Due to the government shutdown, Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are temporarily closed. Please check back for reopening updates.
Smithsonian Homepage
Plan Your Visit
View guides for the Smithsonian's 17 free Washington, D.C.–area museums and zoo—plus two museums in NYC. Admission is free at all locations except Cooper Hewitt in NYC. Find out what's on!
Featured
Explore collections, stories, and research from across the Smithsonian.
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November
Native American Heritage Month
Join us in person and online for resources, films, lectures, and family activities. -
Smithsonian Story
5 Facts About Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)
What do sugar skulls, marigolds, and monarch butterflies have in common?
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National Museum of the American Latino
Day of the Dead Resources
Observe Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with events, virtual exhibitions, educational resources, and more. -
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. -
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 Open Access
Digital Backgrounds
Put yourself in the scene! Download high-res images to use as your video meeting or desktop background. -
Smithsonian Snapshot
An Eloquent Argument
“In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense...”—Thomas Paine
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Smithsonian 3D
Neil Armstrong's Space Suit
Explore and download 3D models of Armstrong's spacesuit and other Apollo 11 objects. -
Smithsonian Commemoration
Our Shared Future: 250
Explore events and exhibitions honoring America’s 250th that will take place in 2025 and 2026 across the Smithsonian. -
Around the Smithsonian
Mysteries of the Universe
Starting with solar studies in 1890, the Smithsonian has been exploring questions spanning from our atmosphere to deep space. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
1925: A Year in the Collections
Look back one hundred years into 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.
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Sidedoor Podcast
The Curse of the Hope Diamond
We track the lore of this notorious gem through the centuries.
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Sidedoor Podcast
The 'Gentle Anarchy' of the Muppets
Conserving the history of Jim Henson's Muppets.
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Sidedoor Podcast
Zoo's Clues
Grab your microscope and get ready to head through a very special side door of the National Zoo—behind the scenes with veterinary pathologists.
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Sidedoor Podcast
Bill Nye the Sidedoor Guy
We sit down with Bill Nye to get schooled on science education and comedy.
