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Smithsonian Snapshot

A peek into our collections, one object at a time

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.
Smithsonian Snapshot

What a Good Boy!
What kind of dog is this?!
Smithsonian Snapshot

Still Rolling Around
Even in the digital age, the Rolodex survives.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Beautiful Blue Morpho
What makes this butterfly blue?
Smithsonian Snapshot

Confirmation at Last of a Black Hole at the Center of the Milky Way
Eight radio observatories across the planet formed a single “Earth-sized” virtual telescope to capture the image.
Smithsonian Snapshot

The Photographer Who Captured Humans and Animals in Motion
Muybridge’s groundbreaking photography captured the moment all of a horse’s hooves were off the ground at once.
Smithsonian Snapshot

The Coal Miner’s Daughter and a Canary Yellow Dress
Country music icon Loretta Lynn created her own look and sound.
Smithsonian Snapshot

Elizabeth Catlett Showcased Issues Through Her Art
Catlett’s sculptures show her long-standing interest in African American dignity, struggle, motherhood, and uplift.
Smithsonian Snapshot

A Fearless Journalist
Journalist and civil rights activist Ethel Payne was often known as the First Lady of the Black Press.

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