Smithsonian Associates August 2026 program guide

After attending my first lecture at Smithsonian Associates, I was hooked. I'm proud to help ensure Associates can thrive for decades to come in a way that makes sense for my family and finances as a Legacy Society member.

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Join the Associates Legacy Society

In the 1830s, a gift from a single benefactor led to the birth of the Smithsonian. Today, you can share the same visionary spirit and generosity embodied by James Smithson by becoming a founding member of the Associates Legacy Society.

Smithson saw the new institution as a place uniquely dedicated to learning. And from its founding 60 years ago, Smithsonian Associates has been committed to the same goal: creating opportunities for learning for people of all ages.

Your own legacy gift—of any size—will ensure that we are able to continue that vital work for current and future generations. And at the same time, you’ll be able to take advantage of income and tax benefits for yourself and your heirs.

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Members also receive invitations to special programs and Smithsonian Associates learning experiences.

Begin the Conversation

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Please contact Elizabeth Moloney, Director of Advancement, at (202) 633-8697 or DonorServices@si.edu.

Dear Friends and Members,

Every creative journey begins with a spark of inspiration, and if yours leads toward the visual arts, Smithsonian Associates’ Studio Arts classes offer the perfect place to begin. Whether you’re discovering your creativity for the first time or expanding your skills, you’ll find courses and workshops ranging from drawing and fiber arts to bookmaking, painting, photography, and mosaics. Uncover your own spark and explore the variety of summer Studio Arts offerings and the upcoming fall season (p. 48).

Throughout this guide, you’ll find programs that delve into the sources of creativity for artists in a wide range of forms. The enduring power of music across centuries is rooted in uniquely personal inspirations. Explore how these perspectives gave birth to works by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla (p. 19), Vivaldi’s remarkable 20th-century revival (p. 20), Mahler’s early symphonies (p. 22), and Bach’s monumental Mass (p. 24).

Learn how a collaboration fueled by intensity brought together director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro to examine American life through raw cinematic storytelling (p. 17). Six extraordinary objects in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History offer behind-the-scenes insights into how Jim Henson blended artistry, technology, and storytelling to reshape modern entertainment (p. 27).

The impact of a place has long played a role in artists' creative output: Consider how the stark Arizona desert influenced Georgia O’Keeffe’s artistic vision (p. 41), the North African landscape lured 19th-century European painters (p. 44), and the luminous colorscape of Matisse’s beloved southern France brought his paintings to life (p. 46).

August 2026

Closer to home, remember that Smithsonian Associates programs are always here to spark your curiosity and nurture your inspiration. Let’s make those creative journeys together!

Frederica R. Adelman, Director adelmanf@si.edu

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Connect ions Collab orations

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Perspectives

on America at 250

As the United States enters its semiquincentennial year, Smithsonian Associates launches two special program series and a host of commemorative programs as part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. Marking 250 years of the nation’s experiment in self-government, these programs explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and aspirations that have shaped America—and how the past informs the challenges and possibilities ahead.

The Enduring Power of International Exchange

Hosted in partnership with the Smithsonian’s Office of Global Affairs and with embassies that have built strong, lasting relationships with the United States, this series honors the vital role diplomacy, cultural exchange, and mutual respect have played in shaping our nation and its place in the world. From the earliest days surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence to contemporary collaborations in science, art, and global affairs, people-to-people and global cultural exchange have helped advance dialogue and deepen understanding. In this milestone year, these programs underscore how international friendships—nurtured through history, culture, and creativity—continue to strengthen the American story. Each program is free, requires registration, and includes a light reception.

Faith in Harmony: Soundscapes of American Spirituality

Rooted in the nation's commitment to freedom of belief, this five-part series explores the rich and evolving landscape of religion and spirituality in America—including Jewish,

Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Native American spiritual practices, among others—through celebrations of sound. Programs, offered free to the public, feature performances and conversations that reveal the human connections that emerge when sounds resonate in harmony. From the sounding of the horn to the strike of the daf, from the healing of the jingle dress to a cantor’s call to prayer, these soundscapes reflect the tones, textures, and connections of American spirituality across the nation.

Four in-person sessions—hosted in some of the Smithsonian’s marquee performance venues on the National Mall—delve into the ways sound can reflect, shape, and amplify diverse faith traditions. The final virtual program weaves together elements of the nation’s spiritual practices, culminating in a symphony of uplifting sound.

Princess Grace

Celebrating an Enduring Legacy

Princess Grace, who was American film star Grace Kelly before her marriage to Monaco’s Prince Rainier III, was a staunch supporter of the performing arts throughout her life. Members of the Princess Grace Foundation in conversation with a Smithsonian curator discuss her life and legacy.

In collaboration with the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco and Smithsonian Gardens

Tues., Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m.; Arts and Industries Building; CODE 1TDIPLO3; free; registration required

How Spain Supported the American Revolution

The Key Role of Bernardo de Gálvez

Spain provided essential support to the American colonies during the Revolutionary War, with Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, playing a critical role. A historian illuminates Spain’s contributions to American independence, and a National Portrait Gallery curator highlights a painting of de Gálvez.

Thurs., Sept. 17, 6 p.m.; Embassy of Spain; CODE 1TDIPLO4; free; required registration for members begins Aug. 6 and the general public on Aug. 10.

Science Without Borders Italian Physicists in American Discoveries

Italian-born physicists Enrico Fermi, Emilio Segrè, and Bruno Rossi were instrumental in the 20th century’s scientific revolution in America. Learn more from a panel of experts, including a professor of experimental physics at the University of Padua, moderated by a National Museum of American History curator.

Registration for this free Oct. 27 program at the Embassy of Italy begins in September.

Beat

Echoing the deepest beats of the heart, drums are perhaps the oldest human instruments, and they figure into faith traditions across the United States. By looking at the percussion of the daf in the American Islamic diaspora, how taiko drumming connects Japanese Americans with Buddhist and Shinto traditions, and the power of Native American drum circles, this program explores how Americans today feel the beat of their faith in harmony.

Thurs., Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.; Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building; CODE 1W0-997; free; registration required

Ringing

The range of emotions evoked by the sound of ringing reflects a deep connection with the human spirit, one that operates on different levels in different faiths, including Hindu, Buddhist, and Native American traditions. This program illuminates the power of bells, chimes, and jingles to connect us to the divine—and even to heal—as we celebrate faith in harmony.

Thurs., Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m.; Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian; CODE 1W0-996; free; registration required

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There are 1,248 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each one offering a glimpse into the evolution of complex civilizations, empires, and religions. In this monthly series, historian Justin M. Jacobs gives an in-depth overview of both well-known and lesser-known locations.

The Sacred Buddhist Landscape of Bagan

Nearly 4,000 Buddhist shrines, temples, and monasteries dot the arid plains around the ancient walled city of Bagan in Upper Myanmar, dating mostly from the 11th to 13th centuries. Jacobs examines one of the earliest and most spectacular Buddhist kingdoms in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the art and architecture of Bagan and the religious monuments erected during the height of its power.

Wed., Aug. 19, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-566; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Samarra and the Abbasid Caliphate

Once the thriving capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, Samarra in the 9th century served as the center of an Islamic empire that stretched from northern Africa to Central Asia. Its striking spiral minaret serves as an enduring reminder of the Great Mosque that once enclosed this sacred ground along the banks of the Tigris River. Jacobs focuses on Samarra’s rare preservation of Islamic art, architecture, and city plans from the heyday of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Wed., Sept. 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-574; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil

Built from scratch in the 1950s, the Modernist city of Brasilia was designed to express new ideas about urban living and city planning while relocating the national capital from the coast to a more central site in the Brazilian highlands. Jacobs surveys Brasilia’s carefully designed downtown landscapes and creative solutions to urban housing, all meant to synchronize with one another and provide a progressive model for a better world.

Wed., Oct. 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-579; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Virunga National Park

The mist-enshrouded peaks of the Virunga Mountains are part of one of Africa’s earliest protected natural areas. Known for an active chain of volcanoes, Virunga National Park is home to the endangered mountain gorilla and more than 300 other faunal and floral species. Jacobs shows how together with the adjacent lands of Volcanoes National Park, made famous by the fieldwork of zoologist Dian Fossey, Virunga provides a tense yet majestic backdrop for the competing demands of economic development and ecological preservation.

Wed., Nov. 4, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-585; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Registered for a Smithsonian Associates online program but missed it because of a schedule conflict? Wish you could take a second look at a presentation you loved? Associates Encores offers the answer to these questions—and more.

Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org for more information

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Saving the Declaration of Independence

How Clerks, Scientists, and Bureaucrats Preserved a National Treasure

Few documents have captured the soul of America like the Declaration of Independence. When the Founding Fathers put pen to parchment 250 years ago, their concerns focused on the words and ideas being recorded. Within a few decades, though, as the document's ink began to fade, the race to protect and preserve this critical part of American history began.

Historian Michael Auslin traces the story of how the Declaration of Independence has survived, bringing to life the physical history of America’s founding document.

His new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America (Simon & Schuster), is available for purchase.

Mon., Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-020; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Babylon: Metropolis and Myth

Babylon is a name that denotes both the great ancient Mesopotamian city and a symbolic, imagined version of Babylon that appears in many cultural traditions—from the Tower of Babel in the Hebrew Bible and the Whore of Babylon in the New Testament to the 1970s reggae song “Rivers of Babylon.”

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, professor in ancient history at Cardiff University, traces Babylon’s growth from its first royal dynasty to its emergence as a superpower in the Near East. The kingdom of Babylonia came into being and, governed by mighty Babylon, set the agenda for what civilization meant. Llewellyn-Jones explores Babylon’s reputation as a city with a dual legacy, drawing on its rich ancient past and its enduring mythic story.

His newest book, Babylon: The Biography of a Metropolis (Pegasus Books), is available for purchase.

Mon., Aug. 3, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-166; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Colonial Florida

St. Augustine and Beyond

The early history of Florida is often cast as Spanish conquistadors coming to a miserable place and embarking on quixotic quests in search of magical fountains and cities of gold, only to find death, poverty, and despair. Yet this familiar narrative obscures a more complex history.

Historian J. Michael Francis explores the earliest decades of Florida’s colonial past, including the 1565 founding of St. Augustine—the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in what is now the United States. Drawing on his public history initiative, the Lost Voices project, Francis tells the intersecting stories of European settlers, Native Americans, and Africans, revealing a dynamic, interconnected world.

Mon., Aug. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-093; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Joan of Arc

Saint, Soldier, and Leader

In April 1429, Joan of Arc rode into the besieged city of Orleans. In May 1431, she was burned at the stake in Rouen. The 25 months between changed the histories of France, of England, and, as the Hundred Years War played out, of Europe itself. Few people in history have achieved so much in so little time, says military historian Michael Livingston, and few have captured the imagination of the world so thoroughly. Drawing from his 2025 book Bloody Crowns, a critical revision of how modern Europe arose from medieval battlefields, Livingston re-examines the story of Joan—what we know of her, how we know of her, and how a teenaged girl could have such an impact on a male-dominated age.

Tues., Aug. 11, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-720; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Great Fire of London

The Destruction and Rebirth of a City

For almost five days in early September 1666, London was engulfed in flames. Beginning in a bakery, the fire spread quickly, ultimately destroying the heart of the third-largest city in the Western world. Although urban fires were common, a unique combination of circumstances allowed this one to race through the city, igniting stores of combustible goods.

1670

Tudor and Shakespeare historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger examines how decisions made by city leaders, changes in weather conditions, and actions taken by the royal family influenced the fire’s spread and eventual containment. She traces the event’s lasting impact, including debates over how the city would be rebuilt and how those decisions shaped London’s future. She also surveys the social, economic, and political effects of the fire in the years that followed.

Wed., Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-470; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Mycenaean Culture

Eleanor Roosevelt

An Untraditional First Lady

In August 1943, at the height of World War II, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt undertook an extraordinary journey to the Pacific Theater, traveling more than 25,000 miles to visit military bases, hospitals, Red Cross clubs, and remote outposts where American troops were stationed. Author Shannon McKenna Schmidt chronicles the first lady’s five-week journey as she flew in unheated transport planes and bombers, slept on army cots in rustic huts, dined in mess halls, and even trekked through the jungle on a simulated training mission. Schmidt also traces Roosevelt’s transformation from a shy society matron into one of the most visible and consequential first ladies in American history.

Mon., Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-094; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

From the earliest discoveries of what came to be known as “Mycenaean culture,” it has been unclear exactly how to understand it. Classicist and archaeologist Dimitri Nakassis explores the archaeological and textual evidence for the Mycenaean world, which turns out to be too complex to fit neatly into simple categories. Across half a millennium of history (ca. 1650–1100 B.C.E.), stretching from the eastern shores of the Aegean to the Ionian Sea and beyond, Mycenaean communities took many different forms.

In the 150 years since the discovery of the shaft graves by Heinrich Schliemann, much has been learned about Late Bronze Age Greece, which continues to produce exciting new discoveries every year. These findings not only fascinate; they also pose new questions and challenge long-held assumptions.

Tues., Aug. 18, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-919; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots

Cousins in a Royal Conflict

The rivalry between Elizabeth I of England and Mary, Queen of Scots, was one of the most dramatic political and religious conflicts of the 16th century. Elizabeth, a Protestant ruling an anxious England, faced constant Catholic plots to replace her with Mary, a Catholic with a strong hereditary claim to the English throne. Mary’s turbulent life—from her troubled reign in Scotland to her long English captivity—made her a magnet for conspiracies, though her direct involvement remains debated.

Historian Amy Leonard explores their fraught, indirect relationship: two related queens, never meeting in person, yet bound by rivalry and international intrigue. Mary’s execution in 1587 ended a major threat to Elizabeth but deepened tensions between Protestant England and Catholic Europe.

Wed., Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-918; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

The Romanian Campaign

The Pivot That Reshaped WWI

The Romanian Front is one of the most often overlooked of the many battlefronts of the First World War, and yet when the country entered the war in late August 1916, its appearance as a new enemy forced all four Central Powers to divert many of their best troops and thousands of tons of weapons and supplies from other fronts where they were desperately needed.

The American Revolution

The American War of Independence freed the 13 British colonies in North America from Crown rule and set the stage for the United States’ bold experiment in self-government. Drawing on primary sources, historian Christopher Hamner continues his series that explores the pivotal turning points and strategic choices that shaped the course and the conclusion of the war.

AUG 20 Valley Forge: Soldier’s Life in the Continental Army

Historian Indy Neidell notes that Germany was stretched so thin that its leadership even feared Denmark might exploit the situation. Although the Central Powers launched massive offensives, they failed to fully conquer Romania or remove it from the war. With Russia collapsing, Romania became one of the Entente’s few remaining advantages, significantly contributing to the Central Powers’ final exhaustion by 1918.

Wed., Aug. 19, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-023; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Roman North Africa

Empire at the Edge of the Sahara

SEPT 24 Turning Point: The Battle of Saratoga

OCT 22 Cowpens and Yorktown: The Final Campaigns of the Revolution NOV 19 The Newburgh Conspiracy: Civil–Military Tensions in the Early Republic

4-session series: Thurs., Aug. 20, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, and Nov. 19, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-172; Members $100; Nonmembers $120

Individual sessions: Thurs., Aug. 20 (CODE 1D0-172A); Thurs., Sept. 24 (CODE 1D0-172B); Thurs., Oct. 22 (CODE 1D0-172C), Thurs., Nov. 19 (CODE 1D0-172D); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40

Roman North Africa was one of the empire’s most productive and culturally complex regions. From Morocco to Libya, Rome reshaped regions long influenced by Phoenician, Punic, Numidian, and Libyan cultures, layering its rule over deep local traditions. In Algeria, cities like Timgad show Rome’s military precision, securing the desert frontier. Tunisia’s Carthage, once Rome’s enemy, became a major capital and agricultural hub that fed Italy. In Libya, Leptis Magna and Cyrene thrived on trade linking the Mediterranean to sub-Saharan Africa, moving grain, oil, animals, and people across lengthy routes.

Archaeologist and historian Darius Arya examines the vital role of Roman North Africa, showing how it fed Rome, connected continents, and fused African, Punic, Greek, and Roman worlds into one of the empire’s most successful provinces.

Wed., Aug. 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-168; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Loyalists in the American Revolution

Standing by Britain and the Crown

Loyalists emerged as the great losers of the American Revolution. These men and women who opposed independence and fought to keep the colonies within the British Empire saw their fortunes collapse after the patriot victory at Yorktown in 1781. History quickly lost sight of them, and from today’s perspective it’s hard to understand why so many ordinary Americans were bitterly opposed to the break with Britain and the birth of a new democratic nation.

Historian Richard Bell reexamines the conflict through the experiences of loyalists from all rungs of the social ladder, challenging stereotypes that portray them as cowardly elites or self-interested officials. Bell explores their motivations, their wartime struggles, and the profound changes they faced once the patriots prevailed. Tues., Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-472; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The History and Beauty of Mount Desert Island

Mount Desert Island off Downeast Maine is known for its granite cliffs, rocky harbors, and the sweeping vistas of Acadia National Park, but its dramatic scenery is inseparable from its human history. Historian Ralph Nurnberger traces the island’s story from its Native peoples and Samuel de Champlain’s early exploration through centuries of settlement. In the 19th century, Hudson River School artists helped establish its reputation for majestic, unspoiled beauty, and by the Gilded Age it had become a summer haven for prominent families.

Together, these and other stories reveal the history and beauty of Mount Desert Island. They invite a closer look at the landscape, people, and forces that continue to shape it today and why it remains one of America’s most remarkable coastal landscapes.

Wed., Sept. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-173; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The History of Flight

Four curators and historians from the National Air and Space Museum trace the history of flight, from humanity’s early aspirations for aerial transit, to 12 breathtaking seconds at Kitty Hawk, to the advances that came with global combat, to how jet engines and digital technology are opening a new future for aviation.

SEPT 3 The Dawn of Early Flight

SEPT 10 The Birth of Heavier-Than-Air Aviation Through World War I

SEPT 17 The Birth of Commercial Aviation

SEPT 24 The History of Flight in the Digital Age

Individual sessions: Thurs., Sept. 3 (CODE 1W0-025A); Thurs., Sept. 10 (CODE 1W0-025B); Thurs., Sept. 17 (CODE 1W0-025C); Thurs., Sept. 24 (CODE 1W0-025D); 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art

The Nazis didn’t steal just art, says author and prosecutor Adena J. Bernstein: They also stole identity, history, and memory. Decades later, thousands of those artworks hang in museums and private collections not because their histories are unknown but because laws permit institutions and third parties to retain them. Drawing on research covering 13 nations, Bernstein describes how coerced sales were later treated as legitimate transactions and how survivors and their families have been asked to meet heavy evidentiary burdens. She considers what accountability should look like and whether legal systems are equipped to deliver it.

The Little Ice Age and the “Global Crisis” of the 17th Century

The View from Northern Europe

The 17th century in Europe was a time of intense turmoil—war, rebellion, plague, famine, and widespread mortality. These human crises unfolded alongside the Little Ice Age, a centuries-long period of cooler temperatures across Europe and parts of the Northern Hemisphere. While scholars debate its precise influence, historians such as Geoffrey Parker argue that climate change significantly shaped what has been called the century’s “Global Crisis.”

Bernstein’s new book, Stolen Legacies: The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art, is available for purchase.

Tues., Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-088; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Ariel Hessayon of the University of London examines this connection by drawing on often-overlooked evidence: ice cores, pollen samples, tree rings, stalactites, manuscripts, printed treatises, and visual art. He also reveals the strategies people used to endure and adapt to a harsher climate.

Tues., Sept. 8, 12:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-923; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

White House Memories

Recollections of the Longest-Serving Chief Usher

In a richly illustrated conversation, Gary J. Walters, the longest-serving chief usher in White House history, reflects on extraordinary moments from his 37 years of service. In his role, Walters oversaw the Executive Mansion’s administrative, fiscal, and personnel operations while working closely with each first family from Presidents Nixon through George W. Bush.

He offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into major events, including Watergate and Nixon’s final day, Queen Elizabeth II’s Bicentennial visit, the first papal visit, Election Day tensions, presidential transitions, and a detailed account of what was going on at the White House on Sept. 11, 2001.

White House Memories 1970–2007: Recollections of the Longest Serving Chief Usher (White House Historical Association), is available for purchase.

Wed., Sept. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-726; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Allied Strategy and Operation Overlord

The Great WWII Crusade

Most Americans know the basic outlines of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944. After four and a half years of war, 160,000 British, Canadian, and American soldiers landed in occupied France under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Not as well known, however, is the Allied strategy and planning that led to Operation Overlord. Military historian Kevin Weddle traces the development and deployment of the Allied military strategy for Europe and the cross-channel invasion. He describes the bitter disagreements and reluctant compromises between American and British senior military and political leaders and how their forces came together to fight in what Weddle considers as the greatest military operation in history.

Mon., Sept. 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-728; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Mound, Collinsville, Illinois

Cahokia

An Ancient City at the Heart of America

Once the largest urban center north of Mexico, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois, stands as one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in North America, reshaping the understanding of pre-Columbian civilization. At its peak, ca. 950–1350, Cahokia was a thriving city of tens of thousands, defined by monumental earthworks, sophisticated planning, and far-reaching influence. Today it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Site interpreter Angela Cooper places Cahokia within the broader story of Indigenous North America, outlining its deep historical roots and the shared traditions of the Mississippian world. She focuses on Cahokia’s rise in the American Bottom, exploring how this remarkable city developed and flourished. Cooper connects Cahokia to other Mississippian sites and to descendant communities today, underscoring its enduring cultural significance.

Mon., Sept. 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-211; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Visions of a Brighter Tomorrow

World’s Fairs of the 1930s

The World’s Fairs of the 1930s offered vivid visions of a world in flux—attempting to chart a future when stability felt out of reach. As the Great Depression reshaped daily life and global tensions rose, fairs in Chicago, Paris, and New York became spectacular stages where nations projected optimism, power, and unease through architecture, technology, and performance.

Art historian Jennie Hirsh examines this trio of landmark fairs, revealing how they transformed crisis into dazzling displays that captured both the aspirations and anxieties of their era.

SEPT 17 Chicago 1933–1934: A Century of Progress

OCT 15 Paris 1937: In the Shadow of War

NOV 12 New York 1939: Dawn of a New Day

3-session series: Thurs., Sept. 17, Oct. 15, and Nov. 12, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-177; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Individual sessions: Thurs., Sept. 17 (CODE 1D0-177A); Thurs., Oct. 15 (CODE 1D0-177B); Thurs., Nov. 12 (CODE 1D0-177C); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40

The Plantagenet Dynasty

Power, Identity, and the Making of Medieval Britain

Few royal houses shaped the political and cultural landscape of medieval Britain more profoundly than the Plantagenets. Ruling from the 12th to the 15th centuries, they forged an empire stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees, developed Parliament, clashed with the Church, fought crusades, and waged the Hundred Years’ War, all while also inspiring some of the most enduring legends in British history.

In a full-day seminar, historian Cheryl White traces how perceptions of the Plantagenets have evolved over time, examining the dynasty’s role in shaping law, kingship, national identity, and historical memory. As modern scholarship reassesses these rulers to attempt to separate myth from reality, White explores why the Plantagenets remain a source of enduring fascination.

Sat., Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-473; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Katherine Parr: More Than the “Survivor”

Many people know the six wives of Henry VIII through the famous rhyme: Divorced, beheaded, died, / Divorced, beheaded, survived. Dismissed for many years as simply the “survivor,” Katherine Parr was reimagined as a matronly nursemaid who kept the ailing king comfortable in his final years, fading loyally into the background. Recent portrayals reveal a woman who was a potentially devious political operator, focused on her survival at the expense of others. Nursemaid, manipulator, or something else entirely: Who was the real Katherine Parr?

Tudor and Shakespeare scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger draws on the the latest scholarship to provide a fuller portrait of this complex woman who caught the eye of an infamous king and kept his favor in a volatile and dangerous court.

Tues., Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-474; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

History by a Hair

Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, and Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery

In 2011, staff at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History discovered a hair, light red in color and possibly human, between pages of an unpublished manuscript by Thomas Jefferson. That hair sparked an unprecedented scientific quest: Could advances in modern genomics recover Jefferson’s DNA and finally resolve the most divisive and enduring question surrounding his personal life—the paternity of the children of Sally Hemings, one of hundreds of African Americans enslaved at Monticello?

Richard Kurin, Smithsonian distinguished scholar, discusses the decade-and-a-half-long genomic investigation that settles the historical record, deepens understanding of the third president’s life and legacy, and acknowledges generations of family histories.

Kurin’s new book, History by a Hair: Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings & Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery (Crown), is available for purchase.

Wed., Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0028; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

A Day in History: The Battle of Salamis

Few days in ancient history can be reconstructed in nearly hour-by-hour detail, but the Battle of Salamis in September 480 B.C.E. is one of them. Professor emeritus of classics Robert Garland recounts this consequential clash between the Greeks and the Persian Empire, often called “the battle that saved Western civilization.”

On the eve of battle, King Xerxes positioned his navy to trap the Greek fleet. Most Greek commanders favored withdrawal, but the Athenian general Themistocles refused, convinced that Athens’ salvation lay in its fleet, the “wooden wall” of Delphic prophecy. In the narrow straits of Salamis, the smaller Greek force outmaneuvered and defeated the vastly larger Persian navy—a lasting reminder of how strategy can overcome overwhelming power and how hubris invites defeat.

Thurs., Sept. 24, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-576; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

James Wilson: The Lost Founding Father

James Wilson, a brilliant yet largely forgotten Founding Father, helped shape America’s core political ideals. As a young lawyer, he wrote a powerful case for independence—an essay Thomas Jefferson kept nearby while drafting the Declaration of Independence. Wilson later produced the first draft of the Constitution and introduced “We the people,” reflecting his belief that Americans themselves are the true source of governmental power.

Although he became one of the first Supreme Court justices, his career collapsed after reckless land speculation. Author Jesse Wegman brings to life one of America’s most prescient early patriots and his remarkable, complicated legacy.

Wegman’s newest book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution (Celadon Books), is available for purchase.

Wed., Sept. 30, 6:45 p.m.: CODE 1D0-176; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

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The Hidden History of Washington’s Cemeteries

Washington, D.C.’s cemeteries offer a lens into the city’s history, where landscape design, architecture, and memory intersect. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, explores four distinctive burial grounds: Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Zion Cemetery and Female Union Band Society Cemetery, Glenwood Cemetery, and Rock Creek Cemetery.

Each site reflects different communities, eras, and approaches to commemoration. From the picturesque, garden-inspired designs of Oak Hill and Rock Creek to the rural cemetery movement embodied at Glenwood, these spaces reveal how 19th-century ideals shaped both the physical landscape and the cultural meaning of burial grounds in the nation’s capital.

By examining their design and symbolism and the lives they commemorate, Muraskin presents cemeteries not as static resting places but as dynamic cultural landscapes that continue to shape how we understand the city’s past.

Tues., Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-208; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Judgment Days

Famous Trials and Social Conflict in American History

Americans have always been captivated by trials, not just as legal proceedings but as gripping public dramas. As Michael Ross, professor of history at the University of Maryland, argues, the most sensational trials do more than determine guilt or innocence: They expose the fault lines in American society. The trials that linger in the collective memory do so because the conflicts they reveal never fully disappear. They continue to reverberate across decades, even centuries.

In this series, Ross brings to life four of the most famous trials in American history—focused on witchcraft, an accused Gilded Age double murderess, the debate over evolution, and the controversial Chicago Seven—showing how each became a flashpoint for the tensions of its time and explaining why each still matters.

4-session series: Wed., Oct. 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-478; detailed program information on website; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

The Art of Surviving Belle Isle and Beyond

During the Civil War, tens of thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers endured brutal conditions in prison camps such as Belle Isle in Richmond. Yet amid hardship, many prisoners found ways to preserve their humanity. They sketched, carved, wrote, and crafted objects from whatever materials they could find, using artistic expression to cope with captivity, document their experiences, and maintain a sense of identity and hope.

Kelly Hancock of the American Civil War Museum examines the harsh realities of these camps and highlights works from the museum’s extensive POW art collection.

Tues., Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-210; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Civil War: Mapping the Sectional Crisis

Historians rightly treat the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 as a turning point in American life, when the prospect of slavery’s expansion into the West galvanized opposition in the halls of Congress and across the northern states. But far less attention has been paid to the foundational role that maps played in this crisis.

Whether used in mass meetings, broadsides, newspapers, or pamphlets, maps visualized the threat slavery posed to the nation’s future and in the process birthed a broad anti-slavery coalition that ultimately elected Abraham Lincoln to the presidency. Susan Schulten, professor of history at the University of Denver, explores how political maps were designed to mobilize the electorate in the 1850s, reshaping visions of the American West and—by extension—the nation itself.

Tues., Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-927; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Crafting Witches

The story of the 1692 Salem witch trials is well known, but Salem actually marked the end of a long, widespread witch craze.

Historian Kate E. Bush traces witch trials back to their origins in Europe during the 15th century. Bush explores how new beliefs about certain people, most often women, working in league with the Devil took hold during that time and led to the spread of witch hunts across Europe and its colonies. She also examines the enduring stereotypes that defined the witch in popular imagination.

Illuminated manuscript depicting witches, 1451

Wed., Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-090; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Port Royal Experiment

Breathing Democracy into Reconstruction

In fall 1861, Union forces captured Port Royal, South Carolina, and the surrounding Sea Islands. As white residents fled the ensuing Union occupation, they left behind thousands of enslaved workers. As Union leadership confronted key choices about how to manage and support those who remained, a range of Northern philanthropists and organizations stepped up to provide teachers and other resources. The social, political, and agricultural experiment that followed served as a testing ground for the policies and approaches that would be launched more broadly in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Valinda Littlefield, director of the Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era, explores how individuals challenged the political, social, and economic landscape to advance the nation in fulfilling promises of the U.S. Constitution.

Tues., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0034; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Knights Templar

The Rise, Fall, and Legend of Europe’s First Military Order

The Templar Order is one of the most famous—and misunderstood—institutions of the Middle Ages. Founded after the First Crusade to protect pilgrims, it quickly expanded into a powerful religious military organization, an international landholder, and a trusted financial intermediary positioned at the crossroads of crusading, monarchy, papal authority, and Mediterranean politics. Its history illuminates core medieval tensions: faith and violence, poverty and wealth, secrecy and trust, holiness and power.

Historian Jochen Schenk traces the order’s rise, dramatic suppression in the early 14th century, and enduring afterlife. Rather than viewing the Templars simply as crusaders, bankers, victims, or conspirators, he examines why they became influential, why they grew vulnerable, and why their memory remains so magnetic.

Fri., Oct. 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-032; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Sack of Rome and the End of the Renaissance in Italy

In May 1527, Rome endured one of the greatest disasters in its history. The Sack of Rome—carried out by mutinous imperial troops during the conflict between Pope Clement VII and Charles V—unleashed extraordinary violence and marked a turning point for Europe.

Historian Ross King examines why the catastrophe occurred, what it exposed about Renaissance Italy’s fragile power dynamics, and how it transformed the political, religious, and artistic landscape. The sack abruptly ended Rome’s High Renaissance, replacing harmony and classical balance with anxiety and spiritual intensity. In its wake, the papacy emerged weakened, shaping events from Henry VIII’s break with Rome to the spread of Mannerism as artists fled the devastated city.

Tues., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-928; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Mussolini and the Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy

Discover the dramatic story of Benito Mussolini with writer and lecturer Adam Tanner. He traces the rise of Italy’s fascist dictator, his consolidation of power, the reconciliation with the Vatican, overseas empire in Africa, evolving relationship with Adolf Hitler, and impact of his policies on Jewish communities and Italian society. Developing throughout this history is a growing cult of personality that portrayed the dictator as a genius in many fields, from a mastery of skiing and the violin to a willingness to join workers in harvesting crops and helping lay bricks.

Tanner also looks at how Mussolini changed how Italy looks today, as many fascist buildings—from imposing government structures to grand public monuments—remain in Rome and other cities across the country. A mix of historical context and striking visual examples reveals how Mussolini’s rule left a lasting mark, showing both the ambition and the darker consequences of his rule.

Thurs., Oct. 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-212; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

The Great Harry Houdini

Life, Death, and the Afterlife

Harry Houdini died a century ago on Oct. 31, 1926—now celebrated as National Magic Day. Rising from vaudeville and dime museum stages, Houdini became the “eclipsing sensation of the age,” astonishing audiences with escapes from chains, manacles, handcuffs, and even a straitjacket while suspended upside down above Times Square.

In his final years, he launched a fierce crusade against fraudulent spiritualists who claimed to contact the dead. The campaign soured his friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and led to a historic clash with the most notable psychic of the era, a glamorous Boston socialite known as Margery the Medium. Author Daniel Stashower explores Houdini’s life and legacy, as actors Scott Sedar and Bari Biern bring his world to life onstage and in the séance salon.

Tues., Oct. 27, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-181; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Churchill and the Crown

Winston Churchill’s political career began under Queen Victoria, spanned four subsequent kings, and ended in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Though born into a ducal family with ties to the Crown, it was decades at the forefront of British politics that made him an essential adviser to the young queen.

Historian Katherine Carter, curator of Churchill’s home at Chartwell, draws on the 2022 exhibition

“Churchill and the Crown” to explore their remarkable relationship—from their first meeting, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and she a 2-year-old princess, to the state funeral she bestowed on him a quarter century later. Using archive images from the display, she shares the history of this truly remarkable friendship that changed the course of history.

Mon., Oct. 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-744; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Heresy:

How the Search for the True Faith Shaped Christianity

Throughout Christian history, followers of Christ have sought to define his message and the correct faith in God and the Trinity. Yet the search for orthodoxy (“right belief”) has been inseparable from the condemnation of heresy (“wrong belief”), and this debate shaped early Christianity.

How did the term heresy evolve from the Greek word hairesis, which originally meant choice? What is the difference between heresy and schism? How did the debates strengthen the Christian Church? Historian David Gwynn explores these questions and their importance for understanding the historical evolution of Christianity from the original disciples and the apostle Paul to the Christian Roman empire and beyond.

Wed., Oct. 28, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-582; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Wings of Change: The Tuskegee Airmen and the Fight for Equality

During World War II, a group of determined young African American men took to the skies in defiance of the racial barriers that sought to ground them. Known as the Tuskegee Airmen, these pioneering pilots and crew members trained in a segregated program in Alabama and went on to fly more than 1,578 sorties across Europe and North Africa.

Aviation expert Jerry Burton explores their extraordinary military achievements and the larger story of segregation, activism, and fight for equality that shaped their experience. The lecture begins with an introduction from Jeremy R. Kinney, associate director of research, collections, and curatorial affairs at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Wed., Oct. 28, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-093; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The American Colonies in the Age of Sail

Boston Harbor, 1770–1780

Colonists along the American seaboard in the early 18th century built and sailed small vessels that moved goods between coastal towns and the Caribbean. As West Indian plantation economies expanded, they relied heavily on North American foodstuffs and supplies. Much of this commerce violated the mercantilist trade restrictions imposed by Britain, France, and Spain, but American mariners—skilled in navigating shallow waters and handling small, fast ships—became adept smugglers.

Carl Herzog of the USS Constitution Museum argues that in the six decades before the American Revolution, colonial merchants and sailors routinely defied imperial regulations. During their journeys, they developed professional shipboard relationships, business acumen, and patterns of stealth and subterfuge that sailed them along into the tides of revolution.

Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-036; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Hidden Terrors in America

The 1830s Cholera Pandemic

From 1832 to 1836, deadly cholera erupted across the United States. It afflicted rich and poor, people of every race, religion, and region. Moral reformers and medical authorities, among others, attributed the deaths of enslaved African Americans, Indigenous peoples, and Irish immigrants to individual failings, ignoring and even covering up those deaths. However, the universal nature of the pandemic became increasingly apparent as the deaths of supposedly respectable people became too numerous and visible to deny.

Historian Paul Kelton captures the experiences of ordinary Americans living in fear of a mysterious disease and exposes the disastrous consequences of a deadly germ intersecting with the societal injustices of the time.

Kelton’s book Hidden Terrors: The Scourge of Cholera in Jackson’s America (Oxford University Press) is available for purchase.

Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-745; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Jamestown: The First 100 Years

While the early days of Jamestown were marred with struggle, conflict, and tragedy, the settlement would survive as the first permanent English colony in North America.

Unearth the tumultuous first century of Jamestown in this four-part series with Mark Summers, the public historian for the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological project.

4-session series: Mon., Nov. 2–23, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-JTN; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

Joseph Smith

The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet

Joseph Smith Jr. emerged as one of 19th-century America’s most influential and controversial religious leaders, publishing The Book of Mormon and founding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He built temples, created a city-state in Illinois, ran for president, and practiced plural marriage, inspiring followers while testing their loyalty. Historian John G. Turner portrays Smith as a dynamic but flawed religious entrepreneur whose doctrines drew believers and provoked fierce opposition from outsiders who saw them as threats to republican ideals.

Drawing from his 2025 book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, Turner traces Smith’s rise from impoverished farmhand to his death at the hands of a mob, revealing how he forged a religious tradition that still resonates widely.

Thurs., Nov. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-746; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

By Illegitimate Means

How Birth Decides Dynasties

In medieval and early modern England, legitimacy was never a private matter. Birthright could reorder kingdoms, ignite wars, and reshape history. Historian Cheryl White traces how disputed births, contested heirs, and the fragile politics of bloodline altered dynasties. She begins with William the Conqueror—mocked as “the Bastard” yet able to seize a throne—and moves to the succession crises after Edward III that helped set the stage for the Wars of the Roses. She concludes with Henry VII, whose tenuous claim, strengthened by conquest and marriage, launched the Tudor dynasty.

Marked by intrigue, rebellion, and political mythmaking, White’s illustrated program reveals how legitimacy functioned less as law than as a weapon—and how the fate of a kingdom could hinge on who was born to rule.

Wed., Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-484; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Historic New York Restaurants

Take your seat as architectural historian David V. Griffin leads a virtual tour of New York City’s most historic restaurants. From fine dining landmarks to beloved neighborhood spots, and from traditional cuisines to avant-garde fusion, he traces the city’s rich culinary past through its oldest and most legendary dining destinations. Along the way, discover the first New York restaurant to serve a cappuccino; visit one of the city’s oldest and most celebrated pizzerias; and step inside eateries including the famed Rose Room at the Algonquin Hotel and the landmarked Modernist interior of the former Four Seasons.

Whether you crave a quick bite with history or a memorable four-course experience, this visually delicious presentation blends culinary history, architecture, and New York storytelling—served with inspiration for your next visit.

Tues., Nov. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-214; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Summer Wine Adventures: Southern Stars |

Spend two fascinating Friday evenings expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a series of delectable adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

AUG 21 New Zeal for New Zealand

SEPT 18 Amazing

Australia

While New Zealand might be best known for Sauvignon Blanc, there’s much more to explore. Learn how the region’s high level of ultraviolet radiation and oceanic proximity (every vineyard is within 80 miles of the ocean) influence the tastes and terroirs. Discover why this small multi-island nation is a leader in premium, food-friendly wine as you taste through some of New Zealand’s most exciting wines and wineries.

Australia’s wine industry dates back to 1788. Over the years it has evolved into a global powerhouse known for quality, innovation, and uniqueness. While most famous for Shiraz (Syrah), Australia has over 60 distinct wine regions across an immense diversity of geography.

Individual sessions: Fri., Aug. 21 (CODE 1T0-076); Fri., Sept. 18 (CODE 1T0-077); 6 p.m.; Members $70; Nonmembers $85

Wine-tasting kit information: The cost includes a curated personal tasting kit with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Additional participants must register individually to receive their own tasting kit, which is an essential component of the workshop.

Update: Kits are available during two scheduled pick-up times the day before the program and the day of the program at Cowbell Seafood & Oyster (Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE, Washington, D.C.; Metro: NoMa–Gallaudet U station, Red line.)

NOTE: Patrons will receive additional wine tasting kit pick-up information by email prior to the program. Due to state and federal laws, Smithsonian Associates cannot ship wine kits. However, SOMLYAY may be able to provide kits to participants outside the Washington, D.C., area (who must cover shipping costs). Please contact erik@thesomlyay.com for more information.

Scorsese and De Niro

A Collaboration Fueled by Intensity

During the past half century, director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro have crafted epic explorations of the dark side of American society and human nature. In 10 titles from Mean Streets to Killers of the Flower Moon, De Niro brilliantly applied his Method acting training to electrify audiences with characters marked by a deceptive, calculating detachment.

The Scorsese–De Niro collaborations are legendary and influential for their striking use of camera choreography, precision editing, explosive musical soundtracks, unglamorized mental or physical violence, and gritty dark humor. While filmmakers have attempted to replicate Scorsese’s directorial techniques, most have failed to capture the psychology and historical awareness behind his stylistic and narrative ironies. Film historian Max Alvarez pays tribute to a director–actor team unsurpassed in Hollywood history.

Wed., Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-716; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

“Bluebeard”

The story of “Bluebeard” has a long history and a strong presence in the annals of the fairy tale. The classic version by Charles Perrault tells of a beautiful young girl who is swept off her feet by a wealthy man and brought to his splendid castle. When she enters the forbidden chamber, she discovers that he has murdered all his previous wives, and she only escapes their fate with the aid of her siblings. Variants of the story can be found around the world.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman of the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic do a deep dive into “Bluebeard,” exploring what some of the oldest versions look like, why it has periods of popular resurgence, and how the story has been retold in contemporary times. This lecture includes prompts for audience interaction.

Wed., Aug. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-565; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

“Revolver”

The Beatles at the Height of Their Experimental Genius

Arguably the most famous rock group in history, the Beatles left a legacy both cultural and musical. Music historian Stephen Schultz explores their seventh studio album, “Revolver” (1966), on the 60th anniversary of its release.

Great Censorship Cases in 20th-Century Literature

Examining all 14 songs of the original British release, Schultz offers a deep dive into their musical and lyrical content, as well as a look at the studio wizardry behind them. He also illuminates the cultural context and impact of the album, tracing the band’s interactions with other musicians, notably Bob Dylan, and the global phenomenon of Beatlemania.

Wed., Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-021; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Philadelphia Up Close

Must-see Museums, Historic Sites, and Local Eats

Philadelphia comes to life in an online exploration led by art historian and longtime resident Jennie Hirsh. She guides participants through the city’s neighborhoods, major museums, and cultural landmarks, spotlighting essential works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation, as well as hidden gems like the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Calder Gardens, and the Brandywine Workshop and Archives.

Hirsh delves into key historic sites including the Liberty Bell Center, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Museum of the American Revolution. The program also highlights the city’s dynamic food scene—from acclaimed chefs to street eats. Participants receive a handout outlining suggested sights and a sample itinerary for further exploration of Philadelphia’s art, history, and culture.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-167; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Several of the most extraordinary books of the 20th century had to overcome severe censorship challenges before they reached the public. D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover was banned by the United Kingdom and the United States from 1928 until the 1960s because of racy language and explicit sexual content. Copies of Joyce’s magnificent 1922 novel, Ulysses, had to be smuggled into the United States until late 1933, when an American court finally deemed it fit for publication. Allen Ginsberg’s long poem Howl had to endure an intense obscenity trial before it was finally declared not obscene in 1957.

Literary scholar Clay Jenkinson explores these dramatic incidents in the history of literary censorship to understand the cultural revolutions of the 20th century rather than merely scoring points against the censors.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-721; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World

Art History Certificate elective: Earn

½ credit What Do the Hindu Gods Look Like Now?

For many centuries Hinduism has had an image-making religious tradition. Hindus have long wished to see their deities in visible form, and artists have met this desire through sculptures and paintings. In modern India, this desire has also been met by colorful mass-produced “God-prints,” often called calendar prints or bazaar art. Richard Davis, professor emeritus of religion at Bard College, outlines the history of this genre of commercial religious art, from its origins in colonial Kolkata and Maharashtra through its proliferation in independent India. Davis also looks at how the depictions of principal Hindu gods have developed and changed.

Mon., Aug. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-567; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Manuel de Falla at 150

Modernism, Mysticism, and the Musical Spirit of Spain

Marking the 150th anniversary of pivotal 20th-century Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's birth, popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin combines an illustrated lecture with live piano demonstrations to bring to life a slight, almost Chaplinesque figure whose music pulses with sensuality and spiritual intensity. Deeply sensitive, devout, and more than a little superstitious, de Falla transformed the evocative folk sounds of his native Andalusia into Modernist works of extraordinary color, wit, and drama.

Creative Spaces

The Places Where Books We Love Were Written

From his roots in Cádiz, to Paris, where he collaborated with the revolutionary Ballets Russes, and finally into exile in Argentina, Franklin examines how de Falla forged his unique, seductive voice with such enchanting stage and concert pieces as El amor brujo, La vida breve, and Noches en los jardines de España.

Tues., Aug. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-722; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

A Suitable Style: The Revolutionary History of Men’s Suits

Why do men across the world dress so alike? When the American Revolution transformed global ideas about governance, it also sparked an upheaval in style. As the new nation distanced itself from European royals, its leaders rejected the ornate fashions of the aristocracy in favor of sober suits. These styles would become the foundation of menswear for the next 250 years, explains Chloe Chapin, a historian who also was a costume designer on Broadway. Tracing the evolution of the modern suit, Chapin explores what it has meant to the men who created it, the women who later adopted it, and those who rebelled against it.

Chapin’s new book, Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.

Thurs., Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-081; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

What makes a writer’s space so fascinating? Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s reflections on the importance of space for creativity, author Katie da Cunha Lewin examines how writers have worked everywhere from quiet garden rooms and shared family tables to bustling cafés and buses. She offers vivid portraits of memorable creative spaces, including Woolf’s tranquil room at Monk’s House, Ernest Hemingway’s Paris cafés, and Maya Angelou’s deliberately bare hotel rooms.

Da Cunha Lewin’s new book, The Writer’s Room: The Hidden Worlds That Shape the Books We Love (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Mon., Aug. 24, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-082; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The 10 Plagues, Then and Now

People have told stories about disasters throughout the ages. One of the oldest such stories is that of the 10 plagues in the book of Exodus, the disasters that forced the Egyptians to liberate the Israelites. These plagues packed enough catastrophes to fill a series of summer blockbusters, including rivers of blood and smothering darkness. Religious studies scholar Steven Weitzman explores how artists, writers, activists, philosophers, believers, and unbelievers of later ages have reshaped the story to give expression to their trauma, outrage, guilt, humor, and hope.

Weitzman’s new book, Disasters of Biblical Proportions: The Ten Plagues Then, Now, and at the End of the World (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Wed., Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-083; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Living

Steven M. Emmanuel, chair of the philosophy department at Virginia Wesleyan University, outlines how Buddhist teachings might shape the way to handle stress, conflict, work, family responsibilities, consumption, and difficult conversations. Bearing in mind that Buddhism is a diverse tradition, he draws on common themes such as mindfulness, compassion, non-harm, and non-attachment to explore strategies for living with greater awareness, patience, and care.

The goal is not to persuade individuals toward Buddhism but rather to consider what may be thoughtfully and usefully drawn from Buddhist ways of understanding and responding to meet the challenges of contemporary life.

Thurs., Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-724; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Antonio Vivaldi Revival of a Baroque Genius

Antonio Vivaldi’s music is so beloved today that it’s surprising he was nearly forgotten for almost two centuries. In his lifetime, the fiery-haired virtuoso violinist and Catholic priest was admired for bold innovations in Baroque form, yet after his death much of the “Red Priest’s” work disappeared from performance.

A remarkable 20th-century rediscovery of his manuscripts revived his reputation and revealed the extraordinary breadth of his creativity. From the vivid musical storytelling of The Four Seasons to choral masterpieces like the Gloria and his hundreds of concertos and operas, Vivaldi’s legacy now defines the Baroque era.

In an illustrated lecture with live musical demonstrations, concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores his colorful life, groundbreaking style, and the dramatic comeback of his music.

Tues., Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-723; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Gaudy

Nights and Criminal Endeavors

The Murder Mysteries of Oxford

Oxford has long captivated mystery writers. Dorothy L. Sayers, Michael Dibdin, Lady Antonia Fraser, and Colin Dexter are among the many who have drawn on its historic colleges and venerable traditions, while its lush scenery and majestic quads have framed beloved television dramas such as “Endeavour,” “Inspector Lewis,” and “Inspector Morse.”

From Edmund Crispin’s The Moving Toyshop to Mick Herron’s Down Cemetery Road, the city’s storied past has inspired a remarkable array of eccentric fictional sleuths and ingenious crimes. “Oxford has many scholars,” Inspector Morse once observed, “but not enough policemen.”

Author Daniel Stashower explores this rich literary tradition, accompanied by actor Scott Sedar reading from classic novels. Settle in with tea (hold the arsenic) for an evening of locked rooms, cryptic clues, and enigmatic detectives.

Mon., Aug. 31, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-170; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Hudson Theatre

A Journey Through Broadway History

Join Tim Dolan, actor and owner of Broadway Up Close tours in New York City, as he steps into 1903 for an insider’s look at Broadway’s oldest playhouse, the historic Hudson Theatre. This online program traces a remarkable story through more than a century of careful restoration, near-demolition, and cultural significance. Explore the building’s hidden corners and architectural details, including its original design elements and the luminous work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The Hudson Theatre

Along the way, discover the vivid history that unfolded within its walls—from tales of tragedy and intrigue to unforgettable moments shaped by legendary figures in theater, music, and popular culture. Dolan brings the Hudson’s past and present to life, offering a rare glimpse into one of Broadway’s most storied stages.

Tues., Sept. 1, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-205; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing (1598–99) remains one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and frequently performed comedies, featuring such memorable characters as the witty, bickering Benedick and Beatrice and the more straightforward Hero and Claudio. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, explores Shakespeare’s lyrical language, narrative techniques, and representations of love, honor, and marriage, among other key themes. Luzzi discusses how this riveting comedy fits into the broader arc of Shakespeare’s career as a playwright and focuses on the defining qualities and techniques that imbue it with such enduring appeal.

Tues., Sept. 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-571; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Shakespeare’s sonnets go deeply—with wisdom, sympathy, rage, and sly humor—into the heart of countless human struggles and joys, as readers have kept discovering for more than 400 years. Through close readings of a dozen poems, prominent Shakespearean scholar and author Robert N. Watson of the University of California, Los Angeles examines nostalgia, depression, professional rivalry, solitary travel, biblical interpretation, heterosexual and homosexual desire, post-coital regret, the art of writing a better love letter, the etiquette of breaking up gently or sharply (or both), and the challenges of aging.

Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-725; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Revenge, Ambition, and Betrayal

The Makings of a Shakespearean Tragedy Shakespeare’s tragedies, filled with ambition, love, betrayal, and devastating choices, have captivated audiences for centuries. Shakespeare scholar and historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger considers what makes these plays so compelling: the way he takes us into the mind of his characters, the complexity of their experiences, and the language that has become part of our discourse.

In Shakespeare’s Roman tragedies, the stakes are public more than personal. His revenge tragedies explore the tension between justice and retribution. Romantic tragedies examine the fragile balance between love and destruction, and political tragedies challenge the reality of authority and legitimacy. In a full-day seminar, Lloyd-Stanger explores the tragedies by considering their place in Shakespeare’s time and the ways they continue to resonate with audiences today.

Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-476; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

“What Fools These Mortals Be”

A Closer Look at Shakespeare’s Comedies

Shakespeare’s comedies invite audiences into a world of mistaken identity, romantic entanglements, disguise and deception, and exploration of complex issues of relationships and identity. Featuring pirates, bumbling constables, mismatched couples, separated-at-birth twins, a boisterous weaver who believes he’s a stage star, and a dog—the comedies offer a view of the world that seems like a simple romp but also explores human nature.

In a daylong seminar, historian and Shakespeare scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores how in works from The Comedy of Errors to The Tempest, Shakespeare uses fools, confusion, and magic to upend expectations about society. She traces how the playwright shifts his focus over his career, from early plays that rely on slapstick humor to later works that offer hope of reconciliation and reunion.

Sat., Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-486; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Anacostia: Architecture East of the River

Step beyond the monuments and virtually explore one of Washington’s most dynamic neighborhoods with Carolyn Muraskin of DC Design Tours. Travel east of the Anacostia River through a vivid narrative of historic homes, cultural landmarks, and stories of resilience and reinvention.

Trace Anacostia’s evolution from its early roots to its role as a center of Black culture, activism, and civic life. Along the way, encounter restored 19th-century rowhouses, ambitious preservation efforts, and a thriving arts scene. Through curated images, maps, and archival materials, visit sites such as the Anacostia Arts Center, the Go-Go Museum, and the iconic Big Chair. Explore residential streets rich with architectural detail before concluding at Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’ final home, reflecting on his enduring legacy.

Wed., Sept. 9, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-206; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

In Person

The World of Gustav Mahler and His Early Symphonies

The music of Gustav Mahler, among the most powerful and emotive of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, speaks deeply to many listeners. His creative life forms a spiritual quest, exploring fundamental questions of existence, purpose, and the fate of the soul after death. Across his 11 symphonic works, Mahler offers shifting answers to these mysteries, each symphony revealing a different facet of his philosophical search.

Baroque flutist and Carnegie Mellon professor Stephen Schultz traces the stylistic evolution of Mahler’s early creative period, illuminating the defining qualities of his music. He highlights the programmatic, spiritual, and emotional dimensions that shape the early symphonies and situates them within their broader historical context.

2-session series: Thurs., Sept. 10 and 17, 12 p.m; detailed program information on website; CODE 1W0026; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Smithsonian Chorus

Legends of Song: Vaudeville to Broadway

Celebrate memorable music from the stage and screen as conductor, performer, and educator Melodia Mae Rinaldi leads the ensemble in arrangements of the hits you know and love. Selections may include works by Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Stephen Schwartz. (The final song list and arrangements are chosen to fit the group’s vocal and musical abilities.)

No audition is required. However, participants should sing on pitch; have a basic understanding of musical notation; be able to follow a choral score; and practice their vocal part by listening to rehearsal links that are prov ided.

Rehearsals culminate in a free performance on Nov. 30 for invited guests (reservations are required).

10 sessions plus performance: Mon., Sept. 14–Nov. 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m., no rehearsal Oct. 12; Mon., Nov. 30 performance, 7:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1P0-914; Members $150; Nonmembers $165

Rediscovering Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a prodigy in vaudeville, trailblazer in desegregating Las Vegas, and global superstar who shone on Hollywood and Broadway. Performer and educator Aaron Reeder examines how Davis’s artistry intersected with questions of race, religion, and identity in 20th-century America and the contradictions of fame that defined his career.

Reeder explores Davis’ life and legacy through rare recordings, archival images, and performance excerpts. Through commentary and music, Reeder reveals the man behind the spotlight—a boundary-breaking artist whose call to authenticity, “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” continues to resonate today.

Tues., Sept. 15, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-573; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Dressing the Story

How Costumes Style Character on Film

Costume design shapes a film’s storytelling by using clothing to express character, history, and emotion while anchoring the narrative in a specific time, place, and genre. In Hollywood’s studio era, vast wardrobe departments dressed stars in glamorous, idealized designs for historical epics and contemporary films—often influencing mainstream fashion.

As independent filmmaking grew and realism became more valued, costume design reflected authentic, character-driven choices that span a broader range of experiences. Working with actors, designers use custom creations, costume houses, and contemporary clothing to help performers inhabit their roles. Nancy Friedland, librarian for film studies and performing arts at Columbia University, traces the evolution of costume design in American cinema and explores how wardrobe remains an essential element of character and narrative.

NEW DATE: Wed., Sept. 16, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-196; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

“And Away We Go” A Look Back at the Early Days of Television Comedy

The first decade of American TV comedy was an extraordinary period of innovation. The era from the late 1940s to the late 1950s produced a range of distinctive programs: live comedy and variety shows like Your Show of Shows, filmed sitcoms like I Love Lucy, and late-night talk programs like The Tonight Show. Pioneering performers and creators such as Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, and Steve Allen helped shape a new visual language of comedy that influenced television for the next 60 years. As he shares dozens of clips, media historian Brian Rose examines why this era may have produced more laughter than any other period in television history.

Thurs., Sept. 17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-575; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Jazz: America’s Signature Musical Art

Jazz crosses lines of race, class, geography, politics, religion, and genre. In this three-part lecture series, explore the origins and proliferation of jazz, from its beginnings in New Orleans, Chicago, New York, and Kansas City to its most recent appearances in Europe and Asia. Musicology professor Anna Harwell Celenza shares recordings of blues, Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, and fusion to reveal what makes jazz vital to America’s multifaceted identity as she demonstrates how it has never stopped changing.

3-session series: Tues., Sept. 15–29, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1T0-087; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Jazzing the Classics

The Enduring Influence of American Jazz on Classical Music

Beginning in the earliest part of the 20th century, European “art” or “classical” music enjoyed a brief but intense romance with American jazz. In a 4-part series, concert pianist Rachel Franklin uses her live piano demonstrations and historic and contemporary film clips to explore early jazz origins and how American ragtime and jazz conquered Parisian nightclubs in the feverish pre- and post-World War I era.

She traces the role of jazz in the ’20s and ’30s as a symbol of political freedom and cultural modernity for composers including Ravel, Milhaud, and Stravinsky. In the United States, Copland, Gershwin, and other artists used jazz as a source of inspiration while coming to terms with its identity as a highly complex, home-grown African American artform.

4-session series: Thurs., Oct. 1–22, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-733; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

Classical English Rhetoric

The Art of Choosing the Right Words

What makes the best speeches and writings stand the test of time? What can be learned from them about how to write better ourselves? Ward Farnsworth, professor at the University of Texas School of Law and author of a series of books on English rhetoric and style, shows how small choices regarding the selection of words, the arrangement of sentences, and the creation of a cadence can put force into writing and speech. He provides examples of the very best use of rhetorical devices and shows how Lincoln and other masters of the language wrote so memorably.

Thurs., Sept. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-735; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

So Young, So Bad

The Juvenile Delinquency Movies of the 1950s

The 1950s lit up America’s marquees with titles like Dragstrip Riot, High School Confidential!, Hot Rod Girl, and High School Hellcats—Hollywood couldn’t get enough of the nation’s flaming, bewildered postwar youth. From Marlon Brando’s brooding biker in The Wild One and James Dean’s anguished teen in Rebel Without a Cause to Elvis Presley’s swaggering drifter in King Creole, studios chased the hearts, minds, and pocket change of a new generation. Depending on who delivered the moral lecture, these kids were either rotten to the core or heartbreakingly misunderstood.

The so-called “juvenile delinquency” cycle pretended to offer sympathy, but it was the onscreen misbehavior that packed theaters and drive-ins. Film historian Max Alvarez plays cinematic hall monitor to John Cassavetes, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Mamie Van Doren, and more in this totally “boss” multimedia deep dive.

Thurs., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-731; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Paris: A Virtual Adventure

The storyline of Paris can be followed along the banks of its iconic River Seine. On both the Right Bank and the Left, evidence of the city’s 2,000-year history, the figures who shaped it across the centuries, and the artistic and architectural movements that originated here can be seen. Journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy as you discover Paris, including intriguing sites, historical aspects, and art in this virtual exploration using maps, photos, and videos.

2-session series: Tues., Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-PAR; Members $50; Nonmembers $60

Individual sessions: Tues., Sept. 29 (CODE 1CV-095); Tues., Oct. 6 (CODE 1CV-096); 7 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40

Bach’s Mass in B Minor

A Cathedral of Spirituality and Sound

By blending new sections with reimagined earlier music spanning 35 years, Bach compresses the full range of Baroque musical styles into less than two hours of radiant sound. Its emotional sweep—from profound sorrow to exuberant joy, sometimes only moments apart—matches its technical breadth, moving from simple, song-like lines to intricate polyphony.

Singer and Bach specialist Thierry van Bastelaer examines the Mass in B Minor’s history, structure, and meaning, drawing on performances by today’s most insightful and expressive interpreters to illuminate this monumental creation.

Wed., Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-477; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Antiques in the Garden

Materials, Meanings, and the Making of Place

Gardens are at their most compelling when they carry history, material presence, and the quiet authority of objects shaped by hand and weather. Design historian and passionate gardener Elizabeth Lay Little explores how a single obelisk can shift the mood of a border, why a cast-iron urn reads differently than a concrete one, and how time-worn surfaces create depth a new object cannot imitate. Whether your garden leans cottage or formal, the right object can anchor a space, lend narrative, or simply offer a moment of stillness amid the green.

Little shows how time-worn objects make gardens feel layered, personal, and lived in. October is the ideal time to begin: The right antique takes time to find, research, and place before the garden awakens again in spring.

Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-736; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

In Person

Jancis Robinson and the Newest World Atlas of Wine With

Tasting

Jancis Robinson has been writing about wine since 1975 and is described by Decanter magazine as “the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world.” She is the coauthor, with Hugh Johnson, of the new 9th edition of The World Atlas of Wine. Since it was first published in 1971, the Atlas has been widely recognized as an authoritative wine reference. In a conversation with Dave McIntyre, formerly the Washington Post’s wine columnist, she shares insights on what’s new in the world of wine. Afterward, raise a glass as you sample a selection of wines representative of today’s trends. Robinson signs copies of The World Atlas of Wine (Mitchell Beazley), available for purchase.

World

Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

New York City in the Gilded Age

A Cultural History

The late 19th century in New York City was an era of spectacular architecture, beautiful parks and squares, exquisite mansions, and palatial public buildings—all magnificent markers of what has become known as the Gilded Age and the wealth that made it possible.

Yet the city was a study in dichotomies, an urban society whose contrasting facets were both celebrated and critiqued in the writings of Edith Wharton and Henry James and boldly exposed in the photographs of Jacob Riis. Mark Twain slyly referred to the period as the Gilded Age, to make the point that the golden, splendiferous surface only masked an underlying core of more disturbing socio-political and economic realities.

George Scheper of Johns Hopkins University surveys the cultural panorama of New York as the foundations of its modern identity were created.

Mon., Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-480; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

The Man Behind the Musketeers Alexandre Dumas and French Identity

Alexandre Dumas has functioned as a powerful and evolving symbol in the construction of French national and global identity. Best known as the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas occupied a paradoxical position in 19th-century France: He was one of the most widely read writers of his time yet frequently marginalized by literary elites. His mixed-race heritage and experiences with racism further complicated his status, as critics often dismissed both his work and his reputation through racialized assumptions.

Sat., Oct. 10, 3 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1T0-089; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

Historian Eric Martone traces how Dumas’ reception evolved from his century through the present, examining how his image was reshaped in response to shifting political, cultural, and global contexts, from the rise of nationalism and scientific racism to the crises of the World Wars and the transformations of the postcolonial era.

Mon., Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-033; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Paranoia on Screen

The Sci-Fi and Horror Movies of the Cold War Era

“They’re after all of us! They’re here already! You’re next!” So warns Kevin McCarthy in Invasion of the Body Snatchers—a defining threat from the 1950s, when Cold War anxieties fueled a wave of unforgettable sci-fi chillers. Moviegoers faced flying saucers, extraterrestrial beasts, radioactive mutants, predatory robots, and humans replaced by pods.

Threats arrived from every corner of the cosmos: phantoms from space, invaders from Mars, strangers from Venus, catwomen on the moon, monolith monsters, mole people, and mutated creatures erupting from caves, seas, and deep Earth.

Filmmakers across Hollywood, Britain, and Japan channeled the era’s political and scientific tensions into cinematic nightmares. Film historian Max Alvarez bravely leads a multimedia mission through these out-of-this-world 1950s horror and sci-fi classics.

Tues., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-743; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Stirred by the Ages

A Dialogue Between Cocktails and History With Tasting

Cocktails are more than just drinks: They’re also part performance, shaped by tradition, storytelling, and skill. And historians are looking more closely at how these rituals evolved, separating fact from long-standing myth.

Join cocktail experts

David Wondrich (author of The Comic Book History of the Cocktail) and Philip Greene (co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail) for a lively conversation about the challenges of tracing cocktail history. They explore how historians sift through unreliable sources and uncover surprising findings.

Throughout the evening, enjoy six sample cocktails from different moments in history, each offering insight into its time and place. You also learn how to make each drink, take home recipes, and enjoy light snacks.

Thurs., Oct. 22, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1T0-092; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects

From inventing beloved characters such as Kermit the Frog and crafting fantastical worlds in The Dark Crystal to creating television for the whole family in The Muppet Show, Jim Henson’s creative genius was unparalleled. The Jim Henson Company Archives Director Karen Falk and biographer Brian Jay Jones explore six extraordinary objects donated by Henson’s family to the National Museum of American History. These artifacts reveal how Henson blended artistry, technology, and storytelling to reshape modern entertainment.

Guided by Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the discussion weaves together biography, behind-the-scenes insights, and historical context.

Following the program, attendees have the rare opportunity to see objects from the National Museum of American History’s collection not on public display.

Fri., Oct. 23, 12 p.m.; National Museum of American History, Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music; CODE 1J0-580; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Death and Beyond

Comparative Reflections in World Religious Traditions

Issues of death, dying, love, and the meaning of life—and the afterlife—hold key places in the belief systems of the major religious traditions of the world. Graham M. Schweig, a professor of philosophy and religion at Christopher Newport University, surveys differing visions of these timeless themes from a variety of Eastern and Western cultural-religious perspectives. Stories, teachings, and rituals from the major faiths, as well as contemporary views, are examined to illuminate the ultimate life event: death.

Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-481: Members $80; Nonmembers $100

Before Baker Street: Joseph Bell and the Making of Sherlock Holmes

Since Sherlock Holmes first appeared in 1887, he has become a global phenomenon. Yet the man Arthur Conan Doyle credited as Sherlock’s prototype has slipped into the shadows. Renowned for his ability to read a patient’s ailments, occupation, and personal habits at a single glance, 19th-century doctor Joseph Bell amazed onlookers at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. His deductive powers had a profound influence on Conan Doyle, a medical student and budding writer. Author Lindsey Fitzharris brings Bell center stage, recounting how his work took him from ward to witness box as a medical detective probing murder and misdeeds.

Fitzharris’ new book, Sleuth-Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), is available for purchase.

Mon., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-035; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Keep Connected with Smithsonian eAlerts!

How to Read a Film

When we watch a movie, we tend just to absorb its total effect without asking many questions about how it was created. But, says humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson, every film represents many thousands of creative choices and to fully understand and appreciate a film as a work of art it helps to examine the elements that compose it such as pace, music, lighting, direction, acting styles, and editing. Since each contributes to the meaning and emotional effect of the whole, it is helpful to learn to deconstruct a film to see how it was put together. Jenkinson uses three films as illustrations: Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Nolan’s Odyssey, and Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff. Participants are encouraged to view these films beforehand.

Tues., Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-751; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

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The Language of 1776

The Revolution reshaped not only politics but also patterns of speech. Linguist Anne Curzan explores the multilingual world of 18th-century America and the emergence of early Americanisms such as maize, backwoods, bluff, and to advocate, along with terms mistakenly criticized as uniquely American. She shows how immigration shaped regional accents, dialects, and even new languages.

Two centuries ago, this linguistic variety sparked debates about correctness, leaving behind prescriptive rules still echoed today. Noah Webster pursued his dictionary as a patriotic project, while Benjamin Franklin voiced anxieties about German speakers that resemble modern debates about language and immigration. Curzan highlights the rich history of American English and the insights it offers for understanding the present.

Tues., Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-482; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Fall Wine Adventures: Global Sips | A TOP SOMMELIER'S GUIDE

Spend two fascinating Friday evenings expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a series of delectable adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

OCT 30 The Delicious World of Fortified Wine Fortified wines are a world unto themselves. While often misidentified as dessert wines, these gems of the wine world come in a myriad of styles ranging from bone dry aperitif to fully sweet. Port, sherry, and madeira also come with incredible origin stories. This delicious exploration of the history and current scenario of fortified wines includes a selection of styles along with tips for pairing them throughout an entire meal.

DEC 4 Brewed Brilliance: A Sake Deep Dive Sake is made via an intricate and singular brewing process: Rice, water, yeast, and koji mold all work together in an unusual dance known as simultaneous parallel fermentation. Discover how rice species, rice polishing ratios, water sources, terroir, and the brewer’s art define each bottle’s unique character. Explore sake terms and styles, demystify bottle label nomenclature, and learn ways to pair sake with virtually any type of cuisine.

2-session series: Fri., Oct. 30 and Dec. 4, 6 p.m.; CODE 1WINE2027; Members $120; Nonmembers $150

Individual sessions: Fri., Oct. 30 (CODE 1T0-094); Fri., Dec. 4 (CODE 1T0-095); 6 p.m.; Members $70; Nonmembers $85

Wine-tasting kit information: The cost includes a curated personal tasting kit with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Additional participants must register individually to receive their own tasting kit, which is an essential component of the workshop.

Update: Kits are available during two scheduled pick-up times the day before the program and the day of the program at Cowbell Seafood & Oyster (Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE, Washington, D.C.; Metro: NoMa–Gallaudet U station, Red line.)

NOTE: Patrons will receive additional wine tasting kit pick-up information by email prior to the program. Due to state and federal laws, Smithsonian Associates cannot ship wine kits. However, SOMLYAY may be able to provide kits to participants outside the Washington, D.C., area (who must cover shipping costs). Please contact erik@thesomlyay.com for more information.

A History of the Movie Musical

As soon as movies learned to talk, they also learned to sing and dance—and the movie musical quickly became one of America’s most popular film genres. Drawing on Broadway hits and original screen creations by legendary composers such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin, the genre continually reinvented itself while entertaining generations of audiences.

Media historian Brian Rose guides you through the rich history of the movie musical, illustrated with extended clips from dozens of classic films. From 42nd Street and Swing Time to Meet Me in St. Louis, West Side Story, and Chicago, the four-part series celebrates the songs, stars, and stories that have made movie musicals an enduring part of American culture.

4-session series: Thurs., Oct. 29–Nov. 19, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-583; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

The American Table

10 Cookbooks That Shaped a Nation

Cookbooks have been part of American life since the nation’s earliest days. Among the thousands published over the past 250 years, a select few have transformed the way Americans cook, eat, and think about food. Cultural historian Leslie Goddard explores 10 landmark cookbooks that helped shape the nation’s culinary identity. From the groundbreaking guidance of Fannie Farmer and Irma Rombauer to the sophisticated influence of Julia Child and Craig Claiborne, these best-selling volumes introduced new techniques, flavors, and ideas to generations of home cooks. Along the way, they reflected changing tastes, social customs, and cultural aspirations. Goddard journeys through the pages of some of America’s most influential cookbooks and uncovers what they reveal about the evolution of American food culture.

Great Composer-Pianists

Mendelssohn, Liszt, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff

Popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin provides a unique look at the monumental keyboard talents of four great composer-pianists and how their performing virtuosity influenced the piano works audiences enjoy today.

With a legacy of printed compositions but almost no recordings, how can we get closer to the white-hot moments of creation and performance when these artists poured out their genius for fortunate and astonished listeners? Franklin offers a fascinating exploration into the creative minds—and hands—of a quartet of piano pioneers celebrated for their prowess as composers and performers. She concludes each lecture by performing a work by the spotlighted composer.

Wed., Nov. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-097; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

4-session series: Mon., Nov. 9–30, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-747; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Listening to Our Bodies

With Giulia Enders

Discover how listening more closely to our bodies can shift our understanding of health, connection, and happiness. Giulia Enders, physician and star of Netflix’s Hack Your Health, explores the extraordinary intelligence within our bodies.

Tapping thousands of years of biological ingenuity and the latest scientific insights, Enders examines what our immune system can teach us about security, how wound healing mirrors emotional recovery, and what our bodies show us about what we truly need to thrive.

Enders’ new book, Organ Speak: What It Really Means to Listen to Our Bodies (HarperOne), is available for purchase.

Thurs., Aug 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-084; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Lunar

The Beasts of the East

The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness

Before skyscrapers and industry reshaped the eastern United States, it teemed with wildlife: elk, bison, and wolves and cougars moving through prairies, forests, and wetlands. Environmental writer Andrew Moore explores this forgotten landscape and the decline that followed as industrialization and unregulated hunting pushed many species toward extinction.

He follows conservationists, biologists, hunters, and communities working to restore these animals to their native habitats—from bison on Illinois prairies to elk in Kentucky and red wolves in coastal North Carolina—and examines what their comeback means for conservation, coexistence, and the idea of wilderness in a modern, human-shaped world.

His book The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness (HarperCollins) is available for purchase.

Tues., Aug. 18, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-204; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps, and Matter

The moon has shaped human imagination since long before written history, inspiring art, artifacts, and writing across cultures. Even as modern science has revealed its geology through robotic and crewed missions, it continues to captivate artists, writers, and dreamers.

Matthew Shindell, curator of earth and planetary science at the National Air and Space Museum, traces humanity’s evolving understanding of Earth’s natural satellite. He follows the moon’s presence from ancient carvings and cave paintings to medieval Christian cosmology, early fictional lunar voyages to contemporary cinema, and from the Apollo landings to today’s scientific exploration and future mission planning.

Shindell is the editor of Lunar: A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps, and Matter (University of Chicago Press), which is available for purchase.

Thurs., Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-024; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Beyond Inheritance

Understanding DNA, Mutation, and Human Health

DNA is a lifelong instruction manual that constantly changes, says science writer Roxanne Khamsi. From conception onward, mutations accumulate in every cell. Drawing on her new book, Beyond Inheritance, Khamsi argues that bodies are dynamic genetic ecosystems where evolution unfolds continuously. These mutations can harm—such as when altered blood cells raise heart attack risk—but they can also strengthen. Liver cells with advantageous mutations handle excess calories better, and immune cells rework their DNA to craft stronger antibodies.

Khamsi highlights discoveries showing how genetic variation shapes health, immunity, and aging, challenging the belief that all cells share identical DNA and revealing how this insight is reshaping medicine, from vaccines to cancer care.

Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health (Riverhead Books) is available for purchase.

Mon, Aug. 24, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-169; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Chandra, a Space Telescope with X-ray Vision

On July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory into an orbit that takes it about a third of the way to the moon. Since then, Chandra—operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory—has sent back to Earth images of the spectacular, glowing remains of exploded stars, found black holes across the universe, and contributed to the study of both dark matter and dark energy.

Panelists:

A panel of experts from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Northrop Grumman takes you behind the scenes at the observatory to see how engineers operate one of the most powerful space telescopes ever built. Learn how X-ray astronomy reveals an otherwise invisible, high-energy universe and why Chandra remains essential.

The panel also delves into the origins of X-ray astronomy in the United States, tracing its roots to pioneering rocket experiments in the 1960s and the Nobel Prize–winning discovery of cosmic X-ray sources by astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi, who spent many years at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. That spirit of innovation launched a new branch of astronomy and helped establish U.S. leadership in high-energy astrophysics.

Rodolfo Montez Jr., astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Scott Wolk, senior astrophysicist and flight director, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Julia Zachary, Chandra Flight Mission planning lead, Northrop Grumman

Moderator:

Kimberly Arcand, Chandra visualization scientist and communications lead, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Tues., Aug. 25, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-085; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Whale Migration and Ocean Conservation

Protecting the Paths of Giants

Whales make some of the longest migrations on Earth, traveling thousands of miles round-trip annually. They follow routes that connect critical feeding and breeding habitats across the globe, linking distant ecosystems into a single living ocean. Marine biologist Amanda Hunter considers whale migration and ocean conservation and examines the growing threats whales face—from climate-driven shifts in food availability to ship traffic and ocean pollution. Hunter also highlights conservation solutions that are making a difference and uncovers the surprising ways whales help regulate ocean health and climate.

Thurs., Aug. 27, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-568; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Auroras: Nature’s Light Show

Humans have watched displays of the Northern Lights in awe for centuries. Some cultures thought these colorful curtains of light arose as sparks created by the tail of an Arctic fox or from epic battles in the night sky. The Sámi of northernmost Europe call it “the light you can hear.” But, as Sky & Telescope senior editor J. Kelly Beatty explains, only recently have scientists been able to fully understand how and why auroras exist. He explores the fanciful explanations for these dancing lights, how powerful bursts from the sun create them, and when and where you’re most likely to see an auroral display.

Mon., Aug. 31, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-569; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Life and Plight of Koalas

Few animals are as instantly recognizable as the koala, an enduring symbol of Australia’s unique wildlife. Yet behind this familiar image lies a species in decline, with populations now only a fraction of what they were before European colonization.

Wildlife conservation biologist Fred Bercovitch explores koalas’ vulnerabilities and how this emblematic marsupial offers a compelling window into the evolutionary forces that shape animal behavior. He examines their reproductive behavior and feeding habits and puts biological insights into a broader conservation context. Currently koalas are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of endangered species, classified as vulnerable to extinction as their numbers have plummeted by close to 30% in the last three decades.

Thurs., Sept. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-095K; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Ecology of Dinosaurs

For more than 140 million years, dinosaurs were among the dominant land animals on Earth. Thousands of species lived and died on every landmass, evolving a spectacular diversity of sizes and shapes that scientists are still uncovering today. The National Museum of Natural History’s curator of Dinosauria, paleontologist Matthew Carrano, explores what life was like for dinosaurs in these ecosystems.

Carrano delves into what bizarre dinosaurs like short-armed Mononykus and scoop-toothed Masiakasaurus were actually up to; why there were no dinosaur moles, squirrels, bats, primates, or whales; and how young T. rex and adult Nanotyrannus might have coexisted. He discusses what scientists know, don’t know, and hope to learn about the ecology of dinosaurs.

Wed., Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-027; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Prairie Dogs

Drawing on more than 40 years of fieldwork, John Hoogland offers an engaging look into the lives of prairie dogs—social, diurnal rodents that inhabit western North American grasslands and help hold the ecosystem together. He examines how they form large colonies, use complex alarm calls, and balance cooperation with competition.

Hoogland highlights surprising findings on mating behavior, kin favoritism, predation, population cycles, and conservation challenges, reshaping how scientists understand social animals. Blending scientific insight with field stories and comparisons across species, he presents the prairie dog as a powerful model for studying behavior, ecology, and the importance of long-term research.

Hoogland’s new book, Prairie Dogs: Ecology and Social Behavior (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Wed., Sept. 23, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-207; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Invasive Species, Humans, and Where We All Belong

In the early 20th century, U.S. government scientists and their European colleagues went to great lengths to bring home new seeds and cultivars from abroad. But in many cases these “plant explorers,” though much praised in their day, wound up triggering what are now considered ecological disasters.

How did Western attitudes toward imported plants and animals change so completely within a century?

Journalist Amy Crawford explores how confronting the complexities of nature and the role of humans in a changing world can place unwanted plants and animals in a new light.

Crawford’s new book, Undesirable: Invasive Species, Humans, and Where We All Belong (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.

Wed., Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-086; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

A Horse’s World

For at least 4,000 years, humans have treated horses as objects. Sometimes they have been objects of admiration or art and themes of literature; sometimes they have been used for transportation or labor; often in the past they have been equipment for war; and even today many are still raised for meat. What people have rarely done is consider the horse as a subject—an animal with a heart and mind that requires understanding. Janet L. Jones, a neuroscientist and horse trainer, offers a surprising overview of equine perception, memory, attention, and emotion so that participants can begin to understand who horses really are.

Fri., Oct. 2, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-577; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Understanding Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick

While scientists have come a long way toward deciphering the laws of the universe, many of them still regard time as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries. Physicist Jim Al-Khalili explores questions about time such as whether it has a beginning and an end; why it points toward the future and not the past; and whether time is even real. Al-Khalili examines these questions across the three central pillars of physics—quantum mechanics, general relativity, and thermodynamics showing how time is understood differently in each domain. His new book, On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.

Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-030; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Backyard Birding

American kestrel by Matt Felperin

An Appalachian Journey Skyline Drive to the Great Smokies

Explore one of the most breathtaking drives in the world with naturalist and interpreter Keith Tomlinson. Starting at the northern tip of Shenandoah National Park, follow the winding Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to Asheville, North Carolina—a journey spanning nearly 600 miles of dramatic landscapes. Along the way, learn about historic sites reflecting centuries of human history, from Native American habitation to colonial settlements, and marvel at steep summits, ancient volcanoes, granite peaks, and dramatic gorges.

Beyond the scenery, Tomlinson delves into the natural wonders of the Appalachians. Through the lenses of history, science, and ecology, discover the fascinating story of this ancient mountain range and the forces that shaped its enduring beauty.

Wed., Oct. 7, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-209; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Backyard birding offers a simple, rewarding way to connect with nature—no travel required. With just a window, balcony, or small outdoor space, says naturalist and birding expert Matt Felperin, you can observe a surprising variety of birds going about their daily routines. From the flash of color as a cardinal lands on a feeder to the familiar call of a chickadee in a nearby tree, these everyday encounters reveal the richness of the natural world outside your door. A pair of binoculars or even a good pair of eyes is often all you need to get started.

Whether you spend a few quiet minutes in the morning or keep a running list of sightings, backyard birding offers an accessible, calming, and fascinating way to engage with wildlife from home.

Fri., Oct. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-216; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Our Weird and Wild Universe

The universe is far stranger than science fiction ... and it’s all real. Kimberly Arcand of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory leads a journey through weird and wild places in the cosmos, from merely mind-bending to truly extreme. Along the way meet blazars (hyperactive, distant black holes) that outshine entire galaxies, quasars powered by supermassive black holes, city-sized neutron stars, and pulsars that keep time more precisely than atomic clocks, plus some wild worlds orbiting distant suns. Arcand talks about how these extreme objects are found and what they reveal about the cosmos.

Tues., Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-578; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

The Geology of Yellowstone Past, Present, and Future

The Yellowstone Caldera, which formed during a massive volcanic eruption approximately 630,000 years ago, is the centerpiece of America’s first national park, founded in 1872. The volcanic story of Yellowstone National Park, however, begins nearly 17 million years ago and will continue long into the geological future, says volcanologist Kirt Kempter.

He offers an exploration of the geology of Yellowstone, including the rocks and hydrothermal features that make this national park unique in the world. Google Earth aerial views help observe the park’s geology from a bird’s-eye perspective, along with instructive diagrams, maps, and field photos. Participants also gain insight into how ongoing volcanic and geothermal processes continue to shape Yellowstone’s dramatic landscape today.

Mon., Oct. 26, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-213; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Circling the Sierra Nevada California’s Grand Range of Light

Journey through California’s spectacular Sierra Nevada with naturalist Keith Tomlinson, virtually traveling from the dramatic Eastern Sierra to the landscapes of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Beginning in Southern California, head into a rugged region dominated by Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, while exploring the geology that shaped this striking terrain. East of the crest, encounter a remote alpine desert, home to some of the world’s oldest living trees. Continue north to Mono Lake, known for its tufa formations and unusual ecosystem. Crossing Tioga Pass into Yosemite’s high country, examine the Cathedral Range and Tuolumne Meadows before descending into Yosemite Valley. Conclude in Sequoia National Park, among the world’s largest trees and one of the Sierra’s most awe-inspiring environments.

Tues., Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-215; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org. All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed

Creative Writing Workshop

Write Into Art

Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for a course of three online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts.

The sessions spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. The course has a limited enrollment to maximize interaction among the instructor and students.

NOV 3 Imagine Character

NOV 10 Discover Story

NOV 17 Capture Sensation

3-session series: Tues., Nov. 3, 10, and 17, 10 a.m.; CODE 1K0-738; Members $120; Nonmembers $140

Individual sessions: Tues, Nov. 3 (CODE 1K0-739); Tues, Nov. 10 (CODE 1K0-740); Tues, Nov. 17 (CODE 1K0-741); 10 a.m.; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Reflective Writing Workshop

Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, this reflective writing workshop led by Mary Hall Surface invites you to look outwardly at art and look inwardly through writing. These reflections can become creative fertile ground for memoir, poetry, and more.

Autumn’s Harvest

Discover the power of reflective writing guided by teaching artist and museum educator, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by works of art by Hudson River landscape painter Jasper Francis Cropsey and poetry by Mary Oliver, explore the lessons that the season of autumn offers when we slow down, look closely, and reflect.

Designed for writers of all levels, the workshop invites participants to look outward at paintings and poetry and to look inward through writing. These reflections can become creative fertile ground for memoir, poetry, and more. Each workshop has a limited enrollment to maximize interaction among the instructor and students.

Tues., Oct. 13, 10 a.m.; CODE 1K0-737; Members $45; Nonmembers $55

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Vermeer’s Afterlives

Johannes Vermeer, now hailed as a master of the Dutch Golden Age, spent more than a century in obscurity before his rediscovery in the 1860s. Literary scholar Ruth Bernard Yeazell draws on her book Vermeer’s Afterlives to recount how French journalist and critic Théophile Thoré revived interest in the painter, revealing his luminous interiors, subtle light, and intimate domestic scenes to modern audiences.

Yeazell traces the critics, historians, and artists who helped elevate Vermeer into the artistic canon, examines why his quiet, introspective works continue to captivate viewers, explores the variety of ways in which Vermeer’s art has been interpreted through the centuries, and shows how his paintings take on afterlives of their own in the imaginations of viewers.

Vermeer’s Afterlives (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase.

Tues., Aug. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-201; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

You love art. Now go deeper.

That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers a World Art History Certificate Program.

Look for World Art History Certificate throughout the program guide to see current listings.

Get started today and complete the certificate requirements at your own pace. Registration is ongoing; Credits are counted from day of registration and are not given retroactively.

SmithsonianAssociates.org/artcertificate

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Renoir: The Gift of Joy

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, celebrated as a founding member of the Impressionists, is also hailed by modern Realists for his painterly technique and happy subjects. Renoir’s work reflected one central tenet: “To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. …There are too many ugly things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” No stonebreakers or railway stations for him.

He reveled in lush color that can be seen in sensual nudes, family portraits, landscapes, and genre depictions such as Luncheon of the Boating Party. Art historian Bonita Billman showcases selections from Renoir’s prolific oeuvre of more than 4,000 works as she illustrates why he is one of the most highly regarded artists of his time.

Thurs., Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-469; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Manet and Morisot: A Closer Look

The special connection between French painters Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot is legendary in the art history canon. As the “painter of modern life,” Manet quoted from masterworks of the past to critique and update the academic system for the emerging modern era. A founding member of the Impressionist group, Morisot also broke boundaries, as the only woman to exhibit in the paradigm-changing first Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and as a prolific painter who left a legacy of hundreds of works.

With the recent “Manet & Morisot” exhibition in mind, art historian Matthew Palczynski unpacks their mutual admiration, from their first documented encounter at the Louvre in 1868 to their 15-year artistic and personal relationship.

Fri., Aug. 7, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-920; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of the most celebrated achievements of 20th-century architecture and a supreme example of his philosophy of organic design—the belief that buildings should grow naturally from their surroundings. Completed in 1939 as a mountain retreat for the Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh, the house dramatically embodies this idea, with bold cantilevered terraces extending over a rushing waterfall in the wooded hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Constructed of native stone and warm-toned concrete that echoes the surrounding landscape, Fallingwater blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors through open terraces, expansive windows, and the constant presence of the stream below. It’s also unique among Wright’s major works in that its setting, original furnishings, and artwork remain largely intact, preserving the architect’s complete vision.

Historian and architecture lecturer Bill Keene leads a beautifully illustrated virtual exploration of this landmark house, examining its design and construction and the personalities behind its creation. Whether you have visited Fallingwater or hope to see it someday, come away with a deeper appreciation of this remarkable work and the ideas that shaped it.

Tues., Aug. 11, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-202; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Washington’s Monumental

The Evolution of the National Mall

Core, Part 2

Over nearly 250 years, the National Mall has become the symbolic heart of Washington, D.C., envisioned by the founders as a grand democratic stage expressing the ideals of the new republic through landscape, architecture, and monuments. In the second program of a two-part series, Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, traces the Mall’s post–World War II evolution as it grew into a space for remembrance, activism, and broader historical storytelling.

Beginning with Maya Lin’s groundbreaking Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designers moved away from traditional heroic forms toward intimate, reflective experiences. Muraskin explores how subsequent memorials continue to expand the narratives represented on the Mall, reflecting an increasingly complex and inclusive American story.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-203; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Art of the Augustan Age

Power and Propaganda in the Early Roman Empire

When Octavian received the title Augustus from the Roman Senate in 27 B.C.E., he inaugurated a new political order known as the Principate. The shift marked the beginning of an era defined by stability, cultural renewal, and the calculated use of imagery to legitimize imperial rule.

Art historian Renee Gondek discusses how art and architecture shaped and communicated the emerging identity of the Augustan era. She examines Augustus’ coordinated visual strategy— from idealized portrait types like the “Augustus of Prima Porta” statue to monumental public works including the Forum of Augustus, each designed to project themes of peace, piety, and restored tradition in the wake of civil war.

Fri., Aug. 14, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-080; Members $30; Nonmembers $45 Roman cameo (detail), early imperial era

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

From Pollock to Pop Art

Postwar Art in America

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Byzantine Art

Art historian Roland Betancourt illuminates the central role of images in Byzantine culture, paying close attention to how basic questions about images and their power in the medieval world can inform the ways in which images are thought about today. Covering the crucial years of the Byzantine Empire (roughly 330–1453), Betancourt looks at the art, architecture, and theories of visual culture in the medieval lands of the eastern Mediterranean, encompassing places such as Sicily, Venice, North Africa, the Levant, and the Balkans, and in modern-day Türkiye, Greece, Syria, and Russia.

3-session series: Mon., Aug. 17–31, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1W0-022; Members $75; Nonmembers $95

Between 1945 and 1970, American artists dramatically reshaped modern art. Abstract Expressionists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, and Lee Krasner introduced large-scale, gestural paintings that emphasized emotion, spontaneity, and physical engagement with the canvas. Their innovations shifted the center of the art world to the United States.

In the 1960s, Pop artists—including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and James Rosenquist—challenged this intensity by transforming consumer culture, celebrity, and mass media into bold, ironic imagery. Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores how these movements, artists, and critics collectively defined a transformative postwar era, establishing the foundations of the American cultural landscape recognized today.

Fri., Aug. 21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-171; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Art + History

Popular Smithsonian Associates speaker Paul Glenshaw returns to the Art + History series to look at great works of art in their historical context. He delves into the time of the artist and explores the present they inhabited and what shaped their vision and creations.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

John Trumbull’s Surrender of Lord Cornwallis

As he examines John Trumbull’s Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, Glenshaw is joined by Revolutionary War scholar Iris de Rode, whose groundbreaking discoveries of the eyewitness accounts of one of the top French generals depicted in the painting bring a fresh perspective to the French–American alliance and the French contribution to the American side of the war. Trumbull arranged the figures—many painted from life years after the victory—for dramatic impact rather than strict accuracy.

Glenshaw and de Rode unfold the story behind the battle and the painting’s 1826 unveiling in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. They also explore how Trumbull’s unusual career as soldier, diplomat, and artist shaped this iconic work.

Wed., Sept. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-734; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry is something of a miraculous survival from the Middle Ages. Nearly intact, and as vibrant today as it was when new, the tapestry was produced in the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the fates of the kingdoms of England and France were, on a single day in October of that year, fundamentally altered ever after.

The tapestry was conceived with a role to play in managing and shaping the memory of the violent events of 1066. Historian Samuel Collins explores the agenda and arguments laid out on the Bayeux Tapestry and what the latest scholarship reveals about the strategies its makers employed for rendering a pointed account of the months leading up to the Battle of Hastings.

Wed., Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-922; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Contemporary Women Artists: Five Superstars

Art by women is now widely exhibited, and recent decades have seen a surge of interest in female painters, sculptors, and installation artists working in diverse media and styles. Art historian Nancy G. Heller highlights five exceptional women who have earned MacArthur “genius” grants, major retrospectives, and honors from international exhibitions like the Venice Biennale.

The artists are Simone Leigh, known for making massive, stylized clay and bronze images of Black women; Julie Mehretu, who produces multi-layered abstract paintings with subtle references to landscapes and politics; the humorous and insightful work of Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooke/Crow) that explores her cultural history; Amy Sherald, who has reinvigorated the venerable painted portrait; and Spanish sculptor Cristina Iglesias, who has produced work that can only be viewed while wearing scuba gear.

Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-471; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Art-full Fridays | Live from Italy, with Elaine Ruffolo

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each

Elaine Ruffolo, a Florence-based Renaissance art historian, examines the rich heritage of Italian art and architecture

The Spirit of Artemisia

Artemisia Gentileschi was a pioneering 17th-century Baroque artist, celebrated for her dramatic and emotionally charged paintings that often depict powerful women at the center of action. Overcoming significant personal adversity, including a highly publicized trial for sexual assault by a painter, she carved out a remarkable place for herself in the male-dominated art world of her time. Works such as Judith Slaying Holofernes are renowned for their intensity, technical mastery, and psychological depth, reflecting both her artistic innovation and distinctive perspective.

As Gentileschi herself declared, “I’ll show you what a woman can do… you will find the spirit of Caesar in this soul of a woman.” Ruffolo explores Gentileschi’s compelling life story, artistic innovations, and enduring legacy in the history of art.

Fri., Sept. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-175; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Masterpieces of the Uffizi

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence stands as one of the world’s great museum collections and an early model of the modern museum. Even before its official 1765 opening, visitors could request access, and in 1591 Francesco Bocchi praised it as “amongst the most supremely beautiful sights in the world.” Today the Uffizi houses masterpieces by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The museum occupies the upper floors of a U-shaped building designed in 1559 by Giorgio Vasari for Medici administrative offices, later adapted to display the family’s art collection.

Ruffolo leads a two-part virtual exploration of the Uffizi’s history, Medici patronage, Vasari’s architecture, and the Renaissance works that define the museum.

2-session series: Fri., Oct. 16 and 23, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-180; Members $50; Nonmembers $70

Le Corbusier: Architect of the Modern World

Le Corbusier—born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret in 1887—was a Swiss-French architect whose radical theories on Modernism, housing, and urban planning reshaped 20th-century design.

Art historian Jennie Hirsh situates his work in its political and intellectual context, highlighting landmarks such as Villa Savoye, Villa La Roche, the Unité d’habitation, Ronchamp Chapel, and Tokyo’s National Museum of Western Art. These projects—many now UNESCO World Heritage Sites—demonstrate how his vision transformed how people live in cities.

Fri., Sept. 11, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-174; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Georgia O’Keeffe

The Mother of American Modernism

Georgia O’Keeffe is one of America’s most influential artists, best known for her large-format paintings of flowers, bones, scenes of New York skyscrapers, and depictions of the New Mexico desert. Her marriage and cooperation with pioneering photographer Alfred Stieglitz proved to be influential in promoting her career and in finding her true vocation as an artist.

Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar traces her journey from humble beginnings through her formative artistic education, her landmark exhibitions at Gallery 291, and the development of her Lake George works. He follows her travels to Palo Duro Canyon and Hawaii, culminating in her eventual settlement in New Mexico, and offers a critical analysis of her major works and legacy.

4-session series: Wed., Sept. 16–Oct. 7, 10:30 a.m. detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-730; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

Secrets and Symbols in Art

The study of iconography—how symbols and allegories function in art—offers a way to understand masterpieces that have puzzled scholars for generations. In a series of programs, art historian Noah Charney reveals how decoding these visual cues can transform the way viewers interpret pre-modern Western art—turning enigmatic images into eloquent narratives.

Biblical Puzzle Pictures

Certain paintings in religious art were designed as visual puzzles that draw in the viewer and reward careful decoding. Charney pieces together some of the hidden mysteries, choosing Our Lady of the Dry Tree by Petrus Christus as an opening riddle packed with symbolic clues, then dives into Crivelli’s The Annunciation, with Saint Emidius, bursting with political and theological references.

The session concludes with Velázquez’s layered kitchen scene Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, prompting questions like: Why a bowl of fish? What is the significance of the background image? One of the selected works even contains a hidden recipe ready for home cooks to try.

Mon., Aug. 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-917; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Iconography: Keepers of Secrets

In this final lecture Charney focuses on works that reveal their secrets only to the initiated as he traces the hidden messages, social satire, and political subtext embedded in great pieces of art.

Using The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger and Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by Thomas Gainsborough as examples, he explores topics from Holbein’s distorted skull and political commentary to the strange story suggested by the unpainted patch in Gainsborough’s portrait of a country couple. Lastly, he tackles one of the art world’s most enduring mysteries—Bellini’s enigmatic Sacred Allegory. Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-924; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned

Lesser-Known Museums and Churches of Italy

In this ongoing series, Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero spotlights the significant collections of sometimes-overlooked museums and churches throughout Italy.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

In the historic center of Milan, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana houses one of Italy’s most historically significant art collections. Founded in 1618 by humanist Federico Borromeo, the museum preserves masterpieces from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Among its highlights are paintings by Leonardo da Vinci as well as works by Caravaggio, Botticelli, Titian, and Raphael, including Raphael’s monumental preparatory drawing for The School of Athens. Ruggiero explores the museum’s history and the masterpieces that make it a cornerstone of Milan’s artistic heritage.

Wed., Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-570; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena

In the heart of Siena, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena preserves an extensive collection of paintings from the Sienese school, spanning the 13th to the 17th centuries. The museum traces the evolution of Sienese painting from the luminous gold-ground panels of its medieval origins, through the achievements of the Renaissance and Mannerist periods, and into the artistic developments of the 17th century. Ruggiero examines the significance of this collection and the enduring legacy of Siena’s artistic tradition.

Mon., Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-572; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

In the historic university city of Bologna, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna houses one of Italy’s most important collections of Renaissance painting, spanning the 13th to the 18th century. Among its treasures are masterpieces by artists including Giotto, Raphael, and Parmigianino, as well as of the Bolognese school, such as the Carracci family, whose revolutionary artistic vision helped shape the course of European painting. Ruggiero delves into this extraordinary collection and the enduring legacy of Bologna’s artistic tradition.

Mon., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-581; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit

Russian Art

From Icons to the Avant Garde

The evolution of Russian art is inextricably bound to the rich cultural exchanges between East and West. These resulted in a fascinating blend of diverse visual languages and styles, from the late-medieval icons and frescos indebted to Byzantium to the great avant-garde experiments of the early part of the 20th century that developed side by side with the various currents of Modernism in other parts of Europe.

In a four-part course, art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine brings the culture of this vast country to life as she highlights some of the major art developments in Russia over the centuries. 4-session series: Fri., Sept. 11–Oct. 2, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-729; Members $110; Nonmembers $135

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Hudson River School

The Hudson River School—a loose fraternity of American landscape artists—was neither a school nor confined to the Hudson River Valley. Beginning in the early 19th century, the painters most associated with this group drew inspiration from America’s unspoiled landscape, finding aesthetic taste, a feeling of nationalism, and spirituality in the wilderness. At about the same time they were creating their idealized landscapes, progress in the form of industrialization and Manifest Destiny began to erode the vision of a pristine American “Garden of Eden.”

Art historian Bonita Billman examines the work of Hudson River School artists Thomas Cole, Frederic E. Church, Asher B. Durand, and others. She also considers the painters’ influences and methods and how these shaped the work of American landscapists of a second generation.

Thurs., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-475; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Iconic American Architecture Across Time

Discover some of the most important works of American architecture through the lens of four thematic categories: residences; commercial buildings; spaces for enrichment and reflection; and public buildings, monuments, structures, and memorials. Join art historian Matthew Palczynski in a seminar that examines what makes a building part of a particular architectural style, including why Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is Neoclassical and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is Modernist.

Delve further to see how architectural styles provide sociological insights into their respective eras. See which architects stand out in the canon and how to identify their signature styles. Learn how all of this comes together to tell the story of how architecture shapes our spaces for living, working, learning, and respite.

Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–2:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1H0-921; Members $80; Nonmembers $100

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Notre-Dame in Color

The Gothic sculptures that adorn the doorways of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris were once richly painted in jewel tones, much like the stained glass of the same period. Prophets wore robes colored with azurite (blue), red ochre, and malachite (green). Angels and saints were enlivened with rose-colored cheeks and red lips. Although the 2019 fire at the cathedral was devastating, it provided researchers with a unique opportunity to investigate these colors.

Art historian Jennifer M. Feltman, a leading American scholar and member of the official research team restoring Notre-Dame after the fire, explores the history of polychromy on the cathedral’s portals and discusses the international collaborative research project that is recreating their original appearance using digital art.

Mon., Sept. 28, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-732; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Ashcan School of Painting

French Impressionist artists popularized the painting of everyday urban life in the late 19th century. Composed of pleasing bits of pure color, their depictions were for the most part carefully edited, subjective, and quite beautiful.

The Ashcan School of American artists, working primarily in New York City in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, followed the Impressionists’ lead but instead realistically depicted what they saw. Their painting didn’t glamorize or prettify but captured the city with its gritty underbelly exposed. Art historian Bonita Billman presents fascinating works by George Bellows, William Glackens, Robert Henri, George Luks, Everett Shinn, and John Sloan and explores the truths they reveal about modern life.

Thurs., Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-479; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Seek and You Shall Find

Leonardo’s Lost Battle of Anghiari

In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci received a monumental commission for Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio: a mural depicting the city’s victory at the Battle of Anghiari. He chose its explosive climax—a tangle of horses and soldiers fighting for a standard—hailed by viewers. But Leonardo experimented with oil on a wax and resin ground, and the upper sections refused to dry. The paint ran, and he abandoned the project in 1506.

Decades later, Giorgio Vasari covered Leonardo’s work with a fresco bearing the cryptic inscription cerca trova—seek and you will find. Art historian Laura Morelli traces the mural’s mystery from celebrated copies like Rubens’ drawing to scientific investigations and new research suggesting Leonardo may never have completed the painting at all.

Fri., Oct. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-926; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

Artists’ Travels to North Africa

From Delacroix to Paul Klee

In the 19th century, European artists viewed North Africa as a source of exotic inspiration and new artistic experience. Eugène Delacroix was among the first to travel to Morocco, spending six months filling seven sketchbooks with studies of its people, landscapes, and colors—material that helped shape Orientalism.

His journey inspired later artists, including Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Paul Klee, and August Macke, who also sought renewal in North Africa. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar reviews the works of these artists and the impact traveling to North Africa had on their exploration of new ideas.

4-session series: Wed., Oct. 14–Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-742; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit

Medieval History Through Artists’ Eyes

Explore the art and architecture of the Middle Ages through four transformational moments in history and how painters, sculptors, and architects responded to them: Roman Emperor Constantine the Great’s conversion to, and promotion of, Christianity; Charlemagne’s unification of Europe in a Holy Roman Empire under “barbarian” Frankish rule; cloistered monks promoting public pilgrimage to holy sites in the run-up to the Crusades; and French kings and bishops asserting their spiritual and political power in the great Gothic building campaigns. Independent art historian Judy Scott Feldman examines the art of the period between classical antiquity and the Renaissance and its relationship to an evolving society infused with faith and spirituality.

Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1T0-091; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

German Art After WWI

German art of the first half of the 20th century was shaped by dramatic political and social upheaval. This became especially evident in the years surrounding World War I, as reflected in movements such as Expressionism, Dada, and the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity).

Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine explores how artists ranging from Otto Dix and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner to Max Beckmann expressed their disillusionment with war and the prolonged uncertainty of the Weimar Republic, a fragile democracy ultimately destroyed by the rise of Nazism.

Mon., Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-748; Members $30; Nonmembers $45

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Luis Barragán and Mexican Modernism

Luis Barragán, one of the 20th century’s most influential architects, transformed modern design through his bold use of color, light, and space. Art historian Jennie Hirsh examines his life and work with a focus on Mexico City projects, including Casa Luis Barragán—his jewel-like home and studio—Modernist developments in Jardines del Pedregal, the luminous Capuchin Convent Chapel, and Casa Gilardi, his final residential commission.

Hirsh also explores Barragán’s influence on postwar and contemporary artists and designers, including Josef Albers, Dan Flavin, Sheila Hicks, James Casebere, and Jill Magid, as well as the complexities of his critical reception and the fate of his archives in Switzerland.

Mon., Oct. 19, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-179; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Art In the Post–World War II Era

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Holy Terrors: Medieval Gargoyles

Self-portrait by Elfriede Lohse-Wächtler, German avant-garde painter, 1930

Artists working in America during and just after the Second World War grappled with the war from a variety of perspectives. The Nazi “Degenerate Art” exhibition of 1937 codified precisely which artists the Nazis deemed undesirable and sparked a systematic purging of artists and artworks. The inhospitable climate for vanguard artists in Germany also impacted French art, precipitating an exodus of some of the most important artists of the era to the U.S. Art historian Matthew Palczynski explores how this transatlantic shift led by Marc Chagall and others ultimately opened the door to a radically different artistic epicenter in New York. Examine how Americans responded to the war, from depictions inside Japanese internment camps to Edward Hopper’s nighttime scenes.

Wed., Oct. 21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-925; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

From the rooftops of medieval churches and cathedrals across Western Europe, gargoyles look out over the world below—stone figures shaped by both engineering necessity and artistic imagination.

Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton, author of Holy Terrors: Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings, explores the surprising history of these architectural waterspouts and their development in the Romanesque and Gothic eras of the 11th through 15th centuries.

She reveals how medieval craftsmen transformed functional drainage systems into expressive sculptures of humans, animals, and hybrid creatures and clarifies the distinction between true gargoyles and related grotesques. Along the way, she considers the enduring legend of La Gargouille of Rouen, a story that helped shape the mythology surrounding these forms.

Wed., Oct. 28, 7 p.m.; CODE 1D0-182; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Henri Matisse: An Enduring Fascination

The pioneering French Modernist Henri Matisse is considered one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century. Matisse’s oeuvre—created over more than five decades— includes a wide range of materials and styles, from exquisite tiny etchings to enormous castbronze sculpture to designs for religious vestments and stained-glass windows.

But he is best-known for the sensual and motion-infused canvases, such as his series on the dance, which pulsate with the intense light and vivid color of southern France. Art historian Nancy G. Heller examines these canvases, as well as Matisse’s more cerebral Cubist works, in depth.

Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-483; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit

Chinese Art: From the Bronze Age to the People’s Republic

With a dynamic, far-reaching history that spans the Neolithic period to the modern age, Chinese civilization has given rise to some of the world’s most remarkable artistic creations. Robert DeCaroli, a professor in the department of history and art history at George Mason University, explores that complex legacy by examining how shifts in China’s social, religious, and political life have influenced transformations in its material culture.

4-session series: Tues., Nov. 3–24, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-584; Members $115; Nonmembers $140

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

J.M.W. Turner and John Constable

Rivals in the Romantic Era

The years 2025 and 2026 mark the 250th birthdays of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, two founding giants of English landscape painting. Born a year apart, Turner rose from humble origins while Constable came from a prosperous Suffolk family.

As contemporaries in London’s Royal Academy, they developed contrasting artistic aims and exhibition practices, yet both viewed nature as a source of imagination and creative power. Turner drew inspiration from Dutch landscape traditions and often traveled in Europe, with Constable following the lineage of Thomas Gainsborough, focusing on the scenery of his native East Anglia. Art historian Bonita Billman examines their lives, influences, patrons, and painting methods, revealing how each artist forged a distinct vision that shaped the course of British art.

Thurs., Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-485; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Take a Seat!

Chairs of the 20th Century

You may not always think about it, but chairs play a central role in everyday life. Many of the chairs still in use today were designed in the 20th century and have stood the test of time for their comfort, function, and striking visual presence.

Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the history of iconic modern chairs from around the world, tracing how designers reimagined seating for a rapidly changing century.

Key examples range from Eileen Gray’s Transat to Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, Eero Saarinen’s Womb chair to Charles and Ray Eames’ Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Hirsh examines how these chairs became far more than functional objects, transforming everyday furniture into enduring works of modern design that continue to influence how we live, work, and gather.

Mon., Nov. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-183; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit

The Artists of Renaissance Venice

At the crossroads of the Adriatic, Renaissance Venice was a city shaped by commerce, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Influences from Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire, and Northern Europe helped foster a distinctly Venetian artistic style, celebrated for its luminous color, sensual beauty, and decorative splendor. In this day-long seminar, art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine revisits the works of some of the greatest artists who made Venice one of the most fascinating cultural centers of the Renaissance.

Fri., Nov. 13, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0750; Members $100; Nonmembers $125

Summer Classes

Last Chance to Register for these Classes

ART THEORY AND PRACTICE

Painting in the Key of Color

A Streamlined Approach to Color in Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Sun., Aug. 16, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AMD; Members $60; Nonmembers $75

DRAWING

NEW | Sketching the Smithsonian Weekly Lunchtime Drawing Series

Travel the world with the summer edition of Sketching the Smithsonian as you take an artful break and explore the fascinating, vast collections of this extraordinary museum.

INSTRUCTOR: Morgan Kuster

ONLINE: Tues., Aug. 4 (CODE 1E0-AMF4), Tues., Aug. 11 (CODE 1E0-AMF5), Tues., Aug. 18 (CODE 1E0-AMF6), 12 p.m.; Members $20; Nonmembers $30

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Mark of van Gogh

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 5–19, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AMA; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Shadows First

An Alternative Approach to Drawing Portraits

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Thurs., Aug. 6–20, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AMB; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Digital Drawing Fundamentals

INSTRUCTOR: Mike O’Brien

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 12, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALX; Members $65; Nonmembers $80

Complete Colored Pencils

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., Aug. 13 and 20, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ALL; Members $135; Nonmembers $160

PAINTING

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

En Plein Air Painting in a Smithsonian Garden

Post-Impressionism Inspired by Cézanne

INSTRUCTOR: Sandra Gobar

IN PERSON: Sun., Aug. 2 and 9, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AME; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

Landscape Painting from Photos

INSTRUCTOR: Eric Westbrook

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 5–19, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0AKT; Members $145; Nonmembers $170

From Frustration to Flow

Harnessing Wet Techniques in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Sun., Aug. 9, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AMC; Members $60; Nonmembers $75

MIXED MEDIA

Paper Frenzy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sat., Aug. 8 and 15, 1 p.m., Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMU; Members $120; Nonmembers $145

OTHER MEDIA

Handmade Storybooks

INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar IN PERSON: Sat., Aug. 8, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AMZ; Members $80; Nonmembers $95

Multi-strand Necklaces Workshop

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., Aug. 8, 12 p.m., CODE 1E0-ALV; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

Alternative Pens for Mark Making and Calligraphy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani ONLINE: Sat., Aug. 8 and 15, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AMP; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

PHOTOGRAPHY

NEW | One-Hour Photo

Learn how to capture eye-catching photos, then go out during your lunch hour and photograph the architecture, public sculpture, and city life that surround you. Bonus: While taking pictures, you also reduce stress and increase mindfulness.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Wed., Aug. 5–19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AKY; Members $125; Nonmembers $150

THEORY AND PRACTICE

NEW CLASS

Art Journaling for Self-Expression

INSTRUCTOR: Carter Umhau

IN PERSON: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANR; Members $190; Nonmembers $225

Color Theory for Embroidery Artists

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley

ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APA; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind

INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar

ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Nov. 9, 12 p.m., no class Oct. 12; CODE 1E0-ARM; Members $160; Nonmembers $195

Color Theory and Practice

INSTRUCTOR: Theresa Otteson

ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., no class Oct. 12; CODE 1E0-ARQ; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

IN PERSON

Beginning Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze

IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 2 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANX; Members $275; Nonmembers $310

Intermediate Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze

IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANY; Members $280; Nonmembers $315

Observation and Perception:

Unlocking the Skill of Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0AQG; Members $65; Nonmembers $80 IN PERSON

TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Wed., Sept. 23–Nov. 18, 2 p.m., no class Nov. 11 (CODE 1E0AQR); Sat., Sept. 26–Nov. 14, 10:15 a.m. (CODE 1E0-AQU); Ripley Center; Members $265; Nonmembers $300

Poetry and Art Club

Bring your own poem—or a poem you admire—to this monthly gathering and create art that responds to it. Each session includes group tutorials, short exercises, and moments of inspiration and research.

INSTRUCTOR: Kate Lewis

ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, and Dec. 15, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APP; Members $195; Nonmembers $220

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Techniques in Modernist Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 8–Nov. 12, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQT; Members $260; Nonmembers $295

Keeping up the Sketchbook Habit

INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston

ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ARK; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Hues in Harmony

Color Mixing and Maximizing Your Palette

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 27–Dec. 1, 10 a.m., no class Nov. 24; CODE 1E0-AQJ; Members $190; Nonmembers $225

Color Theory and Chroma-psychology

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., Dec. 3, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APW; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

Figure Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

IN PERSON: Sun., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 2:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AQX; Members $275; Nonmembers $310

Introduction to Figure Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Tom Kim

IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 6–Nov. 3, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARS; Members $215; Nonmembers $250

Digital Drawing Fundamentals

INSTRUCTOR: Mike O’Brien

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Breaking the Line

Contours Inspired by Delacroix and Rembrandt

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AQM; Members $65; Nonmembers $80

Drawing Techniques Perspective

INSTRUCTOR: Desarae Lee

ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANV; Members $90; Nonmembers $115

Beginning Drawing

INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter

ONLINE: Sun., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APN; Members $260; Nonmembers $295

Pet Portraits

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 22 and 29, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APU; Members $95; Nonmembers $120

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Van Gogh’s Toolbox

Expressive Techniques in Drawing for Self-Taught Artists

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 4, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQL; Members $65; Nonmembers $80

Graphite: The Versatile Medium

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., Nov. 12 and 19, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APV; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

NEW CLASSES IN PERSON

IN PERSON

Beginning Acrylic Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Marshall Wright

IN PERSON: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANQ; Members $240; Nonmembers $275

Beginning Oil Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Wed., Sept. 23–Nov. 18, 6 p.m., no class Nov. 11 (CODE 1E0AQS); Sat., Sept. 26–Nov. 14, 2:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-AQV); Ripley Center; Members $285; Nonmembers $310

Intermediate Oil Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan

IN PERSON: Sun., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AQW; Members $295; Nonmembers $330

Autumn Sketching in the Smithsonian Gardens

INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston

IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 24 and Nov. 7, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARJ; Members $130; Nonmembers $155

By Lori VanKirk Schue

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Masters and Mediums Silverpoint

Learn a little art history alongside silverpoint, a traditional artform that is experiencing a modern revival. Silvepoint uses a silver stylus on prepared paper to produce a delicate drawing.

INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue

ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APT; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

Illustrated Mapmaking

Explore the art of illustrated mapmaking, where the rigid rules of cartography don’t apply and instead you capture a place as you remember it. Delve into composition, visual hierarchy, and the interplay between text and image.

INSTRUCTOR: Michael Avery

ONLINE: Mon., Oct. 19 and 26, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ART; Members $110; Nonmembers $135

By Michael Avery

NEW CLASS

ONLINE

Examining Cézanne: From Landscape to Figure

Explore the revolutionary visual language of Paul Cézanne through direct observation in the beautiful Enid A. Haupt Garden combined with an in-studio figurative painting session with a live model. Using watercolor, water-based inks, and water-soluble colored pencils, investigate the dynamic relationships between light, atmosphere, architecture, botanical form, and color.

INSTRUCTOR: Sandra Gobar IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 4–18, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AQQ; Members $170; Nonmembers $195

Exploring Color in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid

ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APX; Members $275; Nonmembers $310

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Essence Over Detail Expression and Sketching in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Oct. 13, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQH; Members $160; Nonmembers $185

Landscape Elements in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid

ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 5 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APY; Members $275; Nonmembers $310

Beginning Oil Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Theresa Otteson

ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARR; Members $165; Nonmembers $190

Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio

NEW CLASSES

Figures

and Fashion in Watercolor and Ink

This class is for students wanting to master the standing figure and explore dynamic ways to dress it up. Experiment with rendering a variety of fabrics such as satin, velvet, and sheers.

INSTRUCTOR: Amy Dapice

ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Nov. 9, 6 p.m., no class Oct. 12; CODE 1E0-ANE; Members $195; Nonmembers $220

Playful Perspective in Watercolor

Learning perspective doesn’t have to be difficult. Students come away understanding which rules must be followed and which ones can be bent or disregarded.

INSTRUCTOR: Amy Dapice

ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 29–Nov. 3, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANF; Members $195; Nonmembers $220

Amaryllis

and Paperwhites

Luminous Winter Florals

Explore how to translate a festive bouquet into a luminous watercolor, capturing the movement and softness of florals in winter light.

INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs

ONLINE: Tues., Dec. 1 and Thurs., Dec. 3, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0ANS; Members $135; Nonmembers $150

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Sketching Turner

Expressing Atmosphere and Skies in Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 14, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQK; Members $160; Nonmembers $185

MIXED MEDIA

Dissecting Design with Abstract Collage

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARC; Members $165; Nonmembers $200

A Walk on the Wild Side with Photomontage

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sat., Nov. 7 and 14, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARF; Members $115; Nonmembers $140

Continued Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter

ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24–Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APM; Members $260; Nonmembers $295

Introduction to Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter

ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Nov. 30, 6 p.m., no class Oct. 12 and Nov. 23; CODE 1E0-APL; Members $270; Nonmembers $305

Portrait Painting in Oil and Acrylic

INSTRUCTOR: Eric Westbrook

ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 30–Nov. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0ANW; Members $225; Nonmembers $260

Watercolor Journeys

Travel Sketching

INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs

ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 3, 10:15 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ANT; Members $140; Nonmembers $165

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

Drawing Light

How the Masters Did It in Color

INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman

ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 29–Dec. 3, 10 a.m., no class Nov. 26; CODE 1E0-AQN; Members $190; Nonmembers $225

Watercolor Beginning Techniques

INSTRUCTOR: Jean Pederson

ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 2–16, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APE; Members $135; Nonmembers $160

NEW CLASS

Mixed Media Madness

Holiday Keepsake Ornaments

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sun., Dec. 6, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARH; Members $80; Nonmembers $95 By Sharon Robinson

Rev up your collage and mixed-media experience to create an enhanced repertoire of materials and techniques in this two-day intensive class. Transform everyday objects and experiment with materials to create unique textures and effects.

By

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sat., Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARE; Members $115; Nonmembers $140

NEW CLASS

Gelli Jam

This intensive two-day class provides an opportunity to use stamps, stencils, inks, pastels and a plethora of tools and materials for creating patterns and texture with gel printing.

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 11 and 18, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARG; Members $115; Nonmembers $140

Exploring Abstraction

INSTRUCTOR: Delna Dastur

ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24–Nov. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANU; Members $260; Nonmembers $295

NEW CLASS

Make It Miniature

Big

Ideas in Small Formats

Working small can open things up in surprising ways. In this six-session mixed-media class, create a series of miniature artworks using a range of materials— both wet and dry—like paint, collage, and simple sculptural elements.

INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 14–Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m., no class Nov. 11 and 25; CODE 1E0-APZ; Members $140; Nonmembers $175

NEW CLASS

Beginning Tapestry Weaving

INSTRUCTOR: Tea Okropiridze

IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 29–Nov. 10, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARP; Members $190; Nonmembers $225

Beginner Embroidered Patch Workshop

Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio

Collage and Mixed Media

INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 14–Dec. 9, 1:30 p.m., no class Nov. 11 and 25; CODE 1E0-AQA; Members $245; Nonmembers $280

Mixed Media Art Warmups

INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard

ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 9 and 16, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQB; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

Where’s My Muse?

INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson

ONLINE: Tues., Nov. 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARD; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

Unique and Exciting Knitting Techniques

Knitters confident in their beginning skills are invited to try techniques that provide an entertaining experience and a beautiful knitted piece too. Liven up your projects with double knitting, thrumming, knitting backwards, strip knitting, and freeform knitting.

INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards

IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 20–Nov. 17, 6:15 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANK; Members $140; Nonmembers $175 FIBER

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley

IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 3, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APC; Members $60; Nonmembers $75

Knitting for Beginners

INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards

IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 20–Dec. 1, 2 p.m., no class Nov. 24; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANJ; Members $165; Nonmembers $200

Embroidery 101 Workshop

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley

IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 24, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APD; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

ONLINE

Build Your Log Cabin (Quilt)

INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Kingsland

ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 14, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APS; Members $155; Nonmembers $180

Advanced Embroidery Stitches

INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley

ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 4–Dec. 16, 12 p.m., no class Nov. 11 and Nov. 25; CODE 1E0-APB; Members $165; Nonmembers $200

Embroidery on Paper and Photographs

INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Howard

ONLINE: Sat., Nov. 14 and 21, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQP; Members $110; Nonmembers $135

NEW CLASSES

Handmade Storybooks

INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar

IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 10, 10:30 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARN; Members $80; Nonmembers $95

Mosaic Express

INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Fitzgerald

IN PERSON: Sat., Nov. 7, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANN; Members $110; Nonmembers $125

Collage Flag Books

Introduction to Pointed-Pen Calligraphy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani

ONLINE: Sun., Sept. 27–Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARB; Members $140; Nonmembers $165

Introduction to Beading

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 3–17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0AQC; Members $150; Nonmembers $175

The Art of Floral Design

INSTRUCTOR: Arrin Sutliff

ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 27–Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., no class Nov. 24; CODE 1E0-ANM; Members $160; Nonmembers $195

When Good Patterns Go Bad Avoiding and Fixing Knitting Mistakes

INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards

ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 18, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANL; Members $45; Nonmembers $60

Introduction to Book Making

This class introduces you to the fundamentals of bookbinding. Learn about the essential tools and materials needed to create your own handmade books, as well as a range of core techniques, including folding, sewing, and gluing.

INSTRUCTOR: Krista Sharp

IN PERSON: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APQ; Members $225; Nonmembers $260

Create your own flag book, a dynamic structure that builds on a basic accordion fold and focuses on movement.

INSTRUCTOR: Krista Sharp

IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 3, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APR; Members $125; Nonmembers $150

Mosaic Jewelry

INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Fitzgerald

ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ANP; Members $75; Nonmembers $90

Takuga

Botanical Prints in Sumi Ink and Watercolor

INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston

ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ARL; Members $80; Nonmembers $95

NEW CLASS

Jewelry Tool Talk: Cold Connections

Upcycled Aluminum Holiday Ornament

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQF; Members $70; Nonmembers $85

Jazz It Up

Holiday Cards Using Pointed-Pen Calligraphy

INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani

ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5 and 12, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARA; Members $105; Nonmembers $130

Have you wanted to take the next step with your jewelry but weren’t sure where to start? Find the answers to your questions in this workshop demonstrating the tools and techniques needed to create a small pierced and riveted pendant.

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 24, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQD; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

NEW CLASSES

Introduction to Bookbinding The Sewn Book

Explore the art and structure of the handmade book, including sewn binding techniques. You also are introduced to the history of bookbinding, basic terminology, tools, and materials.

INSTRUCTOR: Amaal Younes

TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Thurs., Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ANC); Thurs., Nov. 12 and 19, 1:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-AND); Members $170; Nonmembers $195

Wirework Intensive: Explorations in Fiber Jewelry

Explore the intersection of fiber art and jewelry to create soft, tactile, textural pieces of wearable sculpture, including a pair of embroidered earrings. Working with recycled fabrics and creating bead embroidery and 3D forms are explored.

INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer

ONLINE: Sat., Nov. 7–21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQE; Members $150; Nonmembers $175

IN PERSON

Introduction to Photography

INSTRUCTOR: Andargé Asfaw

TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 3 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ANG); Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ANH); Ripley Center; Members $255; Nonmembers $290

On-Location Photography

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 18–Nov. 22, 1:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APK; Members $205; Nonmembers $240

Smartphone Photography

INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani

ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 24, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQY; Members $80; Nonmembers $105

The Exposure Triangle

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0APH; Members $160; Nonmembers $185

By Joe Yablonsky

Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio

Night Photography in Washington, D.C.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 2 and 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0APF; Members $90; Nonmembers $115

(Note: The first session of this class is conducted on Zoom, and the second session is in person in Washington, D.C.)

Architectural Details

Good architectural photography doesn't have to capture the whole building. This class covers how to zoom in to emphasize details, textures, and subjects that catch your eye.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 23 and 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APG; Members $90; Nonmembers $115

Autumn Scenes

Hone your thematic skills and train your lens on classic fall scenes. Embrace the season by stepping out to snap picturesque landscapes, flame-colored foliage, and other autumnal sights from pumpkin patches and farm equipment to black cats and scarecrows.

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky

ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APJ; Members $90; Nonmembers $115

IN PERSON

Figure Sculpture

INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze

IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANZ; Members $325; Nonmembers $360

Smithsonian Associates expert-led Study Tours offer one-of-a-kind in-person experiences. They’re the perfect way to learn more about the places and topics that fascinate you, and you’re sure to discover plenty of new favorites along the way.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn

Walking Tour

In 1791, Pierre L’Enfant envisioned the National Mall as a grand “public walk,” a sweeping promenade at the heart of the capital. But by 1900, his ambitious plan had been largely overlooked and altered. That changed with the influential McMillan Plan of 1902, which reimagined the ceremonial core of Washington, D.C., shaping much of what visitors see on the Mall today.

Discover the stories behind the once-planned museum park and the now-vanished railroad station and the curious reason why the Mall doesn’t align with the compass. Marvel at a rich tapestry of architectural styles represented by the Smithsonian buildings. Beg in with the Gothic Revival Smithsonian Castle, built in 1846 and the first permanent structure on the Mall, and follow the architectural journey to the striking 2016 National Museum of African American History and Culture. Along the way, encounter the exuberant Victorian flair of the Arts and Industries Building and the Beaux Arts grandeur of the National Museum of Natural History.

Continue by comparing the distinct takes on Modernism in buildings such as the Hirshhorn Museum, National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, and the African American History and Culture Museum. The tour concludes with a glimpse at the Mall’s newest landmark, the Frank Gehry–designed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.

The tour leader is Bill Keene, a lecturer in history, urban studies, and architecture.

Arts and Industries Building Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

THREE NEW DATE OPTIONS: Sat., Oct. 3 (CODE 1CW-A09); Fri., Oct. 9 (CODE 1CW-B09); Sun., Oct. 18 (CODE 1CW-C09); 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Harpers Ferry and John Brown’s Raid

At the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers lies Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a small town whose dramatic setting became the stage for one of the most consequential events in the struggle over slavery. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a day-long exploration of the site of John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, an attempt by the radical abolitionist to spark a nationwide slave uprising. Though the raid lasted little more than 36 hours, its repercussions reverberated across the nation and helped propel the United States toward civil war.

After arriving at the Harpers Ferry Visitor Center, travel to the historic Lower Town for a guided walking tour that follows in the footsteps of Brown and his followers while exploring the town’s layered history. Enjoy a short hike to Jefferson Rock, named for the former president and offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. A visit to the former campus of Storer College highlights its important role as a center of African American education and memory in the years after the Civil War. The afternoon includes free time to explore the town and its museums, including the John Brown Museum, before returning to Washington, D.C. Lunch is included. Sat., Aug. 8, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-015; Members $185; Nonmembers $245

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit

The Arts and Crafts Movement in Philadelphia

Trace the evolution of the Arts and Crafts movement in Philadelphia through a day-long exploration of two remarkable sites that together tell a story of craftsmanship, community, and design. Led by Bonita Billman, the program begins at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where a curator-led tour of “Workshop of the World: Arts and Crafts in Philadelphia, 1876–1926” reveals how the city’s industrial strength and artistic ambition shaped a distinctly local interpretation of the movement. Featuring more than 250 objects, from finely crafted furniture to metalwork and textiles, the exhibition highlights makers who sought to unite beauty and utility in response to the challenges of modern life.

“Peacock and Grapevine Mosaic,” 1916, on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Spend the afternoon in Rose Valley, where a guided tour of the Rose Valley Museum introduces one of America’s most significant Arts and Crafts communities. Housed in Thunderbird Lodge, a beautifully preserved Arts and Crafts–style building, the museum offers a window into a bold social experiment. Founded in 1901 by architect William Lightfoot Price, Rose Valley was env isioned as a place where art, labor, and daily life were seamlessly integrated, emphasizing craftsmanship, communal living, and a rejection of industrial mass production. A walking tour of the Rose Valley Historic District with a local guide gives a deeper look at the community that formed around the movement.

Lunch at a local restaurant is included. Fri., Aug. 28, 7 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-016; Members $267; Nonmembers $327

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Walking Tour

New Deal Projects, Part 1

Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the New Deal ignited an unprecedented use of government resources to address crucial public services as a way to kick-start the American economy. But President Franklin Roosevelt said that in a hundred years, his New Deal would be remembered more for its arts than its job relief.

Discover landmarks, art, and other projects from the New Deal period with author David Taylor during a walking tour in Washington, D.C. Begin at Judiciary Square to see the public sculptures and dramatic courthouse bas reliefs there, including one by architectural sculptor John Gregory. Highlights along the route include the Henry F. Daly Building, constructed in the Classical Moderne style with the aid of Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds; the Federal Trade Commission Building, which features monumental sculptures by WPA artists in Art Deco style; and the National Mall and Washington Monument, which were renovated during the New Deal period. Conclude at the Department of the Interior for an optional staff-led tour of more than 40 New Deal–era murals, plus several 1941–1942 photomurals by Ansel Adams.

THREE OPTIONS: Fri., Sept. 11 (CODE 1CW-A10); Fri., Sept. 18 (CODE 1CW-B10); Fri., Sept. 25 (CODE 1CW-C10); 9:30–11:45 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $75

Quincy Market along the Freedom Trail

4-Day Tour

Revolutionary Boston

Cradle of Liberty

Few American cities are as deeply entwined with the birth of the nation as Boston. From village greens where militias first mustered to crowded wharves and meetinghouses alive with revolutionary debate, trace the dramatic opening chapters of the American Revolution. Guided by historian Fred Zilian, explore the landscapes and ideas that transformed a cluster of colonial towns into the epicenter of a struggle for independence.

DAY 1: Participants arrive in Boston. Begin with a welcome orientation, dinner, and lecture at the hotel from your study leader introducing the people, politics, and pivotal events of Boston’s revolutionary world.

DAY 2: During a morning excursion to Lexington and Concord, stand on the village green in Lexington and at the North Bridge in Concord and visualize how local resistance ignited a war that reshaped history. Back in Boston, a driving tour reveals the city’s evolving civic and architectural identity, from Beacon Hill to Harvard Square.

DAY 3: A guided walking tour traces key sites of protest, debate, and defiance along the Freedom Trail, with time to explore Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Then move on to Boston Harbor for a cruise that highlights the city’s maritime and military significance. The day concludes in the North End with visits to Copps Hill Burying Ground, Old North Church, and the Paul Revere House.

DAY 4: Conclude with a visit to the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, and USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, before your airport transfer.

Sun., Sept. 13, 6 p.m.–Wed., Sept. 16, 4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BOS; Members $1,747; Nonmembers $2,329

NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to and from Boston.

Historic Chestertown

With a Cruise on the Schooner Sultana

Spend an unforgettable day exploring the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay with regional historian Hayden Mathews. The journey begins as Mathews weaves together the geological, environmental, maritime, cultural, and architectural threads that have shaped the region. This legacy comes to life as you explore historic Chestertown, Maryland, and embark on a 2.5-hour sail aboard the Sultana, a replica 1768 topsail schooner.

Chestertown was founded in 1704 as an official Crown Port of Entry and, as such, enjoyed a lucrative maritime trade that fueled the local economy and funded construction of the Georgian brick mansions that still line the streets of the town. While the original Boston-built Sultana patrolled the coastline of colonial North America from 1768 to 1772 enforcing the hated Townshend Acts or “tea taxes,” the replica Sultana was built by the Sultana Educational Foundation in Chestertown to serve as a floating classroom for students and members of the public where they can learn about regional maritime history and have a hands-on experience in learning about Bay ecology as well.

In Chestertown, meet Chris Cerino, a former mayor and the vice president of the Sultana Education Foundation, who leads a walking tour of the town’s National Register Historic District, spotlighting buildings of special interest and providing insightful stories about local history. The tour concludes at the headquarters of the foundation, where Cerino orchestrates a multimedia presentation that provides a one-of-a-kind experience of the Bay’s cultural and natural histories. A box lunch is included in the day.

Sun., Sept. 13, 7:45 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-003; Members $199; Nonmembers $259

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

A Sustainability Infrastructure Tour

Rather than treating waste as an end point, cities and counties increasingly view it as a stream of materials that can be redirected, reused, and transformed. The communities around Washington, D.C., are no exception. Urban studies lecturer Bill Keene leads an exploration of three local facilities working to recover, reuse, and regenerate and the infrastructure that makes these efforts possible.

The Prince George’s County Materials Recycling Facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland, offers a window into the world of materials recovery, where tons of paper, plastic, metal, and cardboard are sorted, separated, and prepared for new life. Guided by facility experts, you observe the intricate combination of machinery and manual labor that makes recycling possible. Along the way, gain a clearer understanding of what can and cannot be recycled and how individual choices at home affect the efficiency and success of the system

Food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials take on new value at the Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where they are transformed into nutrient-rich compost. A tour of the facility and Visitor’s Center offers a look at the science of decomposition.

A visit to Community Forklift in Edmonston, Maryland, a nonprofit reuse center, highlights another dimension of sustainability: salvaging architectural materials and household goods and giving them new life, free to community groups and families in need. Hear about the center’s community partnerships and how goods are acquired.

Lunch is included.

Fri., Sept. 18, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-017; Members $169; Nonmembers $230;

Walking Tour

Old Town’s African American History

Founded in 1749, Alexandria, Virginia, was a major American port that was home to both the country’s largest slave-trading firm and a large free Black community. Local guide John Chapman leads a walking tour of the city’s OId Town neighborhood that takes in sites connected to this history.

Begin in front of the Freedom House Museum, where the office of Franklin and Armfield—notorious slave traffickers in antebellum Alexandria—was housed. Stop along the Duke Street corridor at the site of Bruin’s Slave Jail, which played a part in the story of the Edmonson sisters who had tried to escape to freedom on the schooner Pearl. A bronze sculpture of the sisters, who were eventually freed, marks this historic site.

Along the way, visit sites connected to early African American spirituality such as Shiloh Baptist Church, one of Alexandria’s original African American churches, and the Alexandria National Cemetery, formerly known as the Soldiers’ Cemetery, where more than 250 members of the United States Colored Troops are buried.

THREE OPTIONS: Fri., Sept. 25 (CODE 1CW-A11); Sat., Sept. 26 (CODE 1CW-B11); Sun., Sept. 27 (CODE 1CW-C11); 10 a.m.–12 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $50; Nonmembers $70

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

A Day at SERC

The 2,650-acre campus of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland, encompasses forests, farmland, wetlands, and shoreline. Spend the day with SERC’s expert staff as you explore this environmental research hub and learn about its cutting-edge ecological studies.

At the Woodlawn History Center, built in 1735, uncover stories of the area’s rich history—from Native American settlement to the present day—through artifacts found by volunteer scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Archaeology Lab. Discover the intersection of environmental science and archaeology as researchers explain the ways human activity has shaped the land and its ecosystems over time. Take a morning walk along a waterfront trail that winds through lush landscapes, stopping along the way to discuss SERC research and explore the types of ecosystems that the center works to protect. Back on campus, hear about SERC’s river otter research.

After lunch, visit the South Campus for a look at the BiodiversiTREE research project, where scientists are studying how tree diversity can shape the health of a forest and the life within it. Wrap up your day at the Global Change Research Wetland. Here, researchers run futuristic experiments to simulate how climate change could affect wetlands over the next century.

Fri., Sept. 25, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-018; Members $115; Nonmembers $175

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Sacred Stones: Two Iconic New York Cemeteries

They’re peaceful, they’re reverent, they combine history and biography with nature and stillness: Discover the rich history and autumn beauty of two of New York City’s well-known cemeteries on a two-day tour.

Traveling from Washington, D.C., begin with a visit to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, founded in 1838 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its role in American history and landscape design. Stroll through winding paths and see a variety of interesting monuments and sculptures and learn about the lives of notable figures buried there, including artists, inventors, and veterans. Enjoy an evening program at the Morbid Anatomy Library, dine at a local restaurant, and spend the night at the Nu Hotel in Brooklyn.

Cemetery

On day two, travel to Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, established in 1863 as one of the largest rural cemeteries in the country. Walk among elegant mausoleums and elaborate memorials that tell the stories of jazz legends, industrial titans, and literary giants. This serene setting is the final resting place of many historical figures, and guide Allison C. Meier shares stories that bring their legacies to life. The tour offers a thoughtful way to explore New York’s cultural heritage while enjoying time outdoors. Meier is the author of Grave and a licensed tour guide whose work explores urban history, cemeteries, and the cultural meaning of burial.

Sun., Oct. 4, 8 a.m.–Tues., Oct. 5, 9 p.m.; by bus; detailed information on website; CODE 1NN-CEM; Members $746; Nonmembers $980

4-Day Tour

St. Louis: Gateway to the West

Step into the heart of America, where history echoes through classic landmarks from the soaring Gateway Arch to neighborhoods shaped by immigration, innovation, and art. This 4-day journey explores St. Louis’s pivotal role in westward expansion, global ambition, and social change—set within a region long home to Indigenous communities—from the Mississippi River and the legacy of the 1904 World’s Fair to the communities that continue to define it. Through notable sites and local stories, discover how St. Louis became both gateway to the West and mirror of the American experience. Tami Goldman, director of tourism and visitor experience at the Missouri Historical Society, is the guide.

Highlights include

Gateway Arch National Park

The stainless steel arch rises above the Mississippi as a symbol of national expansion. From the top, enjoy sweeping views of the riverfront city that launched the Corps of Discovery in 1804. St. Louis stood as the final major outpost before Lewis and Clark traveled west.

Missouri History Museum (Forest Park)

Located on the former grounds of the 1904 World’s Fair, the museum features exhibitions on the fair and the evolution of Forest Park. A special behind-the-scenes experience provides rare access to collections and curatorial insights.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859, this internationally renowned institution is a leader in plant science and global conservation. Its historic landscapes and the Climatron, the first geodesic dome greenhouse, reflect St. Louis’ longstanding commitment to scientific inquiry.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Across the river from St. Louis, Cahokia preserves the largest and most influential pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, built by the Mississippian culture between about 1050 and 1350. Its monumental earthworks offer a powerful glimpse into early Indigenous urban

planning and a once-thriving, sophisticated society. Enjoy a private guided tour of the site.

National Museum of Transportation

Home to one of the nation’s largest collections of period locomotives and railcars, the museum highlights the rail networks that helped open the American West.

Foundry Hall (City Foundry)

A vibrant food hall featuring independent chefs and flavors that reflect the city’s immigrant roots and contemporary creativity.

Sat., Sept. 26, 6 p.m.–Tues., Sept. 29, 4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NN-STL; Members $1,491; Nonmembers $1,988

NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to St. Louis.

COST INCLUDES: 3 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 8 meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees.

Historic Washington Cemeteries

Cemeteries are more than places of burial: They are landscapes of memory that reveal how cities grow, communities endure, and histories are preserved. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads an exploration of four historic Washington-area cemeteries and traces their stories across more than three centuries.

Begin at Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown, founded in 1849 by philanthropist William Corcoran. After the city banned new cemeteries within its limits in 1852, Oak Hill became part of a new generation of pastoral burial grounds on the urban edge. Hear stories of architect Cloethiel Woodard Smith, a force behind Southwest urban renewal and the National Building Museum, and learn how Oak Hill briefly became the resting place of Abraham Lincoln’s beloved son Willie.

At Mount Zion Cemetery and the adjacent Female Union Band Society Cemetery, explore the oldest Black cemeteries in Washington, established in 1842 for free and enslaved Black residents. Among the 8,000 to 10,000 burials, discover the legacy of Mary Turner and the Female Union Band Society, the meaning behind seashell-covered graves, and the site’s connections to the Underground Railroad.

Continue to Rock Creek Cemetery, D.C.’s oldest cemetery, founded in 1719 by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Notable burials include author Upton Sinclair and Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a prominent figure in Washington society.

Conclude at Glenwood Cemetery, one of Washington’s earliest secular cemeteries, where stories of exclusion, rediscovery, and political scandal emerge through the graves. Burials include Capitol artist Constantino Brumidi, whose long-lost gravesite was rediscovered in 1952, and Emmanual Leutze, the artist who painted Washington Crossing the Delaware

Fri., Oct. 16, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-019; Members $175; Nonmembers $235

Historic Arlington County

Originally part of the 100-square-mile area surveyed in 1791 and 1792 for the nation’s capital, Arlington County is a tapestry of history woven from colonial farmsteads, Civil War fortifications, African American villages, and the people who have defined the county for more than two centuries. Travel journalist Barbara Noe Kennedy leads a day-long exploration of sites that reveal how Arlington evolved from a rural Virginia community into a modern urban county.

Begin with a short lecture by your study leader before exploring the Arlington Historical Museum to learn how the stage was set for the county’s early development and changing communities. Continue to the remains of the 18th-century Abingdon Plantation, tucked beside Reagan National Airport. The historic Ball-Sellers House, built around 1760, is among the oldest surviving homes in Arlington. Constructed by John and Elizabeth Ball, the house was later owned by three generations of the Carlin family, including the namesake of the Glencarlyn neighborhood, William Carlin, who served as a tailor to George and Martha Washington. At the Glencarlyn Library, see part of the trunk of a boundary tree used by George Washington to mark his property lines and learn about the original federal boundary stones placed to define the District of Columbia.

The tour also examines Arlington’s pivotal role during the Civil War through surviving defenses at Fort C. F. Smith Park. Stories of emancipation, segregation, and urban renewal emerge through discussions of Freedman’s Village, Hall’s Hill, and the vanished Queen City community, while a visit to the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington highlights the enduring contributions of Arlington’s Black communities. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Sat., Oct. 10, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-020; Members $175; Nonmembers $235

A Day at Blackwater Falls State Park

Spend a beautiful fall day wrapped in the wild color and rugged beauty of Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, West Virginia—where every winding road and forest trail feels painted in copper, crimson, and gold. In autumn, the park’s famous canyon glows beneath towering red spruce and hardwood forests while the dark, tea-colored waters of the Blackwater River plunge over sandstone ledges at the falls.

Led by naturalist and birding expert Matt Felperin, begin the day in the wetlands outside the park followed by a stop at the Harold S. Walters Nature Center, where a ranger introduces the park to participants. Throughout the day explore the landscape in depth with multiple opportunities to adventure out on foot, with each consisting of short trails of less than 1 mile. Keep an eye out for red-spotted newts, red-breasted nuthatches, pileated woodpeckers, ravens riding the thermals, and the occasional hawk drifting above the gorge.

The landscape tells an ancient story carved through Appalachian rock over millions of years, with dramatic cliffs, boulder fields, and sweeping overlooks revealing the raw geology of the Allegheny Mountains. As the afternoon fades, follow the ridgeline toward Lindy Point for one of the most unforgettable sunset views in the region. The canyon stretches endlessly into layered blue mountains, and when the sun drops low, the cliffs and forests ignite in bands of amber and violet light. It’s the perfect ending to a mountain escape.

A picnic box lunch and a box supper for the ride back to Washington are included. To enhance the experience, the tour is co-led by naturalist Susannah Parker and has a maximum capacity of 38.

Sat., Oct. 17, 7 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-004; Members $245; Nonmembers $305

A Stroll Through Georgetown

Established 50 years before Washington, D.C., Georgetown got its start as a gritty port city on the banks of the Potomac River. Despite its modest beginnings, Georgetown eventually came to have some of the most expensive and desirable property in the District. Explore the highlights and secrets of one of D.C.’s most exclusive neighborhoods, home to palatial mansions, elegant cemeteries, stately churches, and a world-class university. Join Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, for a walk through the neighborhood.

THREE OPTIONS: Thurs., Oct. 22 (CODE 1CW-A12); Fri., Oct. 23 (CODE 1CW-B12); Sat., Oct. 24 (CODE 1CW-C12); 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $60; Nonmembers $80

Inside the Folger Shakespeare Library

Go behind the scenes at the Folger Shakespeare Library for a day of rare books, scintillating conversation, and live theater centered on one of Shakespeare’s most provocative plays. Blending politics, morality, comedy, and disguise, Measure for Measure is considered one of Shakespeare’s most complex “problem plays.”

The day begins with a guided introduction to the Folger and its renowned collections— which include 82 First Folios—along with a tour of the recently renovated building. Visit the Shakespeare Exhibition Hall and galleries for an up-close look at highlights from the Folger’s extraordinary holdings, current exhibitions, and rare materials, accompanied by a gallery talk from Folger staff.

Before the matinee, enjoy a special session unpacking the plot, characters, and major themes of Measure for Measure, offering insights into the play’s twists, ethical dilemmas, and dark humor. After lunch from the Quill & Crumb, settle into the Folger’s intimate Elizabethan-styled theater for the performance. Join in a private post-show discussion to hear from Folger production staff and share your thoughts about the play.

Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-021; Members $244; Nonmembers $305

Staunton, Shakespeare, and Steam

Fall in the Shenandoah Valley

Nestled in the heart of scenic Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, Virginia, is alive with history, culture—and a little steam. Washington, D.C., area guide Lynn O’Connell leads a weekend getaway that offers a sampling of Staunton’s best sights plus a train excursion. Upon arriving in Staunton, visit Blackfriars Playhouse, the only replica of Shakespeare’s indoor theater. Delve into the world of theater with a backstage tour during which guides take you around the playhouse, share secrets and anecdotes, and offer insights into the playhouse’s inner workings. After lunch, go back in time to the night that Mary Shelley was inspired to write Frankenstein as you watch Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a play that cleverly combines the backstory and storyline of the Gothic novel. Dinner is on your own in downtown Staunton.

On Sunday, hit the streets for a tour of Staunton led by local guides before boarding the Virginia Scenic Railway for a 3-hour train journey on the Alleghany Special. As the train ventures westward, you go through the beautiful farmland of the Shenandoah Valley bound for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with views of the Allegheny Mountains along the way. The train begins its return journey in the hamlet of Goshen in Rockbridge County. Lunch on board is included.

The day concludes back in Staunton with a visit to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum. A guided tour through the historic home offers insights into

President Wilson’s life, leadership, and impact on American history. Sat., Nov. 7, 7:30 a.m.–Sun., Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-SSO; Members $677; Nonmembers $903

3-Day Tour

All Eyes on Pittsburgh

The centerpiece of this art-filled three-day visit to Pittsburgh—a city of smokestacks and steel reborn as a vibrant cultural capital—is the 59th Carnegie International, North America’s longest-running survey of international contemporary art. Presented at the Carnegie Museum of Art and held every three to five years, this exhibition showcases the work of more than 60 artists, from emerging voices to globally celebrated figures.

In addition, the tour led by arts journalist Richard Selden offers a deep dive into Pittsburgh’s distinctive art and history. At the Mattress Factory, guests encounter room-sized, site-specific installations that blur the boundary between viewer and artwork. The Andy Warhol Museum, the largest museum in North America devoted to a single artist, provides an immersive look at the life and work of Pittsburgh’s most famous creative son, from iconic silkscreens to films and archives.

The itinerary also connects art to the city’s broader historical narrative at the Senator John Heinz History Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum and Pennsylvania’s largest history museum. Here you explore Pittsburgh’s transformation from frontier settlement to industrial powerhouse and, ultimately, to a modern center of innovation and culture.

A highlight beyond the visual arts is the National Aviary, one of the nation’s premier bird conservation centers. Enjoy an up-close encounter with species from around the globe, culminating in a demonstration where free-flying birds soar just overhead.

The rich ethnic and industrial history of “the ’Burgh” is woven into the tour. A walking and tasting tour of the Strip District reveals a vibrant neighborhood shaped by waves of immigration, where old-world food traditions meet contemporary culinary innovation. The tour would not be complete without a ride on the historic Duquesne Incline, a cable car dating to 1877 that offers sweeping views of the city’s skyline and the confluence of the Allegheny River, Monongahela River, and Ohio River.

Even the accommodations reflect Pittsburgh history: The Priory Hotel, a restored former Benedictine monastery dating to 1888, features Romanesque architecture, soaring spaces, and preserved historic details.

This is not a composition, it’s a place where things are, as on a table by R.J. Messineo, 2025, is part of the 59th Carnegie International

Sun., Nov. 8, 8 a.m.–Tues., Nov. 10, 10 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-PIT; Members $1,187; Nonmembers $1,585

2-Day Tour

Holidays in the Brandywine Valley

Led by regional historian Hayden Mathews, step into a world of elegance and holiday splendor in a journey through the historic Brandywine Valley, where the legacy of the du Pont family comes to life in grand estates adorned with holiday displays. Spanning Pennsylvania and Delaware, the region is home to some of the most opulent mansions and gardens in the country, each with a unique connection to the du Pont family. Known for their contributions to industry, innovation, and philanthropy, the du Ponts shaped the cultural and economic landscape of the region, leaving behind a heritage of architecture, art, and horticulture.

The tour’s first stop is the Hagley Museum, birthplace of the du Pont legacy, where participants explore the original gunpowder works and the family’s first home in America, decorated for the season. Next, visit Winterthur, the country estate of Henry Francis du Pont, where holiday displays complement one of the finest collections of American decorative arts.

The Brandywine Museum of Art, housed in a historic grist mill, showcases works by the Wyeth family and features seasonal displays including its famous model train exhibition. The tour concludes at Longwood Gardens, where more than 500,000 lights, spectacular fountain shows, and floral displays make for a memorable holiday experience.

Enjoy an overnight stay at the charming Mendenhall Inn, where you can relax and reflect on a day filled with festive beauty and rich history.

Sun., Dec. 6, 7:30 a.m.–Mon., Dec. 7, 9 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NN-BRV; Members $699; Nonmembers $915

5-Day Tour

Florida: History, Design, and Architecture

DAY 1: Welcome

Participants arrive in Tampa. The tour opens with a welcome orientation and dinner at the hotel.

The Sunshine State offers much more than mild temperatures when winter comes: It is home to the only college where you will find a campus designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and it boasts the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world. This five-day journey with urban historian and popular tour leader Bill Keene traces the evolution of the state from its early 20th-century boom years to the cosmopolitan energy of present-day Miami with a focus on history and architecture.

DAY 2: Historic Tampa and Ybor City

Explore the historic Ybor City neighborhood, where Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrants helped create a thriving cigar-making community. Enjoy a guided walking tour and lunch at the famed Columbia Restaurant. In the afternoon visit the Tampa Bay History Center, the restored Tampa Theatre, and the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, now a National Historic Landmark.

DAY 3: Frank Lloyd Wright and Central Florida Landscapes

Travel through central Florida to visit Florida Southern College, home to 13 Wright-designed buildings. When the architect first saw the college landscape, he said he could envision buildings that would grow “out of the ground and into the light.” Continue to the tranquil setting of Bok Tower Gardens, on the National Registry of Historic Places, where landscape design, architecture, and natural beauty come together atop one of the state’s highest ridges. Enjoy lunch on your own at the popular Joinery Food Hall.

DAY

Contemporary Design

Spend a full day exploring Miami’s extraordinary architectural and cultural diversity on a private guided tour with George Neary, former president of the Miami Preservation League. Explore how global influences shaped Miami, from South Beach’s Art Deco landmarks to the vibrant neighborhoods of Little Havana, Coral Gables, and Wynwood.

DAY 5: South Beach Walking Tour

Enjoy a guided architectural walk through South Beach, where tropical colors, geometric ornamentation, and 1930s glamour define one of the world’s most recognizable urban landscapes. The tour concludes with a farewell lunch in South Beach and a transfer to Miami International Airport.

Sat., Jan. 23, 6 p.m.–Wed., Jan. 27, 3 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NN-FLA; Members $2,478; Nonmembers $3,300

NOTE: This tour begins in Tampa and ends in Miami. Flights are not included; participants make independent travel arrangements into Tampa and out of Miami. COST INCLUDES: 4 nights of accommodations (2 nights at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Westshore and 2 nights at the historic Miami Vagabond Inn), bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, all entrance fees and activities, 11 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners), and gratuity.

Smithsonian Associates Membership Levels and Benefits

Members-only priority program registration before programs go on sale to the public (some exclusions apply)

Ability to purchase one registration per program at the discounted member price

Subscription to the monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide

Subscription to the monthly Smithsonian Associates digital program guide

Access to members-only in-person and online programs

Access to free Associates in-person and online programs as available (notification sent via email)

3-day viewing access to Associates Encores recordings of online programs (some exclusions apply)

Subscription to the Smithsonian Associates Digital Digest

Ability to purchase up to four registrations per program at the discounted member price

Smithsonian magazine delivered to your home

Ability to purchase up to six registrations per program at the discounted member price

Member discounts on Art Collectors Program fine-art prints

Advance digital copy of the monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide

Two complimentary registrations for an online program, in-person lecture, or performance (value equal to $35 per registration or less)

Priority consideration for wait-listed programs (some exclusions apply)

Advance registration for high-demand programs (notification sent via email)

Ability to participate in Smithsonian Summer Camp registration lottery

Two complimentary registrations for a Smithsonian Insider event

No $3 phone order processing fees for program registrations conducted over the phone

Monthly donor preview digital communications for select upcoming programs

NEW: Registration access to complimentary Associates Insider Tours in Washington, D.C. (notification sent via email)

Copy of the Smithsonian’s annual report

Recognition on the Smithsonian Associates website, in the program guide’s annual donor list, and on the annual plaque at our headquarters in Washington, D.C.

One gift membership at the Explorer level to give to a family member or friend (restrictions apply)

Reserved seating at most Smithsonian Associates in-person programs

Invitations to backstage meet-and-greets at select Smithsonian Associates in-person programs

Dedicated concierge phone line for inquiries and program registration

Invitation for two to the prestigious annual Smithsonian Weekend

Recognition in the Smithsonian’s annual report

Four complimentary registrations for an online program or in-person lecture (value equal to $35 per registration)

Additional 20% discount on member prices for Art Collectors Program fine-art prints

Two gift memberships at the Explorer level to give to family members or friends (restrictions apply)

Special event invitations as available

Quarterly Director’s Roundtable digital communications (opportunities to gather in person when applicable)

Invitation to a private event with members of Associates’ leadership

Effective April 1, 2025

Courses, Performances, and Lectures—Multi-Session

Mon., Aug. 17–31

Thurs., Sept. 10 and 17

The World of Gustav Mahler and His Early Symphonies 22 Fri., Sept. 11–Oct. 2

Russian Art: From Icons to the Avant Garde 42

Mon., Sept. 14–Nov. 23

Smithsonian Chorus 22

Tues., Sept. 15–29

Jazz:

Sept. 16–Oct.

Thurs., Sept. 17, Oct. 15, and Nov. 12

Visions of a Brighter Tomorrow: World’s Fairs of the 1930s

Tues., Sept. 29 and Oct. 6

Thurs., Oct. 1–22

Oct. 7–28

Judgment Days: Famous Trials in American History ............................12

Wed., Oct. 14–Nov. 4 Artists’ Travels to North Africa: From Delacroix to Paul Klee

Nov. 2–23

Jamestown: The First 100 Years

Tues., Nov. 3, 10, and 17

Write Into Art: Creative Writing Inspired by Visual

Tues., Nov. 3–24

Chinese Art: From the Bronze Age to the People’s Republic

Mon., Nov. 9–30

Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •)

SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Please visit SmithsonianAssociates.org for more details

MEMBERSHIP

Depending on your level of support, you will receive special benefits, including significant savings on most Smithsonian Associates program registrations and a monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide, and much more. Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/join for more information. Become a member today!

REGISTRATION FOR PROGRAMS

Online: SmithsonianAssociates.org

Phone: 202-633-3030, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Phone registration orders are subject to a $3 handling fee.

PROCESSING FEES

CONTACT US

Email: CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org

Mail: Smithsonian Associates, P.O. Box 23293, Washington, D.C. 20026-3293

Phone: 202-633-3030, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Mon.- Fri.

ZOOM PROGRAM LINKS

Confirmed registrants receive an email from no-reply@zoom.us at least 24 hours prior to the program date that provides a link to join your session on Zoom.

All program registrations are subject to a 10% processing fee to defray administrative costs. Registrants will see this fee applied during the checkout process. Exclusions are transactions for Discovery Theater, Smithsonian Summer Camp, Smithsonian Sleepovers, Studio Arts, and Study Tours.

CREDIT TO YOUR SM ITHSON IAN ASSOCIATES ACCOUNT

Credit for cancellations or exchanges are only available for orders that cost more than $40. If in compliance with the specific guidelines below, credit is issued to your Smithsonian Associates account, not your credit card. Credits are non-transferable.

Important note: Cancelling your program in the Zoom personal link that you received does not initiate the Smithsonian Associates credit or refund process. Please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks in advance to request a change to your registration

For all Smithsonian Associates online programs, study tours, and Studio Arts classes: If you wish to cancel or exchange an order costing more than $40, please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the program date to request a credit. Please note that there is a $10 cancellation fee, as well as a cost adjustment when there is a price difference if you are applying your credit to another program.

Courses: To receive credit to your Smithsonian Associates account for a course, (excluding Studio Arts classes), please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the first session. Credit will also be issued within two weekdays after the first session, provided that Customer Service is contacted within that period. Credit will be prorated to reflect the cost of the first session. No credit will be given after the second session.

Overnight Study Tours: All cancellations must be sent via email to our customer service team at least 60 days before the tour date. At that point, there is a $25 administrative fee. If your request is received between 60-31 days before your tour, the cancellation fee is $150 per person. No refunds for cancellations within 30 days of the tour; no exceptions. Trip insurance is strongly recommended for all overnight study tours.

REFUNDS are only issued when a program is cancelled or if it sells out before we receive your order.

CHANGES I N PUBLISHE D SCHE DU LES Smithsonian Associates reserves the right to cancel, substitute speakers and session topics within a course, and reschedule any program, if needed. Occasionally, a time or date of a program must change after it has been announced or registrations have been reserved. Participants are notified by email. Check SmithsonianAssociates.org for latest updates.

MOVING? If you are receiving our print publications, please email or write us with your new information and allow 6 weeks for the change of address to take effect.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO Smithsonian Associates reserves the right to take photographs or videos (or audio) during programs for the educational and promotional purposes of the Smithsonian Institution or authorized third parties. By attending a program, the participant agrees to allow their likeness to be used by Smithsonian Associates or Smithsonian-authorized third parties without compensation to the participant. Participants who prefer that their voice and/or image not be used must notify us in writing prior to the beginning of the program.