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heart-solid My Visit

Slideshow

  • Castle with firerworks

    Reflect. Engage. Imagine.

    Our Shared Future: 250 arrow-right

  • A person stands in front of photographs on a well in an exhibition.

    Sidedoor: A Smithsonian Podcast

    Made in America arrow-right

  • women forming a line with hands on each other's shoulders

    March

    Women's History Month at the Smithsonian arrow-right

  • Colorful collage of collection images.

    Create. Imagine. Discover.

    Smithsonian Open Access arrow-right

  • Cosmic Buddha sculpture shown with multiple image effects.

    Smithsonian Digitization

    Smithsonian 3D arrow-right

Smithsonian Homepage

Plan Your Visit

Discover the Smithsonian's 17 free Washington, D.C.–area museums and zoo—plus two museums in NYC. Find out what's on and join us for vibrant events and exhibitions that illuminate art, science, history, technology, and culture.

Plan your visit

Explore

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. Our stories, collections, and research span the arts, sciences, and humanities. Explore, learn, and be inspired—wherever you are!

Start exploring


Topics

Explore your interests! Our extensive collections and the research that enriches them are available online for you to discover.

A woman looks out a bay window, riveted by something beyond the pictorial space.

Art & Design arrow-right

Three children in a wicker baby carriage with an American flag.

History & Culture arrow-right

Two large bison stand in a field of yellow wildflowers.

Science & Nature arrow-right

3D scan of interior of Apollo command module

Technology & Innovation arrow-right

Featured

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

  • Heart Motif, Textile Design

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    We Heart Art arrow-right

    From amulets to valentines, the heart motif in art and design.
  • Saucer magnolia trees with pink flowers in front of the Smithsonian Castle building.

    Smithsonian Story

    Saucer Magnolias arrow-right

    Learn what makes these spectacular pink blooms different from those of Washington, D.C.'s, famous cherry blossoms.

  • lavender heeled ankle boots with Prince's Love Symbol as the zipper pull.

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Music and Fashion: Culture in Conversation arrow-right

    Music and fashion influence each other, and they reflect and impact the culture at large.
  • 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.
  • Cherry Blossom slide

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Cherry Blossoms arrow-right

    No matter where you are, you can enjoy cherry blossoms in the Smithsonian's collections.
  • The entire image is awash in intricate clouds, and swathes of superheated gas.

    Around the Smithsonian

    Mysteries of the Universe arrow-right

    Starting with solar studies in 1890, the Smithsonian has been exploring questions spanning from our atmosphere to deep space.
  • 3D spacesuit scan.

    Smithsonian 3D

    Neil Armstrong's Space Suit arrow-right

    Explore and download 3D models of Armstrong's spacesuit and other Apollo 11 objects.
  • Yellow frog with broadly dispersed black dots sits on brown leaves.

    Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

    Back from Extinction: Golden Frogs Going Back to Nature arrow-right

    Successfully bred under human care, critically endangered golden frogs are released into the wild.
  • Lady Terrapins hat [2007.0224.07]

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    March Madness arrow-right

    Get ready for the big dance with basketball finds in the Smithsonian's collections.
  • color wheel

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Color Journey arrow-right

    Take a colorful tour through art and artifacts in the Smithsonian's collections.
  • Illustration of red, white and purple flowers.

    Smithsonian Story

    Springing into Gardening Books arrow-right

    Jane C. Webb Loudon made horticulture accessible for women to pursue as a hobby.

  • Apple I Microcomputer

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    1976: A Year in the Collections arrow-right

    Explore objects and stories related to the year 1976 in the Smithsonian's collections.

Explore more by topic

Sidedoor Podcast

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

  • Illustration of a skeleton hand holding a sparkling blue diamond.

    Sidedoor Podcast

    The Curse of the Hope Diamond arrow-right

    We track the lore of this notorious gem through the centuries.

  • Illustration showing an oversize astronaut running over North America on a curved Earth.

    Sidedoor Podcast

    Space Marathon arrow-right

    A look at the women who blazed the trail allowing for competition in marathons. 

  • Virginia Hall themed collage.

    Sidedoor Podcast

    The Milkmaid Spy arrow-right

    Virginia Hall dreamed of being America’s first woman ambassador. Instead, she became a spy.

  • 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. 

Discover more from Sidedoor

Membership

Friends of the Smithsonian help the Smithsonian thrive. Every membership includes a subscription to the award-winning Smithsonian magazine, shopping discounts, and so much more!

Learn how you can join us today arrow-right

Smithsonian Castle in spring with bright pink tulips

Giant Panda and panda cub plush toy

Shop arrow-right

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

magazine cover

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.

Upper Antelope Canyon in Arizona

Travel arrow-right

Over 500 tours and cruises to all seven continents. Let the journey begin.

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