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Slideshow

  • Hands from a young person hold drumsticks.

    July 2-7

    Smithsonian Folklife Festival arrow-right

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    Membership Flash Sale

    Special July 4th Offer arrow-right

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    Sidedoor: A Smithsonian Podcast

    Bloodsuckers! arrow-right

  • Colorful collage of collection images.

    Create. Imagine. Discover.

    Smithsonian Open Access arrow-right

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    Register now! Online and Washington, D.C.

    National Education Summit, July 15¨C17 arrow-right

Smithsonian Homepage

Welcome

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. 

Join us on a voyage of discovery. Explore our vast digital resources and learn online.

Plan Your Visit

View guides for the Smithsonian's 17 free DC-area museums and zoo¡ªplus two museums in NYC. Admission is free at all locations except the Cooper Hewitt in NYC. Find out what's on and learn about our events and exhibitions.

Plan your visit

Explore our digital resources

Browse Topics

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Search our digital records

Featured

Explore collections, stories, and research from across the Smithsonian.

  • Harmony in Blue and Gold The Peacock Room

    Smithsonian Open Access

    Digital Backgrounds arrow-right

    Put yourself in the scene! Download high-res images to use as your?video meeting or desktop background.
  • Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence Desk, 1776

    Smithsonian Snapshot

    Thomas Jefferson's Desk arrow-right

    In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk.

  • Gettysburg Battle Artifacts

    Smithsonian Snapshot

    Relics of a Pivotal, Calamitous Battle arrow-right

    These relics commemorate the bloodiest single battle on American soil.

  • Declaration of Independence Signers

    Smithsonian Snapshot

    We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident arrow-right

    The Declaration of Independence is a foundational American document.

  • A bronze eagle holding a US flag pin.

    Smithsonian Quiz

    Go Fourth and Test Your Smarts arrow-right

    Put your Independence Day knowledge to the test with this Smithsonian quiz.
  • U.S Army Curtiss R3C-2

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    1925: A Year in the Collections arrow-right

    Look back one hundred years into the Smithsonian's collections.?
  • whirlygig

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue arrow-right

    The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner¡ªthe American flag in our collections.
  • The entire image is awash in intricate clouds, and swathes of superheated gas.

    Around the Smithsonian

    Mysteries of the Universe arrow-right

    Beginning with studies of our sun in 1890, the Smithsonian has been answering questions about our atmosphere and beyond.
  • water color of mountain formation

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    America's National Parks: Stewardship and Wonder arrow-right

    Explore a selection of stunning landscape paintings, photographs, and postage stamps that celebrate America's natural wonders.
  • An American bison standing and looking at the camera.

    Smithsonian Story

    Six Animals the Smithsonian Has Helped Save from Extinction arrow-right

    Conservation efforts help bring endangered species back from the brink.

  • color wheel

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Color Journey arrow-right

    Take a colorful tour through art and artifacts in the Smithsonian's collections.
  • commemorative facsimile of the signatures on the Declaration of Independence

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    American Revolution arrow-right

    Explore collections and stories related to the founding of the United States of America.

Sidedoor Podcast

The Smithsonian's flagship podcast sneaks you through the side door to learn the stories you won't find anywhere else.

  • Illustration of a female astronaut standing proudly next to a rocket that says "United States."

    Sidedoor Podcast

    Right Stuff, Wrong Sex arrow-right

    Sidedoor explores what became of America¡¯s first female astronaut candidates.

  • Illustration featuring a monkey face looking over trees and people with podcast equipment.

    Sidedoor Podcast

    Monkeyin' Around on the Devil's Island arrow-right

    Follow along on a search for the elusive and rambunctious capuchin monkey on an island in the Pacific.

  • An illustration of a group of muppets next to the Smithsonian castle.

    Sidedoor Podcast

    The 'Gentle Anarchy' of the Muppets arrow-right

    Conserving the history of Jim Henson's Muppets. 

  • Illustration of Bill Nye waving in a blue lab coat as he enters through a side door.

    Sidedoor Podcast

    Bill Nye the Sidedoor Guy arrow-right

    We sit down with Bill Nye to get schooled on science education and comedy.


  • Castle in spring.

    Membership arrow-right

    Keep the Smithsonian thriving by becoming a member today.

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    Magazine arrow-right

    Smithsonian magazine places a Smithsonian lens on the world.

  • Elephant with Cher

    Channel arrow-right

    Award-winning programming exploring science, nature, history, and pop culture.

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    Shop arrow-right

    Your purchase helps the Smithsonian bring exciting learning experiences to everyone.

  • Upper Antelope Canyon in Arizona

    Travel arrow-right

    Over 350 tours and cruises to all seven continents. Let the journey begin.

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