Smithsonian Open Access

Create. Imagine. Discover.

Welcome to Smithsonian Open Access, where you can download, share, and reuse millions of the Smithsonian’s images—right now, without asking. With new platforms and tools, you have easier access to more than 5.1 million 2D and 3D digital items from our collections—with many more to come. This includes images and data from across the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo.

What will you create?

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About Open Access

Featured Platforms

Developer Tools

Tap into nearly two centuries of data using the Smithsonian API and GitHub repository.
3D Voyager

View, interact, and download Smithsonian 3D content.
Smithsonian Learning Lab

Build lesson plans and projects with open access resources.
Smithsonian Figshare

Discover research datasets from Smithsonian researchers in a variety of disciplines.

Explore Remixes with Smithsonian Open Access Content

Remixes by: Access Smithsonian, Amazon Web Services-Sumerian, Amy Karle, An Open Book Foundation, AstroNuts, Autodesk Tinkercad, Cesium, Chris Funk & N M Bodecker Foundation, Creative Commons, Duke University-MorphoSource, Georgetown University Maker Hub in Lauinger Library, Google Arts & Culture, The Khronos Group, MHz Foundation, Michael Joo, Matthew Putman, and James J. Williams III, Sketchfab, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access, Smithsonian Data Science Lab, Smithsonian Libraries & Museum in a Box, Wikimedia DC

See Remixes »

The Smithsonian Open Access launch event is presented in partnership with: