
Special Report
Smithsonian 175
This year, the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary, offers an opportunity to remember where we’ve been and appreciate what we’ve accomplished. And especially after all the nation has been through, it’s a chance to assess our impact and imagine what the institution can become.
More About the Smithsonian
When Congress Looked James Smithson's Gift Horse in the Mouth
In 1835, the U.S. government debated what to do with the generous bequest coming from across the pond
A Look Back at the First Time the Smithsonian Castle Closed for Renovations
In February, the building will shutter for five years for much-needed improvements
The Definitive Story of How the National Museum of African American History and Culture Came to Be
From courting Chuck Berry in Missouri to diving for a lost slave ship off Africa, the director's tale is a fascinating one
The Bizarre Tale of the Tunnels, Trysts and Taxa of a Smithsonian Entomologist
A new book details the sensational exploits of Harrison G. Dyar, Jr., a scientist who had two wives and liked to dig tunnels
The Renwick: Finally The Gem It Was Meant to Be
When the newly renovated museum reopens this month, one of Washington D.C.’s most storied buildings will be elegantly reborn
The Story Behind the Peacock Room's Princess
How a portrait sparked a battle between an artist–James McNeill Whistler—and his patron–Frederick R. Leyland