Olympic Rowing—You Need Both Grace and Guts
And a day job. There will be no “Dream Team” of pro rowers in Atlanta; that’s because in 1896 rowing for profit was banned in Boston
The Life and Resurrection of Alexandre Dumas
The grandson of a Haitian slave, he became the most famous author in France; now, his rousing Romantic novels are enjoying renewed popularity
En Garde! We Seem to Be Getting the Point of Fencing
Wielding saber, épée or foil, enthusiasts in increasing numbers are discovering a sport that demands skill, strength – and strategy
I Owe Them a Lot; They Taught Me the Love of Work
From boilermaking to fixing up an angel’s wing, Les Compagnons hone marketable skills in a medieval brotherhood brought up to date
The Refined Art of Picturing Natural History
An exhibition showcasing works by members of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators opens at the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center
A New Vision for a Museum on the Mall
Architect Douglas Cardinal hopes to realize his plan for making the National Museum of the American Indian into a Washington landmark
For These Precious Scrolls, Aged Glue and ‘Damage Maps’
Not to mention patience, as 40 of them go from the Freer Gallery to six workshops in Japan to undergo a complete overhaul
A Curator Hunts Down the American Photography Collection of Her Dreams
A curator hunts down the American photography collection of her dreams
These People Belong In An Institution!
The Smithsonian Institution, of course. A search of the archives has produced these lighter looks at life behind the scenes
Package Design: the Art of Selling, All Wrapped Up
When competition for customers’ attention gets ferocious, that bottle, carton or can is a lot more than just another pretty face
America’s Favorite Game Is the One Everybody Can Play
It doesn’t get hyped big-time like other sports, but at the grass-roots level, where it thrives, softball is in a league of its own
When They Put It in Writing, They Were Cursing, Not Cussing
In ancient times, those in the know called on the many spirits of the underworld to make their curses, hexes and spells come true
Tools as Art
Welcome to the Hechinger Collection, where hammers are brittle, saws never get old and wrenches mimic baby birds
Speeding Through the Great Books on the Road to Higher Learning
Speeding through the Great Books on the road to higher learning
Fabergé’s Labor of Love: A Case of Cherchez la Femme
After a spectacular collection was given to a Paris museum, the story emerged of how a princess kept the flame of love burning
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