In This Quiet Space for Contemplation, a Fountain Rains Down Calming Waters
One year after the Nation’s first black president rang in the opening of the African American History Museum, visitors reflect on its impact
The ABA Was Short-Lived, but Its Impact on Basketball Is Eternal
The spectacular play you see today owes a mighty debt to the revolutionary, slam-dunking basketball league
How Comics Captured America’s Opinions About the Vietnam War
More than any other medium, comics closely followed the narrative arc of the conflict, from support to growing ambivalence
How Brazilian Capoeira Evolved From a Martial Art to an International Dance Craze
The athletic movements may have inspired modern break dancing
New Book of Photographs Recalls the Trauma of American History
Looking back at a lynching that shocked America and galvanized the civil rights movement
Dave Eggers’ Animals Might Be “Ungrateful,” But They Go to a Good Cause
The author discusses a return to art and his forthcoming book Ungrateful Mammals
How This Washington, D.C. Museum Redefined What Museums Could Be
Fifty years after its founding, the Smithsonian’s beloved Anacostia Community Museum continues to tell stories heard nowhere else
Photographer Reconstructs 1,400-Mile Route Along the Underground Railroad
‘Through Darkness to Light: Seeking Freedom on the Underground Railroad’ traces a plausible path a freedom seeker could have taken North
The Making of the Modern American Recipe
Scientific methods, rising literacy and an increasingly mobile society were key ingredients for a culinary revolution
How Alexander Calder Became America’s Most Beloved Sculptor
People everywhere are delighted by his animated abstractions, but surprisingly little is known about the artist
Why Is America Losing Ground in the Contest to Grow the World’s Biggest Pumpkin?
Our most symbolic squash is now taking over the world
Freer|Sackler: Reopened
The Smithsonian reopens the Freer and Sackler Galleries to the public in October
Freer|Sackler: Reopens October 14
Stories and updates for the upcoming celebrations at the Freer and Sackler Galleries
Here’s What It Takes to Turn a Museum into a Movie Screen
On October 14, the façade of the newly renovated Freer Gallery makes its cinematic debut
Seven Must-See Museums in Norway
Each institution celebrates a different aspect of this Scandinavian country’s history
This Former Soviet Art Duo Crafts Worlds of Whimsy and Delight
Miniature models, the wellspring of the celebrated large installations of Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, are at the Hirshhorn
Fans of Minecraft Are Sure to Dig this Nationwide Museum Fest
The indie hit is the perfect game for a day devoted to unearthing knowledge
12 Must-See Fall Exhibits
Art, science and magic draws us to museums this fall
12 Must-See Fall Exhibits Around the World
Art, science and magic draws us to museums this fall
What Does the Gender Reveal Fad Say About Modern Pregnancy?
A new ritual speaks to anxieties surrounding the medicalization of childbearing
These Massive Land Art Constructions Are Actually Ancient Fishing Weirs
Stone tidal traps were built off the coast of Taiwan as early as the Qing Dynasty
Armenia Might Be One of the Oldest and Youngest Beer-Making Countries in the World
In 1984, Charlie Papazian authored The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, a landmark text (now in its fourth edition) that laid out for the first time in simple, straightforward terms, the basic formula for making beer in the comfort of one’s home. Papazian soon became the guardian of an entire generation of brewers and his calming…
See the Sounds of the Amazon in This Mesmerizing Video
Artist Andy Thomas helps people experience nature in a new way
Why the Artist Ragnar Kjartansson Asked his Mother to Spit On Him
The Icelandic performance piece Me and My Mother is latest Hirshhorn acquisition
The Juggling Genius of Paul Cinquevalli
Remembering a showman who gave his life to his craft
Acclaimed Musicians Sting and J. Ralph Spread Social Justice Through Song
The Smithsonian honors two composers whose work and philanthropy are inextricably linked
The Transformation of the American Shopping Mall
Headlines claim malls are dying, and some are. But many others are having second lives as churches, schools, hospitals, even farms
Five Architects on the One Building They Wish Had Been Preserved
From an elegant solution to urban density to a magnificent financial hub
New Startup WildKale Lets Farmers Sell Directly to Customers Through an App
Yes, it’s like “Uber for farmer’s markets.”
Did Edvard Munch Find a Supernatural Power in Color?
A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art places Munch’s palette in context
This Replica of a Tlingit Killer Whale Hat Is Spurring Dialogue About Digitization
Collaboration between museums and indigenous groups provides educational opportunities, archival documentation—and ethical dilemmas
12 of the Best Food Festivals Happening This Fall
Where to eat, drink and play across the U.S. this autumn
From Egyptian Cats to Crime Scenes, Here’s a Preview of the Smithsonian’s Upcoming Shows
Gallery-goers in D.C. and NYC are in for a mental workout with shows that deliver on everything from the experimental to the traditional
Are Craft Breweries the Next Coffeehouses?
Taprooms springing up across the country are cultivating communities and helping to revitalize entire neighborhoods
The Titan Who Founded L’Oreal Built His Brand on the Shoulders of Nazis
How the head of the world’s top cosmetic firm fell in with the Nazi-sympathizers of German-occupied France and emerged from the war as successful as ever
The Titan Who Founded L’Oréal Prospered Under the Nazis
How the head of the world’s top cosmetic firm fell in with the Nazi-sympathizers of German-occupied France and emerged from the war as successful as ever
An Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Funeral Fit for a King
For the first time in more than 70 years, Thailand is saying farewell to its monarch
These Design Champs Are Having Their Moment in the Sun
Three Cooper-Hewitt award winners share secrets and stories with design critic Owen Edwards
How We Can Support the World’s Rich Musical Diversity
Some music thrives, while other musical traditions are on the verge of disappearing
Why the Works of Visionary Artist Jacob Lawrence Still Resonate a Century After His Birth
His vibrant and bold paintings tell stories of liberation, resistance and resilience
‘Rumble’ Aims to Upset the Rock ‘n’ Roll Canon
A documentary based on a Smithsonian exhibition is wowing festival audiences
A Brief History of Book Burning, From the Printing Press to Internet Archives
As long as there have been books, people have burned them—but over the years, the motivation has changed
Flexible Batteries May Soon Be Printed Right On Your Clothes
Graphene supercapacitors, printed directly on textiles, could power medical devices, wearable computers, even phone-charging shirts
The Mystique of the American Diner, from Jack Kerouac to “Twin Peaks”
Freedom, fear and friendliness mingle in these emblematic eateries
Milk and Sugar Pods That Dissolve in Coffee Could Replace Single-Serve Containers
Why use plastic when you can use sugar?
This Cleveland DJ Popularized Rock ‘n’ Roll
Dancing – and dancing shows – became a teenage craze in the 1950s, spurred by figures like Cleveland DJ, Alan Freed
Civil Rights Icon Dolores Huerta Offers Advice to a New Generation of Activists
A new documentary charts the 87-year-old leader’s advocacy across the decades
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Artwork Is Appreciated Now More Than Ever
Decades later, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s complex works are increasingly prescient—and valuable
At the Smithsonian’s First Asian-American Lit Fest, Writers Share Falooda, Politics and Poetry
More than 80 award-winning and aspirational writers shared work across multiple genres
Esperanza Spalding’s Pop Culture Loves
She may not own a television, but the Grammy-award winning musician definitely has her favorite books and films
Why ‘Happy Days’ — and the Fonz — Never Truly ‘Jumped the Shark’
The Fonz was the epitome of ’50s chill on TV’s family-friendly “Happy Days.” And then he went over the top
The Fused History of Two of Washington, D.C.’s Beloved Museums
A new exhibition sheds light on the enduring legacy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery
There’s More to Classic Tiki Than Just Kitsch
Bartender Martin Cate reveals eight fun facts about the past, present and future of tiki culture
Meet the Artists Displaying at This Year’s Santa Fe Indian Market, the Largest Juried Native Art Show in the World
The annual show brings together some of the country’s best traditional and contemporary artists
Visit the Real-Life Winterfell Castle for a ‘Game of Thrones’ Festival
Much to the dismay of fans, season seven of “Game of Thrones” will end on August 27. However, winter doesn’t have to stop coming. Related Content Here’s What Actually Happens During an Execution by Molten Gold From Iceland to Croatia, Go On the Ultimate “Game of Thrones” Tour About one month after this season’s finale,…
Eclipse 2017: In Pursuit of Totality
You’ve made plans, packed bags, obtained glasses. Here’s what to read to fully appreciate this event in all its glory
How Artists and the LGBTQ Community Made Wearing Trash Cool
Before hipsters descended on your local thrift store, repurposing discarded goods was a subversive art form
Dine 21 Stories Underground in This 345-Million-Year-Old Cavern
Cavern Grotto, a new restaurant in Arizona, opens inside the largest dry cavern system in the country
The Big Unsexy Problem With Tiger Selfies
Why drugging and caging the cats for Tinder photos is even more messed up than it sounds
What Folklore Tells Us About Eclipses
Across multiple cultures, says a Smithsonian folklorist, a darkening of daytime skies provokes a foreboding of evil