Smithsonian Institution Archives | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/smithsonian-institution-archives/RSS feed for Smithsonian Institution ArchivesenFri, 09 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000These 15 Stunning Microscopic Snowflake Images Helped Change the Way We See the Worldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/these-15-stunning-microscopic-snowflake-images-helped-change-the-way-we-see-the-world-180987978/Farmer Wilson Bentley was the first to photograph the tiny snow crystals individually, and his collection reveals that each has its own patternFri, 09 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/these-15-stunning-microscopic-snowflake-images-helped-change-the-way-we-see-the-world-180987978/A 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 Ghosts Who Haunt the Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-ghosts-who-haunt-the-smithsonian-180981013/Mysterious tales head up podcast offerings for late October and NovemberWed, 26 Oct 2022 14:41:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-ghosts-who-haunt-the-smithsonian-180981013/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/Pack Your Bags Like It's 1907https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/2021/08/17/pack-your-bags-1907/Early 20th century trade catalogs highlight a range of sturdy, vintage satchels and trunks Mon, 23 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/2021/08/17/pack-your-bags-1907/This Map Details Florida's Disappearing Native American Landscapehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/map-details-florida-disappearing-landscape-180978364/A 19th-century reporter’s invaluable guide offers a look at the earliest residents of the area surrounding the Tampa BayThu, 19 Aug 2021 17:30:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/map-details-florida-disappearing-landscape-180978364/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 Property Contract Sheds New Light on James Smithson's Gift to the Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/2021/07/28/stewards-hungerford-deed/The 1787 Hungerford Deed, donated to the Smithsonian in 2019, offers a glimpse into the family dynamics that shaped the founder's decisionThu, 29 Jul 2021 15:22:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/2021/07/28/stewards-hungerford-deed/How Yellowstone Was Saved by a Teddy Roosevelt Dinner Party and a Fake Photo in a Gun Magazinehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/2021/07/08/how-yellowstone-was-saved-teddy-roosevelt-dinner-party-and-fake-photo-gun-magazine/Chilling photos of slain buffalo in Yellowstone Park helped pass an act outlining punishment for poaching on public lands. But the photos were fakesFri, 09 Jul 2021 16:04:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives/2021/07/08/how-yellowstone-was-saved-teddy-roosevelt-dinner-party-and-fake-photo-gun-magazine/Why Did James Smithson Leave His Fortune to the U.S. and More Questions From Our Readershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-james-smithson-leave-fortune-to-united-states-180977959/You've got questions. We've got expertsFri, 25 Jun 2021 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-james-smithson-leave-fortune-to-united-states-180977959/