Featured Stories

"Mysteries From the Deep: Exploring Underwater Archaeology" features interactive experiences, 3D models and excavated artifacts.

History

How Underwater Archaeology Brings Secrets to the Surface, From Lost Shipwrecks to Submerged Cities

An immersive new exhibition at the Intrepid Museum in New York City spotlights the science and technology behind the discipline

The costume for the Wiz, the title character of The Wiz musical, which made its Broadway debut in 1975, is in the collection of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

At the Smithsonian

When ‘The Wiz’ Debuted on Broadway 50 Years Ago, It Sparked a Brand New Day for Audiences

How the remarkable musical transformed a beloved folk tale into a celebratory vision for the future of Black America

A view of the Absolute Equality Mural celebrating Juneteenth, located on Galveston’s Strand Street

At the Smithsonian

See the Birthplace of Juneteenth in These Atmospheric Photos of Galveston, Texas

A photographer’s journey to the Gulf Coast city yields 16 images that reveal how its natural beauty melds with its momentous role in Black history

Ava DuVernay delivers her acceptance speech for the National Museum of American History’s Great Americans Medal.

Smart News

Trailblazing Filmmaker Ava DuVernay Receives the Smithsonian’s Great Americans Medal

DuVernay is the first director, writer and producer to earn the honor, which recognizes “lifetime contributions embodying American ideas and ideals”

A Harper's Weekly illustration of Confederate soldiers driving Black Americans south in 1862

History

After Confederate Forces Captured Their Children, These Black Mothers Fought to Reunite Their Families

During the Civil War, Confederates targeted free Black people in the North, kidnapping them to sell into slavery. After the conflict ended, two women sought help from high places to track down their lost loved ones

A view of the "In Slavery's Wake" exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

At the Smithsonian

The Vast Geographic Scope of Slavery Is Hard to Fathom. One Groundbreaking Exhibition Shows Its True Scale Around the Globe

At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “In Slavery’s Wake” tells the international history of slavery and Black freedom

Honoree Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian speaks on stage during National Archives Foundation Records of Achievement Award Ceremony and Gala 2023 at the National Archives Museum on December 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C. 

At the Smithsonian

The Head of the Smithsonian Talks About America’s 250th, Why Experts Still Matter and What to Expect From the Institution in 2025

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 more

This year's list includes Clouds in Space, The Manicurist's Daughter and The Ministry of Time.

Smart News

The Best Books of 2024, as Chosen by Smithsonian Scholars

Staff at the Institution pick their favorite reads of the year, including riveting memoirs, fascinating true histories and fun fiction

Quincy Jones at an awards ceremony in 2014

At the Smithsonian

Quincy Jones Was a ‘Musician’s Musician’ Who Was Uniquely Beloved in the Cutthroat Music Industry

A Smithsonian curator reflects back on the artistic legend, a “Renaissance man” with 28 Grammys to his name, who died Sunday at 91 years old

The Offering by Nicole Crowder and Hadiya Williams in "Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial" at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

At the Smithsonian

See What Happened When One Museum Asked Artists to Define ‘Home’

The Smithsonian Design Triennial presents 25 commissions that explore the physical and conceptual ideas of shelter and refuge