Take a Trip to Thailand With These Smithsonian Photo Contest Images
See what makes this country so captivating, from picturesque rice paddies to striking cityscapes
The Long History of Art Inspired by Solar Eclipses
For centuries, curious artists have been trying to make sense of the celestial event
This Artist Turned to Painting Animals in a Turbulent Historical Moment
The German Expressionist painter Franz Marc found a subject worth celebrating in the early 20th century
In the Face of Prejudice, the ‘Black Swans’ Took the Ballet World by Storm
A new book shows how pioneering ballerinas captivated audiences and broke racial barriers
See the Winners of the 21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
This year’s top photographs capture the quiet and chaotic from the American South to East Asia
How Kids Cornered the Market on Lemonade
The tangy tale of how America’s children learned to squeeze life for all it’s worth
When Hollywood Needs a Historically Accurate Outfit That Looks Just Right, It Turns to Rabbit Goody
How do filmmakers get period clothing to look the part? Inside the textile workshop where the...
View This Year's 60 Stunning Finalists From the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
The photographs come from all corners of the world, capturing the beauty of everyday life
Before Beyonce and Taylor Swift Ran the World, There Was Joan Baez
Today’s artists—especially women—are sometimes criticized for speaking out, but for Baez, art and activism were indivisible
These 15 Moving Photos Celebrate Black History Month
To mark the February heritage month, these images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest offer proof...
Pioneering Artist Angelica Kauffman Put Women at Center Stage
The history paintings of this great Neoclassical artist prove the wonderful benefits that inclusion can bring
Inside the Biggest Art Fraud in History
A decades-long forgery scheme ensnared Canada’s most famous Indigenous artist, a rock musician turned sleuth and...
Are You Ready for Some Football? Prep for the Super Bowl With 15 Thrilling Photos of Americans Tossing the Pigskin
Celebrate the cherished American sport before the big game
Feast Your Eyes on the Stunning Islamic Art in This New Exhibition
A sumptuous new show in Los Angeles aims to leave museumgoers hungry for more
How John Coltrane's 'My Favorite Things' Changed American Music
Looking back at the moment when one of our greatest jazzmen raised the stakes for everyone...
Ai Weiwei's Latest Work Is a Monument to His Past
The groundbreaking, exiled Chinese artist builds a hopeful new life—and a new studio, in the Portuguese...
How the Obscure Sport of Pickleball Became King of the Court
With origins dating back to the 16th century, paddle sports have always had an unmistakable allure
Mickey Mouse and Many Other Beloved Creations, Including Peter Pan and 'Mack the Knife,' Are About to Enter the Public Domain
Almost a century after the cartoon mouse made his first appearance, he finally belongs to everyone—sort...
The Books We Loved
Smithsonian editors choose their favorite (mostly) nonfiction of (mostly) 2023
