Exhibitions

The Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery probes the science and history of our exploration of planets and moons. This exhibition tells the stories of the diversity of worlds circling our Sun and how exploring those worlds helps .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Ornate bouquet holders were worn for both function and fashion by women during the Victorian era (1837–1901). Over a dozen holders used to showcase posies that incorporated floral messages spelled out in the ‘language of flowers’ are displayed .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

A 4.2-acre rooftop park, named for its donor, features an embroidered parterre in a geometric design of plants and flowers rotated seasonally, an Asian-influenced garden adjacent to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, and a Moorish-influenced garden.... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

This exhibit explores the many treasures and troubles found within a recently acquired, one-of-a-kind music archive compiled by Robert “Mack” McCormick. McCormick (1930-2015), who worked during the 1960s and early 1970s on the Smithsonianʻs .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Four galleries off of the museum’s magnificent third-floor Great Hall showcase the major cultural and political hallmarks of the 20th century. Paintings, sculpture, photographs and prints portray those who were at the center of these moments. .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Some of the top predators on the planet live at the Great Cats exhibit—African lions, Sumatran tigers, and Amur tigers. At each enclosure, visitors can learn about the cats’ characteristics, including social structure, hunting, reproduction, .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air examines how the revolution in warfare that took place during the war redefined the promise and peril of military aviation, and explores the dramatic changes to flight and culture that continue to .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.

Opened as FossiLab in 1995 and formerly located within the Last American Dinosaurs exhibition, FossiLab in Deep Time is a real fossil preparation laboratory. Preparing and maintaining all the fossils in our collection is a big job. Watch .... Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.