Arts & Culture / Video
Fact or Fiction? The Legend of the QWERTY Keyboard
The QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes in the 1870s – and has stayed around ever since.
The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe May Never Be Solved
Uncover the dark and curious truth behind the death of one of America’s most beloved authors, Edgar Allan Poe. For centuries, the circumstances surrounding his death have remained shrouded in …
Ouija Board: The Mysterious Origins of a Cultural Obsession
The Ouija board might seem like a simple game that sparks spooky childhood memories, but have you ever pondered its mysterious history? Even more importantly, does it actually…work? Uncover the …
National Treasure: Sing a Song With Ella Jenkins, the Beloved First Lady of Children’s Music
Discover how Ella Jenkins’ joyful songs and storytelling have inspired generations of young listeners, while her commitment to advocacy has profoundly affected the world of music and beyond.
National Treasure: The Hirshhorn Is Brutalism’s Boldest Donut
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is renowned for its striking architecture and impressive collection of contemporary art. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about …
National Treasure: The Feud Behind the Peacock Room
The Peacock Room at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has it all: friendship, betrayal, revenge, and… peacocks. Learn more about the iconic artist James McNeill Whistler and his …
A 3D Digital Interactive of Santa Elena’s Fort San Marcos
At the Coastal Discovery Museum’s exhibition, visitors will be able to view a 3D digital interactive that reconstructs the original Fort San Marcos on Santa Elena. (Credit: Coastal Discovery Museum …
CANstruction 2012 with Defending Champion
Follow team LEO A DALY as they replicate the Discovery space shuttle’s arrival in Washington, D.C. for CANstruction
Rise of Superheroes: Free Online Course from Comic Book Icon Stan Lee
The legendary Stan Lee, creator of the Avengers, Spiderman and Iron Man, has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to launch the first global online course about …
Superhero Comic Book and Movie Storytelling
Watch a course video excerpt from Rise of the Superheroes: The legendary Stan Lee, creator of the Avengers, Spiderman and Iron Man, has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of …
The legendary Stan Lee, creator of the Avengers, Spiderman and Iron Man, has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to launch the first global online course about …
The legendary Stan Lee, creator of the Avengers, Spiderman and Iron Man, has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to launch the first global online course about …
SmithsonianX Superhero Stan Lee Course: Behind The Scenes
The legendary Stan Lee, creator of the Avengers, Spiderman and Iron Man, has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to launch the first global online course about …
Manufacturing of bitumen-lined water bottles
Manufacturing of bitumen-lined water bottles in the traditional method of Native Californian Indians. Credit: Nicholas Radtkey, UC Davis & Sabrina Sholts
Civil War (Joan Baez), With Dance Performance By Djassi Johnson and Kevin Boseman
Part of the visual album of Joan Baez’ “Whistle Down the Wind,” this cover of Joe Henry’s “Civil War” was directed by New York University’s Deborah Willis
Meet the Grand Prize Winner of the 21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
After reviewing more than 30,000 photos, the editors of Smithsonian Magazine are proud to announce the Grand Prize Winner. #shorts
What ‘Bridgerton’ Gets Right About the Regency Era
From gender roles to etiquette to fashion, step back in time to learn more about the real lives of the Regency women who inspired ‘Bridgerton.’
Announcing the Winners of the 21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
After reviewing more than 30,000 photos, the editors of Smithsonian magazine are proud to announce the winning submissions. Learn more about the finalists and winners of 2024 here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/see-winners-21st-annual-smithsonian-magazine-photo-contest-180984001/. —- …
How One Photographer Recreated 19th Century Portraits With the Descendants of Civil War Heroes
Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the …
What Was on the Menu at the First Thanksgiving?
Follow us to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, where the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came together for a historic feast.
This Object in History: Elmo’s Rise to Stardom
With his bright red coat, big orange nose, and wide eyes, Elmo is arguably the most famous of the Sesame Street muppets–but he didn’t always have it this good. Elmo …
How the Meaning of Thanksgiving Has Changed
The holiday was used as a call for freedom during the civil rights movement and as a day of mourning by Native Americans.
The Connections Between the Thanksgiving Story and Westward Expansion
As the United States pushed Native communities out of their ancestral homelands, the nation sought out a symbolic tale of friendship and a shared future.
These Traditional British Sweets Have the Best Names
“Fizzers,” “parma violets,” and “love hearts” sound like playground games, but they’re actually the names of traditional British candy. And Gregg Wallace is on site to see how they’re made.
How They Get Chocolate to Cling Perfectly to a Toffee Finger
Ever wondered how they get chocolate to coat the bottom of toffee fingers so evenly? The answer is through a mechanized roller that slaps the chocolate on, followed by an …
This Object in History: Fernandomania
He was mobbed by adoring fans up and down the country; when he pitched, home or away, attendance soared. To this day, he remains the only man to win Rookie-of-the-Year …
The Art Supreme: Hip-Hop & Fashion
Today, the influence of hip-hop seems intertwined with the fashion industry, to the point where we can barely imagine one without the other. But, in the early 1980s, fashion brands …
With his bright red coat, big orange nose, and wide eyes, Elmo is now arguably the most famous of the Sesame Street muppets. Elmo began as an “Anything Muppet”—an extra, …
This Ancient Egyptian Mega-Tomb Is the Largest of Its Kind
A mega-tomb uncovered in the Saqqara region of Cairo is the largest concentration of burial sites ever found in Egypt. It appears to be reserved for wealthy Egyptians, and the …
This Object in History: Nintendo
The mid-1980s were a wasteland for the American video game market, with consumers torn between quarter-guzzling arcade machines and sub-par home consoles, such as the Atari 2600. Enter the NES …
This Truffle Dog Is Facing a Really Challenging Truffle Hunt
Lola, a Lagotto Romagnolo trained to sniff out and dig up black truffles in her native Washington, is ready for a challenge: to find truffles out of season on a …
The California Raisins’ Smashing Advertising Success
Audiences were spellbound, competitors were jealous, and consumers began to buy more raisins than ever. It’s the unlikely phenomenon of the “California Raisins” who blazed across 1980s TV screens, to …
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