In the post-Civil War era, when many Americans were reeling from loss, a photographer claiming to capture ghosts on film enjoyed very corporeal success. Continue reading When a 19th-century ‘spirit photographer’ claimed to capture ghosts through his lens
September 21, 1978. “Facing the Light” opens at the National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition is about daguerreotypes, not near-death experiences. Continue reading Today in Smithsonian History: September 21, 1978
July 15,1886. Thomas Smillie becomes the first custodian of the first Section of Photographic History at the United States National Museum as well as its first photographer. Continue reading Today in Smithsonian History: July 15, 1896
March 16, 1888. The Smithsonian’s first photographer purchases the first daguerreotype equipment for the Institution’s first photography collection. Continue reading Today in Smithsonian History: March 16, 1888
James Deutsch rides along with this SI photographer as he captures moments that make the mundane memorable. Continue reading Moments on the Metro: The Photographs of Hugh Talman
February 2, 1980. The exhibition “We’ll Never Turn Back” features the work of photographers who documented the Civil Rights movement. Continue reading Today in Smithsonian History: February 2, 1980
Come for the ingenuity and stay for the scandal on this episode of Sidedoor as as we find out how Eadweard Muybridge changed the course of photographic history. Continue reading Sidedoor: Inventor, Photographer…Murderer
We took a closer look at some underappreciated women this week (aren’t they all?) and learned that for some species, size really does matter. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was April 8 – April 14, 2018
Smithsonian historian Pamela Henson describes a more pastoral National Mall. Continue reading Throw-back Thursday
Follow the history of the beautiful and historic Arts and Industries building in a new exhibition of rare photos. Continue reading The Arts and Industries Building
Make a cup of tea, sit back and soothe your soul with some autumnal art from our collections. Continue reading Autumn views
Secretary Bunch reflects on the personal impact of war on its veterans. Continue reading Monuments and Memory: Honoring Veterans at the Smithsonian
A group of tech-savvy teens and a cute little robot spent the summer working together to create a new kind of experience for Smithsonian visitors. Continue reading Programming Pepper to play
This week we went highbrow and recognized courage, perseverance and vision in the arts and culture. We also enjoyed a little lowbrow intrigue by examining some purloined letters and looking at what goes on behind-the-scenes of museum loans. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was Oct. 20 – Oct. 26, 2019
November 12, 1980. Space geeks throng the Air and Space Museum to celebrate Voyager I's approach to Saturn. Continue reading Today in Smithsonian History: November 12, 1980
