Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Celebrities

Quintuplets Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie and Marie Dionne spent most of their childhoods in an Ontario compound known as Quintland.

The Dionne Quintuplets Captivated the World During the Great Depression. But Their Fame Came at a Cost

Nearly three million visitors flocked to Canada to see the five identical sisters—the first quintuplets to survive infancy. The siblings later said the publicity destroyed their childhoods

The original dye transfer print for David Bowie's Aladdin Sane album cover, shot by Brian Duffy

The Iconic Cover of David Bowie’s ‘Aladdin Sane’ Could Become the Most Expensive Album Artwork Ever Sold

Shot by Brian Duffy in 1973, the famous lightning bolt print is estimated to break the record currently held by Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album

The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted in theaters across the United States on September 26, 1975.

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Started Out as a Critical Flop. Fifty Years Later, the Beloved Film Is a Cultural Phenomenon

Creator Richard O’Brien reflects on how the 1975 movie musical became a haven for the “marginalized and disenfranchised”

David Lynch in his private movie studio at his Los Angeles estate in 2004.

David Lynch’s Sprawling Midcentury Compound in Los Angeles Could Be Yours for $15 Million

The “Twin Peaks” director worked on some of his most famous projects at the seven-building estate—which is also featured in the film “Lost Highway”

In 1893, a Spanish princess paid $2,500 (roughly $90,000 today) for a replica of this spun-glass gown.

How Do You Wear a Gown Made of Glass? Marvel at the Eye-Catching History of This Unlikely Fashion Trend

In the 20th century, actresses and royals alike donned delicate dresses woven with spun-glass threads. More recently, celebrities have sported impractically fragile handbags on the red carpet

The immersive experience includes real-world footage and animations, brought to life by 24 projectors and five interconnected screens.

Explore the History of the Planet With David Attenborough at This New Immersive Experience in London

“Our Story With David Attenborough” at the Natural History Museum is a 50-minute program that explores humankind’s role in the planet’s ongoing story

Visitors to "Amplified" are surrounded by 1,300 Rolling Stone covers.

This New Immersive Experience Is Built With Hundreds of Photos, Videos and Magazine Covers From the ‘Rolling Stone’ Archives

Narrated by Kevin Bacon, the 50-minute exhibition examines the history of rock music through media projected onto walls across a 4,000-square-foot gallery

Morrison's mourners covered the bust in graffiti and chipped off pieces to keep as souvenirs before it was stolen in 1988.

This 300-Pound Bust Was Stolen From Jim Morrison’s Grave in 1988. French Police Just Recovered It

Created for the tenth anniversary of the Doors frontman’s death in 1971, the bust stood on his grave in the famous Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris for only seven years

After starring in numerous movies and television shows, Morris retired in 2006 and lived out his final days at the Colorado Gator Farm.

Morris, the Movie Star Alligator Who Appeared in ‘Happy Gilmore,’ Dies of Old Age

Based on his growth rate and tooth loss, the 640-pound gator was estimated to be at least 80. He starred in movies and TV shows between 1975 and 2006

The collection includes several portraits of musicians.

When Bob Dylan Isn’t Writing Nobel-Winning Lyrics, He’s Creating Original Paintings and Drawings

Nearly 100 imaginative portraits, still lifes and other artworks by the renowned singer-songwriter are now on view at the Halcyon Gallery in London

The Windows 95 reboot chime was one of 25 audio works added to the National Recording Registry this year.

Windows 95 Jingle, 1960 World Series Broadcast and Other ‘Audio Treasures’ Added to the National Recording Registry

From a list of 2,600 nominations submitted by the public, the Library of Congress has selected 25 songs, albums and sounds that are at least ten years old to preserve for posterity

The reel-to-reel tape features four original Dylan compositions, including "Song to Woody."

You Can Buy a Reel-to-Reel Tape of a Young Bob Dylan Performing Six Songs at the Gaslight Cafe

Billed as “Bob Dylan’s first demo tape,” the recordings from September 1961 played an outsize role in launching the 20-year-old aspiring songwriter’s career

Lily Gladstone poses on the red carpet at the Academy Awards in March 2024.

See Lily Gladstone’s Stunning Oscar Gowns Designed by an Indigenous Artist

The two gowns were a collaboration between Gucci and a porcupine quillwork artist. Both are now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Paul McCartney took photos during a three-month period during the Beatles' rise to fame.

Paul McCartney Is Selling His Rediscovered Photos of the Beatles’ Rise to Fame

Ahead of the sale, the collection of 36 images—all taken between December 1963 and February 1964—will be exhibited at Gagosian

Marilyn Monroe performs in front of service members in Korea in 1954.

On This Day in History

The Wartime Organization That Brought Hollywood Stars Like Marilyn Monroe and Nancy Sinatra to the Front Lines to Entertain the Troops

Established on this day in 1941, the United Service Organizations offers wholesome entertainment options to off-duty service members

The Beatles arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on February 7, 1964.

On This Day in History

Beatlemania Took the United States by Storm on This Day in 1963, Launching the British Invasion

With their arrival in America, the Beatles ushered in a new era of hyper-popular rock ’n’ roll music

Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, a new James Mangold film

Based on a True Story

The Real Story Behind ‘A Complete Unknown’ and Bob Dylan’s Early Career, From His Arrival in New York City to When He ‘Went Electric’

A new film starring Timothée Chalamet tracks Dylan’s evolution from an acoustic folk singer to a rock ‘n’ roll superstar

A portrait of Ian McKellen (center) hanging alongside depictions of (from left to right) Frances Barber, Charles Dance, Harriet Walter and Simon Callow

See How Talking Portraits Bring the Greatest Living Shakespearean Actors to Life

A collection of ten digital portraits of famous thespians—including Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter—are on view at the Red Eight Gallery in London

Ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz on view at Heritage Auctions London

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Sell for a Record-Breaking $28 Million

The iconic shoes, which went missing for more than a decade, are now the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever auctioned

All four Beatles at Abbey Road Studios in London, where they tracked music with the EMI TG12345 console

You Can Buy the Recording Console the Beatles Used to Make Their Iconic Album ‘Abbey Road’

After a years-long restoration, the unique device that recorded hits like “Come Together” and “Here Comes the Sun” is now fully functional

Page 2 of 14