When ‘The Wiz’ Debuted on Broadway 50 Years Ago, It Sparked a Brand New Day for Audiences
How the remarkable musical transformed a beloved folk tale into a celebratory vision for the future of Black America
Pioneering Teenage Parachuter Georgia ‘Tiny’ Broadwick Showed That Courage Isn’t Counted in Pounds
The first woman to parachute from an airplane, she will be recognized in an exhibit when part of the newly renovated National Air and Space Museum reopens this year
This Simple but Ingenious Instrument Helped the World Measure Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere
Scientist Charles Keeling’s invention had a profound effect on scientists’ understanding of the severity of the climate change crisis
See for Yourself One of the World’s Rarest Red Diamonds at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum
Unraveling the surprising science that gives colorful diamonds their special allure
In Her Inventive and Prescient Stories, Octavia Butler Wrote Herself Into the Science Fiction Canon
On her beloved typewriters, the literary legend mapped out a course for the future of the genre
Kids Send Thousands of Letters to Santa Each Year. Here’s What Really Happens to Them
The United States Postal Service and volunteers have responded to North Pole holiday correspondence over the past century
The ‘Penicillin Girls’ Made One of the World’s Most Life-Saving Discoveries Possible
The true, forgotten and sometimes-stinky history of the cohort who took Alexander Fleming’s innovation and forever changed the face of modern medicine
Why the Creator of One of the First ‘Lie Detectors’ Lived to Regret His Invention
The early polygraph machine was considered the most scientific way to detect deception—but that was a myth
How the Hirshhorn Museum Went From Iconoclast to Icon
Celebrating 50 years of the modernist masterpiece that shocked critics—and helped turn Washington into an arts capital
Discover the Special Meaning Behind Kamala Harris’ Pearls
The vice president, who will give a speech at the Democratic National Convention to accept the presidential nomination Thursday night, often wears jewelry connected to her historically Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha
Busting 13 of the Smithsonian’s Most Persistent Myths
From castle hauntings to hiding evidence of giant humans, the Smithsonian has long been the subject of wild rumors and tall tales
Tired of Diplomacy as Usual, This Congressman Flew Solo to Promote World Peace
Representative Peter F. Mack’s soaring diplomatic ambitions made aviation history as he traveled through Europe, South Asia, Japan and then across the vast Pacific Ocean
How This Self-Taught Guitarist Became a Music Legend
For decades, Libba Cotten was one of the most distinctive folk musicians in America
How the First Black Barbie Was Born
A new documentary tells the story of Black Barbie, and why she has meant so much to so many
Why Baseball Legend Willie Mays, Dead at 93, Will Never Be Forgotten
Even decades after he redefined the game, the 24-time All-Star continued to be revered by fans and historians alike for his incredible athleticism, spellbinding defense, powerful bat and admirable sportsmanship
Giant Pandas Are Coming Back to Washington, D.C.
A pair of the bears will arrive at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo by the end of 2024
The Supermarket Scanner Changed the Way We Buy Groceries Forever
Invented 50 years ago, the curious box deciphered an arcane kind of code to offer shoppers a trip into the future
How Museums Are Preserving and Celebrating Selena’s Legacy
The singer’s presence can still be felt at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
This ‘Zen’ Motorcycle Still Inspires Philosophical Road-Trippers 50 Years Later
Robert M. Pirsig’s odyssey vehicle takes its final ride as it vrooms into public view for the first time ever at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
In His Garage, an Untrained Artist Created a Work of Sublime Divinity
How deep faith created one of the loveliest—and most curious—sacred objects in the Smithsonian collections
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