary Lonnie Bunch on What It Takes to Lead the Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/secretary-lonnie-bunch-what-it-takes-to-lead-Smithsonian-180978587/A successful Secretary must acknowledge the Institution’s failures as well as successes—and celebrate its capacity for changeWed, 29 Sep 2021 15:23:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/secretary-lonnie-bunch-what-it-takes-to-lead-Smithsonian-180978587/New Analysis Reveals More Details About Smithsonian Founder's Illegitimate Family Treehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/new-analysis-reveals-more-details-smithsonian-founders-family-squabble-180978393/The newly recovered 1787 Hungerford Deed, detailing a contentious squabble over property and prestige, can now be viewed in a new virtual exhibitionTue, 10 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/new-analysis-reveals-more-details-smithsonian-founders-family-squabble-180978393/This Odd Early Flying Machine Made History but Didn't Have the Right Stuffhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/odd-early-flying-machine-made-history-didnt-have-right-stuff-180977658/Aerodrome No. 5 had to be launched by catapult on the Potomac River on May 6, 1896, but it flew unpiloted 3,300 feetWed, 05 May 2021 16:00:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/odd-early-flying-machine-made-history-didnt-have-right-stuff-180977658/Remembering Michael Collinshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/air-space-museum/2021/04/29/remembering-michael-collins/As the third director of the National Air and Space Museum, the former astronaut campaigned for a museum on the Mall in time for the nation’s bicentennialThu, 29 Apr 2021 17:51:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/air-space-museum/2021/04/29/remembering-michael-collins/Secretary Lonnie Bunch: Learning From Americans' Past Ordealshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/lonnie-bunch-secretary-learning-from-americans-past-ordeals-180975197/Looking to history can help find healing and hopeWed, 08 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/lonnie-bunch-secretary-learning-from-americans-past-ordeals-180975197/Lonnie Bunch Sizes Up His Past and Future at the Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/lonnie-bunch-sizes-his-past-and-future-smithsonian-180973198/Bunch’s new memoir details the tireless work it took to build NMAAHC and offers insights into his priorities as Smithsonian SecretaryMon, 23 Sep 2019 18:33:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/lonnie-bunch-sizes-his-past-and-future-smithsonian-180973198/How Lonnie Bunch Built a Museum Dream Team https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-lonnie-bunch-built-museum-dream-team-1-180973132/An exclusive excerpt from the Smithsonian Secretary’s new book, ‘A Fool’s Errand’Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:34:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-lonnie-bunch-built-museum-dream-team-1-180973132/