Smithsonian

Signature Honor of the National Museum of American History Recognizes Extraordinary Achievement and Philanthropy in July 15 Ceremony The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will present its 11th Great Americans Medal to Melinda French Gates Wednesday, July 15, for her bold leadership as a philanthropist and global advocate committed to unlocking a healthier, more prosperous and more equal future for women and girls in the United States and around the world.

Smithsonian Associates, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco and Smithsonian Gardens, presents “Princess Grace: Celebrating an Enduring Legacy,” Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building at 900 Jefferson Dr. S.W. The free program explores the remarkable life and cultural influence of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. Tickets for this program are sold out.

In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian received a donation of $2.3 million from the Caterpillar Foundation to produce science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming and resources for 40 communities in 21 states over the next three years.

Immersive AI-Powered Art Experience Transforms the Smithsonian Castle Into a Living Canvas on the National Mall What The Smithsonian will debut Smithsonian Dreams, a free immersive public art experience by internationally acclaimed media artist Refik Anadol that transforms the historic Smithsonian Castle into a spectacular canvas of light, sound and AI-generated imagery.

The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Art Bridges Foundation have chosen the 51 institutions that will participate in “50 for 50,” a national collection-sharing initiative coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary. The program will loan important American artworks from the Hirshhorn collection for three- to five-year periods to one museum in each U.S. state and Puerto Rico between 2026 and 2029.

I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then. Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed—

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Art and Japan-based TOPPAN Inc. are partnering to advance the museum’s growing digitization efforts, starting with implementation of cutting-edge virtual- and augmented-reality experiences. This partnership helps propel various goals in the museum’s strategic plan, including expansion of digital content, integration of technology-driven experiences and increasing audience reach.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has renewed its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL), part of the National Institutes for the Humanities, marking the continuation of a partnership dedicated to advancing research, accessibility and understanding of Japan’s literary heritage.

In celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States, this release includes a series of images featuring four wonders of the universe, rendered in red, white, and blue. The images contain X-ray data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, optical and infrared data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, as well as ground-based telescopes.

Two-Night Illumination Transforms the Smithsonian Castle Using AI-Driven Interpretations of the Institution’s Collections The Smithsonian will debut “Smithsonian Dreams,” a large-scale, multisensory public art experience by Refik Anadol, internationally acclaimed media artist and director of Refik Anadol Studio, on the National Mall.