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• Sidedoor: A Smithsonian Podcast The Wide Awakes Learn how a mass movement of working-class Americans marched to end slavery.
• November Native American Heritage Month Join us for vibrant performances, lectures, family activities, and exhibitions.
• Create. Imagine. Discover. Smithsonian Open Access Download, share, and reuse more than 4.9 million 2D and 3D digital items from our collections.
• Smithsonian Digitization Smithsonian 3D Explore some of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects

Smithsonian museums on and near the National Mall will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, due to security, road closures, and other restrictions, for the Presidential Inaugural. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Welcome

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. We are a community of learning and an opener of doors. Join us on a voyage of discovery. Explore our vast digital resources and learn online.

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Featured

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

• Smithsonian Open Access Digital Backgrounds Put yourself in the scene! Download high-res images to use as your video meeting or desktop background.
• Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Women’s Voices on Independence Explore stories of how generations of women have sought personal independence through economic power.
• Smithsonian Quiz Discover Your Inner Turkey Celebrate this all-American bird by finding your perfect match in the collections!
• National Museum of the American Indian Why We Serve This online exhibition honors the generations of Native Americans who have served in the U.S. armed forces since the American Revolution.
• Smithsonian Collection Spotlight Meet the Pandas Explore images and video clips of the lovable bears as the Zoo welcomes a new pair of giant pandas.
• National Museum of the American Indian Americans Explore the online companion to the bold exhibition revealing the ways American Indian images, names, and stories are hidden in plain sight.
• Smithsonian Story Six Animals the Smithsonian Has Helped Save from Extinction Conservation efforts play an important role in bringing endangered species back from the brink.
• Smithsonian Collection Spotlight Don't Forget Your Jacket Discover some amazing jackets that have been left at the Smithsonian.
• Smithsonian Collection Spotlight Autumn Views Celebrating the beauty of the changing season with art and objects in the collections.
• Smithsonian Collection Spotlight Fabulous Footwear Along with the Ruby Slippers, the Smithsonian has some fabulous footwear in the collections.
• Smithsonian Collection Spotlight 1974: A Year in the Collections Explore items from across the Smithsonian related to the year.
• Smithsonian Collection Spotlight Color Journey Take a colorful tour through art and artifacts in the Smithsonian's collections.

Sidedoor Podcast

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

• Sidedoor Podcast The Curse of the Hope Diamond We track the lore of this notorious gem through the centuries.
• Sidedoor Podcast That Brunch in the Forest How much of what you think you know about Thanksgiving may be more fiction than fact?
• Sidedoor Podcast Bill Nye the Sidedoor Guy We sit down with Bill Nye to get schooled on science education and comedy.
• Sidedoor Podcast The 'Gentle Anarchy' of the Muppets Conserving the history of Jim Henson's Muppets.

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Travel Over 350 tours and cruises to all seven continents. Let the journey begin.