Smithsonian Snapshot CameraSmithsonian Snapshot

A peek into our collections, one object at a time
photo of early female aviator
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Janet Harmon Bragg: Aviator

Janet Harmon Bragg is one of the first female black aviators and the first to hold a commercial pilot’s license.
elaborate Victorian card
Smithsonian Snapshot

Sending the Very Best for Valentine’s Day

This elaborate card made in Germany dates from 1900.
B&W photo of Saralegui interviewing guest in front of an audience
National Portrait Gallery

Meet the Cuban Oprah: Cristina Saralegui

To millions of people, she’s known on a first-name basis: Cristina.
Poster for film The Endless Summer
Smithsonian Snapshot

Endless Summer

An iconic poster for a seminal surf movie.
Animation of exercising girl scout
Smithsonian Snapshot

How Are Those New Year’s Resolutions Going?

"Taking exercise" 1920s' style.
Photo of mail carrier with baby in a mailbag
Smithsonian Snapshot

Special Delivery

Sending babies in the mail.
Japanese woodprint of puppies
Smithsonian Snapshot

Snow puppies

Perhaps puppies cuddling in the snow makes winter’s bite not so unpleasant?
Guitar with airbrushed portrait of Carlos Vives

Vallenato Makes History at the Smithsonian

Colombian Grammy Award-winning singer and composer Carlos Vives is best known for his vallenato chart-topping hits.
Waving Skeleton
Smithsonian Snapshot

Hi, Halloween!

A cheerful skeleton gives a wave.
animated gif of skeletons dancing on book page
Smithsonian Snapshot

Tequila!

A Neanderthal makes some moves.
Chuck Berry's red Cadillac on display
Smithsonian Snapshot

Rock ’n’ Roll Ride

The legendary Chuck Berry's red Cadillac.
dogs grouped into letters
Smithsonian Snapshot

Sit! Stay! Spell!

Whimsical wallpaper.
brightly colored woven sculpture of bird
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Finery-Feathered Friend

Crocheted suits carry a message about biodiversity.
Mark Spitz in Speedo wearing gold medals
Smithsonian Snapshot

Let the Games Begin

Mark Spitz set the world record for the most gold medals in a single Olympics.
Neon sculpture of the United States composed of televisions
Smithsonian Snapshot

See the U.S.A. on Paik’s “Electronic Superhighway”

This neon artwork shows the viewer the U.S. by highway--no car needed.
balloon over crowd
Smithsonian Snapshot

Up, Up and Away

In 1805, the first female aeronaut, Sophie Blanchard, took flight.
Babe Ruth in Red Sox uniform with other players
Smithsonian Snapshot

The Sultan of Swat

Babe Ruth was the ballpark sensation of his sensational era, the Roaring ’20s.
Big Man sculpture (overweight bald man sitting with head on hand)
Smithsonian Snapshot

The Big Man

Why so grumpy, big guy?
drawing of cicada
Smithsonian Snapshot

Billions and Billions of Periodical Cicadas

When groups of cicadas emerge.
Our View From Here installation
Smithsonian Snapshot

Linn Meyers: An Ephemeral Ebb and Flow

Rippling lines and patterns that pulse with energy.
Braille Wallpaper
Smithsonian Snapshot

Wallpaper That Tells a Story

Written in Braille, this wallpaper reveals how it was created.
panel from romance comic
Smithsonian Snapshot

Oh...Brad

Roy Lichtenstein transformed a wide variety of source materials as part of his creative process, including comic-strip panels.
Robert Irwin, “Untitled,” 1969
Smithsonian Snapshot

An Artwork That Poses a Question

Perceiving ourselves perceiving art.
zebra drawing
Smithsonian Snapshot

All About Perspective: Zebras and Their Stripes

Some animated animals offer insights into perspective and color.

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