From sea to shining sea, learn about our nation's 50 states
Join the Smithsonian on a cross-country trip across the United States in Smithsonian Jigsaw Journeys: The 50 States. Kids ages 6 and up will become American history experts as they learn about what makes each state unique by reading t[...]
"The Smithsonian mineral and gem collection consists of approximately 350,000 mineral specimens and 10,000 gems, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world. The collection is used for scientific research, education programs, and public exhibitions. Born of fluid, heat, and pressure, gems [...]
"On July 23, 1999, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched aboard the space shuttle Columbia and deployed into orbit. With Chandra, the most powerful x-ray telescope ever built, scientists can explore the exotic realm of super-hot, high-energy x-ray sources, including exploding stars and black[...]
Throughout their history, posters have been a significant means of mass communication, often with striking visual effect. The National Air and Space Museum holds an impressive collection of aviation posters. These posters focus primarily on advertising for aviation-related products and activities. T[...]
In terms of quantity and breadth, the Smithsonian Institution's collection of longhorned woodboring beetles is one of the most important in the world. The effort to establish and describe this collection began as early as 1889, when the Smithsonian hired its first coleopterist (who was also only the[...]