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

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As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed to the public. Outdoor gardens remain open.

Even when we are closed, you can visit us from home. Learn how Smithsonian cares and explore our digital resources, including online events, exhibitions, and podcasts. You can also find curated museum-inspired gifts at our online store.

Select a topic to discover featured collections and stories, OR search millions of digital records.
Green velveteen hat. It is circular with layers of fabric in a wrapped design.
Smithsonian Stories

A Smithsonian Hat You Can Try On

This piece by Vanilla Beane is one of the new AR effects using Smithsonian 3D collections.
Harmony in Blue and Gold The Peacock Room
Smithsonian Open Access

Digital Backgrounds

Put yourself in the scene! Download high-resolution images to use in your next video meeting or as a computer background.
Winter skating
Smithsonian Spotlight

Winter Wonderland

You don’t have to bundle up to enjoy these wintry works of art in our collections.
Small penguin standing between the feet of a man. He is sitting on a trunk, and wears a green snowsuit with a hood and gloves.
Smithsonian Stories

Making a Feathered Friend in Antarctica

A participant in a 1960s expedition sits with a penguin.
Martin Luther King Jr. surrounded by supporters
Smithsonian Spotlight

Martin Luther King Jr.

The Smithsonian celebrates an American civil rights icon with a look through the collections.
Wilson football
Smithsonian Spotlight

On the Gridiron

Explore football-related items in our collections dating from the late 1880s to the present.
Woman wearing a surgical mask.
National Museum of American History

Pandemic Perspectives: Stories Through Collections

Join our curators and historians for an engaging series of panel discussions.
corona virus visualization.
Smithsonian Science Education Center

COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself and Others?

Engage in activities to explore the impact of COVID-19, understand the science, and learn how to stay safe.
snowboard
Smithsonian Spotlight

Winter Sports

A peek at winter sports in the collections.
3 bears caught on camera
Smithsonian Collaboration

eMammal: See Wildlife, Do Science

Place “camera traps” in your community to assist researchers in answering questions about mammal distribution and abundance.
The Chambers Brothers poster
Smithsonian Spotlight

The Art of Rock and Roll

A selection of rock and pop inspired art from concert posters and album covers to objects d'art.
spirograph
Smithsonian Spotlight

Playtime: Toys, Games, and Puzzles

From vintage to high-tech, there's something for every child (and child at heart) in our collections.