Smithsonian Institution - Official Guide to the Smithsonian

2021 Smithsonian Institution

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Smithsonian Institution, author.

Title: Official guide to the Smithsonian.

Description: Fifth edition. | Washington : Smithsonian Books, 2021.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020030035 | ISBN 9781588346827 (trade paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Smithsonian Institution--Guidebooks. | Washington (D.C.)--Guidebooks. | New York (N.Y.)--Guidebooks.

Classification: LCC Q11.S3 S664 2021 | DDC 917.5304/42--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020030035

Ebook ISBN9781588347169

Published by Smithsonian Books

Director: Carolyn Gleason

Senior Editor: Jaime Schwender

Assistant Editor: Julie Huggins

Editor: Joanna Reams

Designer: Leah Germann

The following are among the many individuals who provided invaluable assistance in the preparation of this edition: Adina McGee, Allison Peck, Amelia Meyer, Bethany Bentley, Cynthia Brown, Deane Madsen, Donna Tuggle, Douglas Remley, Elisa Hough, Erin Beasley, Erin Rushing, Frank Edwards, Frederica Aldelman, Fernanda Luppani, Jennifer Zoon, Jim Wood, Joyce Connolly, Juliana Olsson, Kristen Quarles, Laura Duff, Laura Harger, Lauren Kolodkin, Laurie Bohlk, Lisa Austin, Lisa Dunham, Marc Sklar, Marcia Baird Burris, Marilyn Scallan, Marshall Emery, Migs Grove, Myriam Springuel, Rebecca Robinson, Rhys Conlon, Richard Stamm, Samantha Barry, Stanley Hackadon, Tanya Thrasher, and Tyler Jump.

Photo Credits: Adrian James Testa, Alan Karchmer, Alex Jamison, Carl C. Hansen, Chip Clark, Colleen Dugan, Connor Mallon, Doc Dougherty, Donald E. Hurlbert, Eric Long, Ernest Amoroso, Gary Mulcahey, Jaclyn Nash, James Di Loreto, Jennifer Renteria, Jessie Cohen, Jim and Pam Jenkins, Jim Preston, Joseph Campbell, Kate D. Sherwood, Katherine Fogden, Leah Jones, Lucia R.M. Martino, Mackenzie Risher, Mark Avino, Matt Flynn, Mehgan Murphy, Miguel Montalvo, Neil Greentree, Paul Fetters, R.A. Whiteside, Robert Harrell, Roshan Patel, Skip Brown, and Walter Larrimore.

Cover: Smithsonian Castle and the Enid Haupt Garden. Photo by Jeff Tinsley.

Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Courtesy the artist, Ota Fine Arts and Victoria Miro. YAYOI KUSAMA.

Endsheets: Map of the National Mall by Amber Frid-Jimenez with special assistance from National Capital Planning Commission

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CONTENTS

National Zoo
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (see National Air and Space Museum)

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
George Gustav Heye Center (see National Museum of the American Indian)

You can enter the Castle on the south side, from Independence Avenue and the Enid A. Haupt Garden.

WELCOME TO THE SMITHSONIAN!

Through our nineteen museums, National Zoo, and numerous research centers, the Smithsonian offers a wide variety of exciting, inspiring experiences for the whole family. Whether youre interested in art, science, history, or culture, you can find something here for everyone. Through exciting exhibitions, Smithsonian magazine, the Smithsonian Channel, books, blogs, afliate museums, lectures, and tours, the Smithsonian connects Americans to their heritage.

For more than 170 years, the Smithsonian has remained true to its mission, the increase and diffusion of knowledge, and today maintains scholarly contacts or conducts research in more than 140 countries worldwide. The Smithsonian is involved in pressing issues of the day in science, education, and concerns of national identity. It is a vast enterprise that encompassesin addition to exhibition halls and art gallerieslaboratories, observatories, eld stations, scientic expeditions, classrooms, performing arts events, publications, afliate museums, the worlds largest traveling exhibition service, a cable television channel, numerous websites, and much more.

Through its creative staff and collections, the Smithsonian presents the astonishing record of American historical, cultural, and scientic achievement with a scope and depth no other institution in the world can match. The remarkable collections of the Smithsonian are the basis for research, exhibitions, and public programs in art, history, and science. The collections include more than 155 million artifacts, works of art, and scientic specimens. Among them are objects that speak to our nations inquisitiveness, bold vision, creativity, empathy, and courage: the Space Shuttle