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Smithsonian Snapshot

A peek into our collections, one object at a time

Smithsonian Snapshot

I Sream, You Scream, We All Scream
Must be the season of the witch.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A History of Voting by Mail
The origins of voting outside the polling place in the U.S. date back to 1813.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Witness to War
In a Civil War battle, bullets cut down an oak tree.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Fish Going Mobile
Artist Alexander Calder put abstractions in motion.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Safeguarding Peace
In 2024, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) celebrates 75 years.
Smithsonian Snapshot

An Important Pen in Civil Rights History
This pen was used by President Lyndon Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Billions and Billions of Periodical Cicadas
Red-eyed and noisy, their appearance in 2024 is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Strong and Lasting Bond
“The bay horse said to me, ‘Behold them, your horses come dancing.’”—Black Elk (Oglala Lakota), 1932
Smithsonian Snapshot

Philosophy Meets Motorcycle Maintenance on a Road Trip
A motorcycle odyssey into life’s bigger questions.
Smithsonian Snapshot

The Hat That Symbolized a Life and Legacy
This stovepipe top hat was nearly synonymous with Lincoln, and it was worn on a fateful day.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Mid-Century Spin on Weaving
Dorothy Liebes had a big impact on 20th-century design.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Mary Vaux Walcott, a Natural Artist
Walcott was a botanist, glacial geologist, and artist—and had ties to the Smithsonian.
Smithsonian Snapshot

How Very Logical
"Live long and prosper."—Mr. Spock
Smithsonian Snapshot

To Tell the Tooth
What species of extinct mammal did this molar belong to?
Smithsonian Snapshot

Ground Control to Major Tom?
This mid-century space oddity allowed visitors to phone home.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Relics of a Pivotal, Calamitous Battle
These relics commemorate the bloodiest single battle on American soil.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Life Well-Laughed
Bob Newhart has had an award-winning, six decade-long career as a stand-up comedian and film and television actor.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Let's Go!
The Harlem Hellfighters fought with ferocity and gallantry and are honored in Bisa Butler’s artwork.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Grain by Grain
Part painting, part sculpture, the resulting art form is unique and often quite astonishing in its detail and precision.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Cosmic Beadwork
This artwork brings illumination to the problem of light pollution.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Hedy Lamarr: Golden Age Film Star—and Important Inventor
Lamarr’s invention contributed to communications technologies used today, such as Wi-Fi and GPS.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Path to Genealogical and Historical Discovery
Family historians and genealogists can search for their ancestors; scholars can research topics related to slavery and the era of Reconstruction.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Betty White's Lesser-Known Role
From Hollywood to the home front.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Grace Thorpe: A Life of Service at Home and Abroad
Thorpe was a World War II veteran and advocate for Native American rights.

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