Explore Smithsonian

We invite you to explore your interests, discover something new, or spark a memory. Our vast collections and the research surrounding them are available to you online on a kaleidoscope of topics—from art to zoology.

Discover the Smithsonian Online

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Featured

Discover online collections, stories, and research from across the Smithsonian.

Smithsonian

Open Access

Download, share, and reuse more than 5.1 million 2D and 3D images from Smithsonian collections—without asking.
Smithsonian Open Access

Digital Backgrounds

Put yourself in the scene! Download high-res images to use as your video meeting or desktop background.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Signs of Spring

Celebrating spring and the coming of warmer days through the visual arts.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Excelsior! Super Superheroes

A look at superheroes in the Smithsonian's collections and remembering Stan Lee.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Ancient Egypt

Explore collections related to ancient Egypt from across the Smithsonian.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

We Heart Art

From amulets to valentines, the heart motif in art and design.
Smithsonian Folkways

Masters of Tradition

Discover the broad array of musical styles and cultural stories that enliven our nation.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Orchids: Nature's Art

Smithsonian Gardens has more than 8,000 orchids. Explore a selection along with art inspired by these beautiful blooms.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Minerals and Gems

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History mineral and gem collection is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Color Journey

Take a colorful tour through art and artifacts in the Smithsonian's collections.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Up, Up, and Away

Let balloonamania carry you away with these picks from the collections.
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Hip-Hop and Rap

This Technics brand turntable was used by hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash. Discover more hip-hop collection items.

Art Meets Science

Art, science, history, and culture meet at the Smithsonian in our collections and research centers. Artists and scientists use different ways of knowing to reveal and understand the world around us. Each year the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship program provides visual artists from across the world the opportunity to work with our museums, research sites, collections, and scholars to build connections between the arts and science. Explore some collection spotlights that reveal our artistic, cultural, and scientific connections to the world around us.