Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

19th-Century Photographs from Sri Lanka

See 22 photographs were taken by resident British photographers W. L. H. Skeen and Charles T. Scowen at the end of the 19th century when Sri Lanka was a British colony.

December 20, 1992 – May 9, 1993

Asian Art Museum Sackler Gallery

2 West Preview Case

This preview case introduces the public to the Museum’s 2017 theme: “The Nation We Build Together.” The predominant feature is a nine-foot-tall LEGO Statue of Liberty displayed on a platform alongside images of objects that represent new exhibitions opening June 28.

March 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018

American History Museum

200 Years of American Architectural Drawing

Focus on architectural drawings for their aesthetic value in this exhibition of 200 drawings by more than 80 architects.

June 7, 1977 – July 17, 1977

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

200 Years of Royal Copenhagen Porcelain

See a selection of 137 porcelain, stoneware, and faience works from the historical and contemporary collections of the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, Ltd., the oldest Danish enterprise in the field of applied art.

April 12, 1974 – June 30, 1974

Renwick Gallery

2000 Holiday Trees

See holiday trees decorated with various themes throughout the museum.

December 8, 2000 – January 7, 2001

American History Museum

2001: A Space Odyssey Immersive Art Exhibit

Immerse yourself in “The Barmecide Feast,” a fully realized, full-scale reflection of the iconic, neo-classical hotel room from the penultimate scene of Stanley Kubrick’s and Arthur C. Clarke’s landmark film.

April 8, 2018 – May 28, 2018

Air and Space Museum

2003 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Exhibition

The 52 winning entries to the 2003 Federal Junior Duck Stamp state competitions are on view.

July 1, 2003 – August 3, 2003

Postal Museum

2006 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

View the winners in 15 categories from the 2006 Nature's Best International Windland Smith Rice Awards, and the winners in 9 categories from the National Wildlife Photography Awards.

November 10, 2006 – October 9, 2007

Natural History Museum

2007 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

See winners in 15 categories from the 2007 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice Awards and winners in 9 categories from the National Wildlife Photography Awards.

October 30, 2007 – April 27, 2008

Natural History Museum

2008 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

On view are 45 winners in 19 categories from the 2008 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards.

November 8, 2008 – May 3, 2009

Natural History Museum

2008 Presidential Scholars in the Arts: Works in the Literary and Visual Arts

As one of the co-sponsors, the Portrait Gallery presents the works of the 2008 Presidential Scholars in the fields of cinematic arts, photography, visual arts, and writing.

June 22, 2008 – July 13, 2008

Portrait Gallery

2010 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

On view are winners in various categories from the 2010 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards.

April 16, 2011 – September 25, 2011

Natural History Museum

2011 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

On view are winners in various categories from the 2011 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards.

March 30, 2012 – April 7, 2013

Natural History Museum

2012 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

On view are winners in various categories from the 2012 Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards.

June 7, 2013 – March 3, 2014

Natural History Museum

2012 US Presidential Scholars

See works by eight young artists chosen as 2012 US Presidential Scholars.

June 16, 2012 – July 4, 2012

Portrait Gallery

2013 Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

Witness nature and wildlife through the eyes of some of the most talented amateur and professional photographers in the world.

October 24, 2014 – April 20, 2015

Natural History Museum

20th Century Painting and Sculpture

See a new installation made up of works selected from the permanent collection and works on loan.

August 9, 1974 – September 29, 1974

American Art Museum

20th Century Stage and Costume Design

See about 1000 original costume and scenic designs for major opera and ballet productions as well as for musical comedies, for sale in the Design Sales Gallery.

April 1, 1978 – April 30, 1978

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

20th-Century Drawings from the Museum's Collection

This installation of 30 works on paper includes works by Willem de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Larry Rivers.

April 1, 1985 – June 6, 1985

Hirshhorn Museum

20th-Century Self-Portraits from the NPG Collection

This exhibition features 47 portraits by notable 20th-century American artists such as Chuck Close, Thomas Hart Benton, George Bellows, and Alexander Calder.

October 22, 1993 – February 13, 1994

Portrait Gallery

20th-century Dinosaurs

Marvel at 24 large, colorful, welded sculptures of dinosaurs by Jim Gary, made out of automobile and truck parts.

April 12, 1990 – August 10, 1990

Natural History Museum

21st Annual Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards

Named for nature photographer and conservationist, Windland Smith Rice, the 21st annual Nature’s Best Photography Awards exhibition presents a collection of 83 fine art prints accompanied by an HD video.

October 19, 2016 – September 5, 2017

Natural History Museum

22 Polish Textile Artists

See 30 works illustrating textile trends in Poland between 1960 and 1976.

June 24, 1977 – September 5, 1977

Renwick Gallery

22nd Annual Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards

Selected from more than 26,000 submitted entries, see 60 extraordinary images that capture the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

October 24, 2017 – September 3, 2018

Natural History Museum

23rd Annual Nature's Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards

Named for nature photographer and conservationist Windland Smith Rice, Nature’s Best presents breathtaking fine art prints and short videos that highlight the best of nature photography—and our spectacular planet.

October 29, 2018 – September 3, 2019

Natural History Museum