Nov
14
A few of my favorite things: Hollis Gentry
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet to Hollis Gentry, especially if it’s blooming beneath a family tree. Continue reading A few of my favorite things: Hollis Gentry
Nov
12
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
Join us in honoring the men and women who protect our freedoms by daily risking—and sometimes losing—everything. These are their memorials. But remember, we honor our veterans most by honoring the ideals they fought for. Continue reading “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
Nov
11
Armistice and peace: Victory letters from WWI
One hundred years ago, November 11, 1918, world leaders signed the Armistice, marking the end of World War I. Elizabeth Borja takes a look at the correspondence between a father and son that illustrates a different understanding between home and the front, armistice and peace. Continue reading Armistice and peace: Victory letters from WWI
Nov
01
Gone but never forgotten: Celebrating the Day of the Dead
The fears and phantoms of All Hallow’s Eve—when the dead are said to walk the earth—are forgotten with the dawn of the Day of the Dead on Nov. 1. Continue reading Gone but never forgotten: Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Oct
29
We wants to make your flesh creep
For some creepy Halloween fun, Rebecca Seel combed the collections of the American History Museum to uncover six common phobias—sort of a historical Fear Factor. Continue reading We wants to make your flesh creep
Oct
23
Shawnie McRaney: The courage of change
Shawnie McRaney struggled to understand her gender identity for years before she finally identified as transgender. She shares her personal journey with courage and candor and explains how the support of her colleagues and the Smithsonian’s commitment to diversity and acceptance helped her make the decision to transition. The Smithsonian Institution has undergone many transitions… Continue reading Shawnie McRaney: The courage of change
Oct
19
Taíno: The living legacy of a colonial past
The Indigenous people who met Columbus when he sailed across the ocean blue to “discover” the Bahamas were quickly overwhelmed and destroyed by their exposure to Europeans. Or were they? A new exhibition explores the living legacy of the Taíno. Continue reading Taíno: The living legacy of a colonial past
Oct
18
Mike Maslanka had a farm…
Americans spent almost $30 billion on pet food for Fido and Fluffy last year, but you can’t exactly run to the store for a half-ton of kibble when you have elephants to feed. John Barrat spent the day in Front Royal to see how the Zoo keeps its critters locavore. Continue reading Mike Maslanka had a farm…
Sep
28
Things that go bump in the night: A night at the museums with the third shift
Andrea Martin tags along on the third shift and learns that to the trained ear, things that go bump in the night may just mean a blown compressor. Continue reading Things that go bump in the night: A night at the museums with the third shift
Sep
26
A few of my favorite things: Brian Nicklas
This sweet ride is not actually part of the Smithsonian’s collections, but it should be. Check out the rest of Brian’s favorite things. Continue reading A few of my favorite things: Brian Nicklas
