The Latest Breaking News from Smithsonian

Inside the Museum of Food and Drink

"Why isn't there a Smithsonian-level institute dedicated to the study of the culture and science behind food?"

Salon · Dec 9, 2024

‘History of Sportfishing’ film series said to be worthy of Smithsonian

“The Endless Summer” meets Ken Burns is how Michael Fowlkes imagined this documentary, one filled with compelling vintage footage and photos.

USA Today Sports Media Group · Dec 2, 2024

NASA's Robonaut-2 reunited with its ride into space at Smithsonian

NASA's space shuttle Discovery has been reunited with one of its last crew members. The National Air and Space Museum debuted Robonaut-2 (R2), NASA's first dexterous humanoid robot flown into space.

Space · Oct 25, 2024

Historians diving for balloons and hoping for hot dish: What Smithsonian curators will be doing at the Democratic National Convention

Three political history curators from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History are heading to Chicago and the 2024 Democratic National Convention soon to collect stuff – or as the professionals call it, ephemera: everything from balloons to tickets to articles of clothing. The Smithsonian’s political campaign collection includes items…

The Conversation · Aug 14, 2024

Blake Lively Wears Britney Spears’ ‘Actual’ Dress To It Ends With Us Premiere: “It Should Be in the Smithsonian”

"I feel so lucky!" Blake Lively pays tribute to Britney Spears by wearing her 2002 dress on the premiere of the movie It Ends With Us. The post Blake Lively Wears Britney Spears’ ‘Actual’ Dress To It Ends With Us Premiere: “It Should Be in the Smithsonian” first appeared on…

Bored Panda · Aug 7, 2024

Blake Lively Borrows Britney Spears's 2002 Versace Dress for the 'It Ends With Us' Premiere

"It should be in the Smithsonian or the Met. But it's on me."

Marie Claire · Aug 7, 2024

Bernice Johnson Reagon, whose powerful voice helped propel the Civil Rights Movement, has died

Bernice Johnson Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, has died at 81

The Independent UK · Jul 22, 2024

‘MAGA BLACK’ hats, clear swag bags, the first Trump/Vance signs: Highlights of what the Smithsonian is archiving from the Republican convention

Political history curators from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History are at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, collecting items from clothing to signs that will help tell the story of the 2024 presidential election. Conversation U.S. politics editor Naomi Schalit interviewed them last week, before they set out…

The Conversation · Jul 17, 2024

How Smithsonian curators scavenge political conventions to explain the present to the future and save everything from hats to buttons to umbrellas to soap

Thousands of Republicans, from a presidential candidate to grassroots party members, began assembling in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024, for that quadrennial political ritual, the party convention. Political history curators from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History were there, too. They’re self-described “scavengers” of the physical objects that make…

The Conversation · Jul 15, 2024

The Hope Diamond: The 'cursed' blue gemstone coveted by royalty

One of the most desired gems in the world is believed to be cursed. But what is the Hope Diamond's history, value and worth?

LiveScience · Jun 22, 2024