Thanks to recent fossil discoveries and modern science, scientists are now piecing together the histories of some of our planet’s creatures that were once a mystery. For example, did you know whales once walked the earth? When we saw the title of a Smithsonian Channel special, When Whales Walked: ... Read More

On July 16, 1969, the world watched as Apollo 11 launched into space from Cape Kennedy. The following days were filled with wonder and excitement as people prepared for the very first Moon Landing. This “one giant leap for mankind” would take place on July 20, 1969, and that day was forever soli... Read More

Summertime is here, and we’re big fans of keeping student’s minds engaged with cool activities and new experiences (like, for example, seeing the world!).  We talked to our friends at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. about what they are doing to help keep k... Read More

Every child is asked at some point in their young lives, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Many little boys and girls may say they want to be astronauts and go to space, or perhaps they voice that they want to fly airplanes. The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, […] Read More

Nisei Soldiers showed bravery and grace as part of the American armed forces in WWII – and have you ever heard of them? If not, you are not alone! This large group of World War II soldiers were largely unrecognized for a long time despite their courage and patriotism. Nisei is the term for the [&h... Read More

2020 marks the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States! Our friends at Smithsonian are celebrating these milestones with the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, Because of Her Story. The American Women’s History Initiative will amplify women’s voices to h... Read More

When people think of the Smithsonian, chances are they think of Washington, D.C. But did you know the Smithsonian has a facility in Panama? The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) was founded with the purpose of increasing and sharing knowledge about the past, present and future of tropic... Read More

If you saw a cast iron skillet in a museum display, would you be surprised? The most common objects can hold a deep cultural importance, which is why everyday items often appear in museums. So how do those everyday objects end up as part of a Smithsonian collection? Dr. Deborah Mack, Associate Direc... Read More

Music is a vital part of American history and culture, and the Smithsonian has deemed 2019 the “Year of Music,” with music programming happening daily across the institution – meaning 365 days of music! In a museum, we wondered how you share something as vibrant and sensory as music. And boy, ... Read More

WorldStrides is thrilled to announce our Smithsonian Institution Insider Access Webinar Series. These information-rich webinars will be a unique chance for educators to hear from some of the top educational experts in the world as they give us an insider look into tools developed by the Smithsonian ... Read More

With the holiday season upon us, toys are on the brains of children (and children at heart). This got us thinking about the incredible collection of toys at the Smithsonian Institution. From vintage to high-tech, these are the toys that rise above the holiday fervor and into history! We asked the fu... Read More

Did you know the Wright brothers’ airplane went to space? (Really! We’re not confused!) The Apollo 11 astronauts took a piece of the Wright Brothers’ airplane to the Moon in 1969! So why did they do this, and what was the meaning behind taking a piece of the plane from Kitty Hawk, North Caroli... Read More

Did you know Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit weighs 80 pounds and consists of 21 layers? The iconic suit first went on display in the Arts and Industries Building after it was given to the Smithsonian by NASA, and was later moved to the newly opened Air and Space Museum in 1976. Armstrong’s suit rema... Read More

Millions of people across the United States will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, potatoes, squash, corn, and cranberries. These foods have become synonymous with Thanksgiving, but how did they end up on tables from Maine to California? According to Bruce Smith, senior... Read More

Among the formal white buildings of Washington, D.C., the National Museum of the American Indian building stands out. One is immediately struck by its unique shape, not to mention the interesting features that surround the building. As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we were curious abo... Read More

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know it is election season. While elections have arguably become more chaotic in recent years, the passion behind political campaigning is nothing new. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is home to over 100,000 political history item... Read More

Trick or treat?! Halloween is here and it’s time to indulge. Over the years we have followed the amazing animals at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The animals’ regular diets are interesting and often impressive, but we’ve particularly loved watching as they are spoiled with “treats” on spec... Read More

We all know “there’s no place like home,” and the Smithsonian Institution is lucky enough to be home to a pair of Dorothy’s original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. After over a year of careful study and preservation, these special heels will return to display on October 19, 2018, so vi... Read More

As summer comes to close, we are preparing ourselves for the beautiful gardens we enjoy during the warmer months to slowly slip away for the fall/winter. This got us thinking about the amazing Mary Livingston Ripley Garden at the Smithsonian Institution. But who was Mary Livingston Ripley, and why i... Read More

Did you know?  The U.S. red carpet premiere of Mission: Impossible – Fallout, featuring the one and only Tom Cruise, took place at the Smithsonian Institution.  Other recent red carpet premieres with cast and filmmakers include Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and Interstellar.  Wonder Woman 1... Read More

The life milestones of America’s favorite pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC seem to fascinate the world. Mei Xiang turned 20 in July and enjoyed a cake in front of many, many cameras. As we celebrate her son Bei Bei’s 4th birthday…this got us wondering, what’s in... Read More

As part of our ongoing “Hey Smithsonian” series, we are calling on the experts at the establishment itself to answer some questions we have about the iconic institution. It may seem like a basic query, but how did the Smithsonian get its name anyway? It’s actually an incredibly interesting sto... Read More

Is this flag the single most important artifact at the Smithsonian Institution? It just might be. In celebration of the Fourth of July, we’ll be seeing a lot of American flags this week – on mailboxes, main streets, parades, t-shirts, and even painted on faces! It got us thinking about THE flag ... Read More

If you’ve ever been to the National Air and Space Museum, chances are you’ve wondered – how does the Smithsonian get a plane in the building? (Well, maybe you have wondered this, or maybe you haven’t.) We have been wondering and we asked them! Here’s what the Collections Department, from t... Read More

The next time you’re at one of the amazing Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. – or reading Smithsonian Magazine, or, really, doing anything with our friends at Smithsonian– take a few minutes to pay some extra attention to the Smithsonian logo. It’s this one:   Simple enough, right... Read More