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. TOP IMAGE: STATUE OF JOSEPH HENRY, THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION/ ISTOCK BOTTOM IMAGE: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION BUILDING, 1864 / LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Begin the Conversation We invite you to connect with us and learn more about how planned giving through the Associates Legacy Society can play a significant role in your future—and ours.
Please contact Elizabeth Moloney, Director of Advancement, at (202) 633-8697 or DonorServices@si.edu.
Dear Friends and Members, Launched in 1797 and still afloat, the U.S.S. Constitution invites us to reflect on the many forces that transformed colonial America into a new nation. Its contemporary incarnation features some of the frigate’s original elements: a vessel that symbolically carries our national memory forward. To bring this anniversary year to a close, explore a range of programs focusing on the people and events that influenced and memorialize America’s ongoing story. The U.S.S. Constitution was among the first fighting ships of the American Navy, providing essential protection to mariners in the colonial era and, in the wake of the Revolution, when Barbary corsairs threatened Mediterranean trade. The ship later served in the First Barbary War, helping assert American interests abroad. A pair of programs brings that turbulent period to life (p. 9), and another examines the often-forgotten conflict itself (p. 19).
October 2026
The historian-led series on the American Revolution analyzes the pivotal turning points and strategic choices that shaped the course and the conclusion of the war (p. 7). Learn how more than a century
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later, a group of determined young African American soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, took to the skies defying racial barriers that sought to ground them during World War II (p. 8). On a more personal note, Kerry Kennedy offers a vivid portrait of her mother, Ethel, before and after the “Camelot” years (p. 9).
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Perhaps one of the most enduring symbols of America’s pride greets us from a harbor: the Statue of Liberty (p. 10). Her uplifted torch is a reminder that the nation’s story continues to shine brightly. At Associates, we’re proud to shed light on many facets of these stories through programs that illuminate America’s past, enrich our understanding of the present, and look ahead to a shared future.
Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Helpful Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
On the cover: The U.S.S. Constitution, Boston Harbor PHOTO: DAVID TRINKS / UNSPLASH
facebook.com/smithsonianassociates instagram.com/smithsonianassociates issuu.com/smithsonianassociatesprograms Programs with this icon showcase the Smithsonian’s world of knowledge and long-term initiatives
Frederica R. Adelman, Director adelmanf@si.edu
Programs with this icon showcase the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 initiative that celebrates 250 years of American independence in 2026
Smithsonian Associates (USPS 043-210) Vol. 55, No. 2, October 2026. Published monthly by Smithsonian Associates, Smithsonian Institution, 1100 Jefferson Drive, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20560. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC. and at additional mailing offices. Robert A. Sacheli, Editor; Ric Garcia, Visual Specialist. Copyright 2026 by the Smithsonian Associates. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Smithsonian Associates, P.O. Box 23293, Washington, D.C. 20026-3293. Printed in the U.S.A. on recyclable paper.
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Connections& Collaborations Perspectives on America at 250 As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial year, Smithsonian Associates offers 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
Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Native American
Affairs and with embassies that have built strong, lasting
spiritual practices, among others—through celebrations
relationships with the United States, this series honors the vital
of sound. Programs, offered free to the public, feature
role diplomacy, cultural exchange, and mutual respect have
performances and conversations that reveal the human
played in shaping our nation and its place in the world. From
connections that emerge when sounds resonate in
the earliest days surrounding the signing of the Declaration of
harmony. From the sounding of the horn to the strike of
Independence to contemporary collaborations in science,
the daf, from the healing of the jingle dress to a cantor’s
art, and global affairs, people-to-people and global cultural
call to prayer, these soundscapes reflect the tones,
exchange have helped advance dialogue and deepen understanding. In this milestone year, these programs underscore how international friendships—nurtured through
textures, and connections of American spirituality across the nation.
history, culture, and creativity—continue to strengthen the
Four in-person sessions—hosted in some of the
American story. Each program is free, requires registration, and
Smithsonian’s marquee performance venues on the
includes a light reception.
National Mall—delve into the ways sound can reflect,
Faith in Harmony: Soundscapes of American Spirituality
shape, and amplify diverse faith traditions. The final virtual program weaves together elements of the
Rooted in the nation's commitment to freedom of belief, this five-part series explores the rich and evolving landscape
nation’s spiritual practices, culminating in a symphony of uplifting sound.
of religion and spirituality in America—including Jewish, The Faith in Harmony: Soundscapes of American Spirituality series received funding from the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years The Enduring Power of International Exchange is organized by Smithsonian Associates as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250.
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/250 for additional program details and registration information.
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The Enduring Power of International Exchange | Series
In Person
Science Without Borders
Italian Physicists in American Discoveries Italian-born physicists Enrico Fermi, Emilio Segrè, and Bruno Rossi, working with American-born scientists such as Leona Woods, were instrumental in the 20th century’s scientific revolution in the U.S. in areas such as nuclear physics and energy research, particle physics, and astrophysics. Learn more from a panel of experts, including Piero Martin, a professor of experimental physics at the University of Padua, and Patricia McBride, deputy director for science and chief research officer at Fermilab, moderated by National Museum of American History curator Kristen Frederick-Frost. Enrico Fermi
Tues., Oct. 27, 6 p.m.; Embassy of Italy; CODE 1JDIPLO5; free; registration required
Faith in Harmony: Soundscapes of American Spirituality | Series
In Person
Voice
The most human of instruments, the voice, is foundational to so many spiritual experiences—in its presence and in its absence. This program explores the role of human voices in uplifting scripture, song, and calls to prayer in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, illuminating a shared dimension of Americans’ faith in harmony. Tues., Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.; Warner Bros. Theater, National Museum of American History; CODE 1W0995; free; registration required
Together in Spirit Sound is integral to Americans’ faith traditions, from voices raised in song to heralds of bells and horns to the beats that echo in our hearts. This final program in the series reflects back on the sounds of spirituality in the United States and fills out the rich symphony of our experiences with the divine, concluding our celebration of Americans’ faith in harmony. Tues., Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-994; free; registration required; this program is presented on Zoom
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/250 for additional program details and registration information.
Life can be busy. Registered for an online Smithsonian Associates program but missed it because of a conflict in your schedule? Wish you could take another look at a presentation you particularly enjoyed? Your programs... your time
Associates Encores offers the answers.
Many, but not all, Zoom programs are recorded. As a bonus for registrants, recordings are made available within 24 hours after the program has taken place. They can be viewed for up to 72 hours after they become accessible—so you can enjoy the program on your own time, as an audience of one.
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/encores for more information.
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There are 1,273 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.
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. National Congress Palace in Brasilia
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.
Virunga National Park
Wed., Nov. 4, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-585; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Forbidden City For just over 500 years, from 1420 to 1924, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties regarded the vermilion walls, gray cobblestones, and golden tiles of the Forbidden City in Beijing as their home. Jacobs charts a path through the vast courtyards, narrow passageways, and imposing gates of the Forbidden City, treating its art, architecture, and residents as windows into the history and culture of late imperial China. Wed., Dec. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-594; Members $25; Nonmembers $35 Forbidden City, Beijing
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. NEW DATE: Thurs., Oct. 15, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-208; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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The Adams Memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Rock Creek Cemetery
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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. The Lizzie Borden murder trial, 1893
4-session series: Wed., Oct. 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2478; 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.
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Tues., Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-210; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
U.S. prisoners at Belle Isle, Harper's Weekly, 1864
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. Map of the free states and slave states in the United States, 1856
Tues., Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-927; 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
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Crafting Witches
The Knights Templar
A Historical Context
The Rise, Fall, and Legend of Europe’s First Military Order
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 stereotypes that defined the witch in popular imagination. Wed., Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0090; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 Illuminated manuscript depicting witches, 1451
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
SÉEBERGER FRÈRES / WIKIPEDIA / OUVERTE 1.0
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 Paris and New York became spectacular stages where nations projected optimism, power, and unease through architecture, technology, and performance. Art historian Jennie Hirsh examines landmark fairs of the 1930s, revealing how they transformed crisis into dazzling displays that captured both the aspirations and anxieties of their era. OCT 15 Paris 1937: In the Shadow of War NOV 12 New York 1939: Dawn of a New Day Individual sessions: Thurs., Oct. 15 (CODE 1D0-177B); Thurs., Nov. 12 (CODE 1D0-177C); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
Paris World’s Fair, 1937
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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 The children of freedmen and their teachers, that followed served as a testing ground for the policies and approaches that would be Penn School on St. Helena Island 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 1W0-034; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Tues., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-928; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
BRITISH LIBRARY, LONDON
The Sack of Rome and the End of the Renaissance in Italy
The Triumphs of Charles V: Death of the Duke of Bourbon (detail) by Giulio Clovio, ca. 1550–1557
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. OCT 22 Cowpens and Yorktown: The Final Campaigns of the Revolution NOV 19 The Newburgh Conspiracy: Civil–Military Tensions in the Early Republic Individual sessions: Thurs., Oct. 22 (CODE 1D0-172C), Thurs., Nov. 19 (CODE 1D0172D); 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $30; Nonmembers $40 ADAM TANNER
Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumbull, 1822
Mussolini and the Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy Discover the dramatic story of Benito Mussolini with journalist 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.
History of Rome Through its Public Works (detail, Mussolini on horseback) by Publio Morbiducci, 1939
Thurs., Oct. 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-212; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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The Great Harry Houdini
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 Winston Churchill with Queen of the Exchequer and she a Elizabeth, 1953 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
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 Harry Houdini, 1913 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
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
Execution of Czech religious reformer Jan Hus, condemned for heresy, 1415
Wings of Change: The Tuskegee Airmen and the Fight for Equality
Tuskegee Airmen stateside, 1942
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
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Ethel Kennedy: An Intimate Portrait When Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, Ethel Skakel Kennedy captured the nation’s attention with her grace, resilience, and commitment to carrying forward his work for human rights. As her daughter Kerry Kennedy shows, however, Ethel was far more than the keeper of a famous legacy. Courageous, compassionate, witty, and deeply faithful, she forged her own path while raising a large family and advocating for justice. Drawing on her new biography, family memories, and Ethel’s private papers, Kennedy offers an intimate portrait of an extraordinary woman. She reflects on Ethel’s remarkable life, her romance with Robert F. Kennedy, and the spirit that made her, in the family’s words, “more Kennedy than the Kennedys.” Ethel Kennedy: The Extraordinary Life and Bold Legacy (HarperOne) is available for purchase.
The American Colonies in the Age of Sail 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 Boston Harbor, 1770–1780 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.
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Wed., Oct. 28, 7 p.m.; CODE 1D0-188; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The New United States in the Age of Sail In the wake of the American Revolution, American merchants were eager to re-establish themselves on the The U.S.S. Constitution global stage but were thwarted by the loss of protection from the Royal Navy. Historian Carl Herzog of the USS Constitution Museum examines the problems mariners faced in this new era, including the threat to American merchants from Barbary corsairs who captured ships and imprisoned American sailors in the Mediterranean. At home, Americans grappled with the cost and implications of funding a standing Navy to protect their merchants in the Mediterranean and beyond. Congressional approval was highly contentious, and initially came with severe limitations, but the creation of the Navy opened the door to American mariners sailing and trading more securely across the world for the first half of the 19th century.
Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-036; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Wed., Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-045; 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
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When Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, one of France’s most famous sculptors, first traveled to the United States to propose the construction of a giant tribute to liberty, Americans either rejected the idea or were baffled by it. Nevertheless completed in 1886, the Statue of Liberty stands today as one of the best-known symbols of the United States and a beacon of freedom in New York Harbor. It was ultimately a gift from the French people to the American people, as private citizens, not the two governments, financed it from torch to toe. Historian Edward Berenson illuminates the origins of Lady Liberty, delves into the complex construction process, and traces its shifting meaning.
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
Mon., Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-037; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Rise of Fascism
Magna Graecia Early Greek Culture in Italy Why did Julius Caesar speak his last words in Greek? Why are the world’s best-preserved Greek temples in Sicily and the South of Italy? Why did Plato visit Italy? Author Ross King explores how in Plato’s time the South of Italy was known as “Greater Greece,” the beautiful land settled in the centuries after 800 B.C.E. by colonists from the Greek mainland. King examines how these settlers brought trade and prosperity as well as their religion, customs, alphabet, and language. They also nurtured on Italian soil the political, philosophical, and artistic foundations that would profoundly influence and support the world of the Ancient Romans and, much later, that of the Italian Renaissance. Tues., Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-929; Members $25; Nonmembers $35 BRUNO RIJSMAN / CC BY-SA 2.0
Mon., Nov. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-759; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A The Paestum Temples, Campania
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The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story
Jamestown: The First 100 Years
Historian William I. Hitchcock argues that Americans were not simply indifferent to fascism before World War II. From Mussolini’s rise in 1922 to America’s entry into the war in 1941, the nation debated the threat—and, for some, the appeal—of authoritarian rule. Initially, Franklin D. Roosevelt focused on the New Deal and avoided foreign entanglements. Over time, journalists, activists, diplomats, and advisers convinced him that fascism threatened democracy worldwide. Hitchcock contends that Roosevelt’s changing views reflected a broader national awakening as many Americans grappled with defending democracy, opposing fascism, and promoting freedom abroad. Hitchcock’s book A Shadow Over the World: Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Rise of Fascism, and the Making of America’s World War II (Simon and Schuster) is available for purchase.
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A History of Gibraltar
By Illegitimate Means
In classical antiquity, Gibraltar inspired the original idea that the Earth was divided into distinct continents. Sailors, poets, and geographers saw Gibraltar as a natural marker separating the Mediterranean from the Atlantic and Europe from Africa. This idea had lasting global ramifications, and the geography of the Strait of Gibraltar helped create the pattern of European imperialism and the trajectory of the slave trade. Historian Geoffrey Plank relates Gibraltar’s story from its connections across the Mediterranean to its role as a symbolic boundary between continents, cultures, and religions. Plank’s new book, The Last Place in Europe: A History of Gibraltar (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.
How Birth Decides Dynasties
Wed., Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-096; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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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, Vintage etching of William contested heirs, and the fragile politics the Conqueror, 19th century 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
COURTESY OF CLIFFHOUSEPROJECT.COM /JOHN A. MARTINI
San Francisco: Then and Now
JOHN A. MARTINI
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Rephotography and the Changing City
Regional historian and master storyteller John Martini brings San Francisco’s past into sharp focus through the art of rephotography—locating the exact vantage points of historic photographs and capturing those scenes today. Pairing rare archival images with contemporary views, Martini reveals how landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Fort Point, and Sutro Baths have changed over more than a century. Through dozens of striking “then-and-now” comparisons, he traces the city’s transformation from a frontier settlement to a Cliff House circa 1900 (left), current day view (right), San Francisco world-renowned urban center. Along the way, he shares the detective work behind finding original camera locations, uncovers stories hidden in the images, and demonstrates how rephotography has aided his research for the National Park Service and California State Parks. Wed., Nov. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-217; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Joseph Smith
The Art of Historic Preservation
The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet
Historic preservation is often thought of as the stewardship of grand landmarks associated with great figures like Thomas Jefferson, as well as places of worship, courthouses, and monuments. But the modest houses, working landscapes, and overlooked spaces that hold our personal and collective memories also matter. Public historian Ken Turino traces the history of the preservation movement in America, including the foundational work of William Sumner Appleton and the often-overlooked role of women. He explores how the field has evolved to have a more inclusive vision of what deserves protection, including diners, workers’ housing, and Main Street storefronts. Turino also delves into why we save some places and let others go, as well as how much change a historic building can endure while remaining itself.
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.
Mon., Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-038; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Thurs., Nov. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-746; Members $25; Nonmembers $35 The 71-year-old Ted’s Frostop diner in New Orleans was saved from demolition and redevelopment by community preservationists
SARAH PAGE / CC BY-SA 2.0
CLINT DURRETT / PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS
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. Katz's Delicatessen
Tues., Nov. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-214; 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.
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Shtürmer, Rasputin, and the Russian Revolution From Within In 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power after more than a year of political turmoil, social unrest, and Russia’s disastrous involvement in World War I. In 1916, Prime Minister Boris Shtürmer had raised the prospect of a separate peace with Germany to support his aspirations to power, but to make it work, he also needed to inflame public dissatisfaction. Looking to the uprising of 1905 as a model, he contrived with the influential and controversial Rasputin to stir up a crisis he could control. Historian and documentarian Indy Neidell explores the evidence, myths, and intrigue surrounding these alleged schemes. Events soon spun Boris Shtürmer Grigori Rasputin beyond control: Rasputin was murdered, Shtürmer fell from power and was imprisoned, and by early 1917 Russia descended into the revolutionary chaos that ultimately swept away the old order. Tues., Nov. 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-039; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Threads of the Viking World: Women’s Lives in Cloth and Craft A lost mitten. Names carved into spindle whorls. A carefully mended dress laid to rest in a grave. These small, evocative traces—preserved in permafrost, glaciers, and burial mounds—open a window into the everyday lives of Viking Age women A gown from Ikigaat, and reveal stories that seldom Greenland, ca. 1380-1530 appear in written sources. PETER DANSTROM / NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENMARK Historian and broadcaster Eleanor Barraclough draws on archaeological discoveries to explore how cloth and craft shaped women’s work, creativity, and social worlds during the Viking age. By following these threads of daily life, Barraclough reveals the skills, relationships, and identities of women who helped shape the Viking world. Fri., Nov. 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-098; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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The Rise and Fall of Excommunication in Medieval England Excommunication was originally intended by early Church fathers as a severe, rarely used punishment that excluded offenders from social life, Excommunication sacraments, and certain legal rights. ceremony, from Omne Bonum, English, 1370 Over time, however, it became a routine administrative tool often used for political, legal, and personal purposes. Even prominent church leaders such as Thomas Becket employed it to pressure opponents. Medieval legal historian Charlotte Whatley argues that English bishops increasingly used excommunication to resist royal attempts to restrict ecclesiastical jurisdiction. This growing reliance led to conflict with King Edward III, who encouraged challenges to excommunications in common-law courts and tested their legal effect through litigation. The Crown ultimately prevailed, weakening excommunication’s authority and strengthening the supremacy of English common law. Tues., Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-040; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The Last Invasion of England 1688 and the Dutch Armada Popular accounts of the Glorious Revolution depict the Catholic King James II being peacefully replaced in 1688 by his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange. Historian Arthur der Weduwen argues the reality was far more forceful. He presents the arrival of the Dutch Armada, exactly a century after the historic defeat of the Spanish Armada, as the last invasion of England. William arrived not merely as a claimant to the throne but with 16,000 armed Dutch troops. According to der Weduwen, Britain’s political revolution depended on Dutch military power, resources, and determination. He also explains why the Dutch Republic risked a bold preemptive strike against its larger, more powerful neighbor. Der Weduwen’s new book, The Last Invasion of England: 1688 and the Dutch Armada (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase. Mon., Nov. 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0042; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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When and How Leaders Matter With Jared Diamond Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jared Diamond explores what it takes for a leader to leave a lasting mark, beginning with a striking question: What might have happened if a near-fatal car accident in 1930 had killed Adolf Hitler before he rose to power? Guided by a moderator and drawing on examples from politics, business, sports, and religion, Diamond reveals how leaders’ success depends on a complex interplay of personality, timing, and circumstance. By delving into both triumphs and missed opportunities, he illuminates how leaders transform the world and how people’s choices, beliefs, and values influence them in return. Diamond’s new book, Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? (HarperCollins), is available for purchase. Mon., Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-099; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Warsaw stands at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe, a dynamic center of business, politics, and culture. Its landscape blends the remnants of the historic city that narrowly survived World War II, the monumental architecture of the communist era that rose from the postwar ruins, and a striking modern skyline that reflects its rapid transformation. Guide Christopher Skutela leads you through the places and stories that bring the city to life. From the Royal Castle and the Old Town to the site of the former largest Jewish ghetto in Europe and the prisons of the communist regime, he reveals the layers of Warsaw’s past. The journey continues from storied landmarks to hidden corners, lesser-known historical moments, and memorable personalities.
RHODODENDRITES / CC BY-SA 4.0
Treasures of Warsaw
Wed., Nov. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-588; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 Royal castle and the Old Town
Masada: The Untold Story
Power, Politics, and Ambition
Masada, a steep, diamond-shaped plateau overlooking the Dead Sea and Judean Desert, became the scene of Jewish rebels’ final resistance to Rome in the year 74. According to the only surviving historical Ruins of the Fortress of Masada account, written by the Jewish rebel-turned-Roman collaborator Josephus, the defenders chose mass death rather than surrender to the Roman army. Historians have long questioned whether events unfolded exactly as he described. Drawing on decades of archaeological and historical research, including important recent discoveries, historian Barry Strauss reexamines the evidence and the people involved. Scholars can now reconstruct the lives of the opposing commanders: the Roman general Flavius Silva and the Jewish leader Eleazar ben Yair, whose backgrounds and personalities sharply contrasted. Their stories, and those of the thousands caught up in the siege, help modern historians come closer to understanding what occurred.
Historian Ralph Nurnberger argues that the Panama Canal can be viewed either as a bold diplomatic achievement that established the United States as a global power or as an example of American arrogance and political manipulation. In either interpretation, the canal perfectly reflected President Theodore Roosevelt’s energetic leadership and his vision of expanding U.S. influence. The project became a symbol of America’s rise on the world stage, but it remained controversial throughout the 20th century. Debate over U.S. control of the canal eventually led to a fierce national argument about transferring it to Panama. Drawing on his experience with the Senate committee that oversaw the Panama Canal treaties, Nurnberger explores the canal’s entire history, including why the United States believed it had the right to build a canal in another country and why Panama became the chosen location. Mon., Nov. 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-185; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
President Theodore Roosevelt at the Panama Canal, 1906
ESTER INBAR / WIKIMEDIA
The Panama Canal
Mon., Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-931; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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The Cuban Missile Crisis Re-examining a Moment of Extreme Danger NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Most Americans know the basic story of the Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, the Soviet Union secretly placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, the United States discovered them, and after a tense 13-day standoff, the Soviets backed down. The episode is often cited as a model of effective crisis management. However, historian Allen Pietrobon argues that the crisis was less a triumph of leadership than a near-disaster averted largely by luck and fear. Pietrobon revisits the crisis through the actions of John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, and Nikita Khrushchev and explores how they brought their nations to the brink of catastrophe, who bears responsibility, and whether the United States truly won. Tues., Dec. 1, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-589; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 President John F. Kennedy and Chairman Nikita Khrushchev
Justice on Trial The Dreyfus Affair and the Making of Modern France Few events shaped modern French political culture as profoundly as the Dreyfus Affair. Historian and author Alexander Mikaberidze examines the case that divided France at the turn of the 20th century and resonated around the world. Beginning with the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus in 1894, he traces how the affair exposed deep conflicts between justice and authority, republican ideals and nationalism, secularism and religion, and inclusion and exclusion. Mikaberidze highlights the central role of antisemitism, the rise of intellectuals as public advocates through figures such as Émile Zola, and the political struggles that reshaped the French Republic. He also explores the affair’s lasting influence on civil rights, the rule of law, press freedom, democratic accountability, and the moral and political development of the modern world.
Front page of the newspaper L’Aurore with the letter written by Émile Zola, Jan. 13, 1898
Thurs., Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-489; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Roots of Religious Freedom: Jefferson’s Revolutionary Vision For more than two centuries, Thomas Jefferson and his Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom have shaped Americans’ understanding of religious liberty and the First Amendment. Jefferson argued that both religious freedom and political freedom depend on keeping church and state separate, a view long embraced by the Supreme Court and historians. But in 1985, Justice William Rehnquist challenged the historical accuracy of relying on Jefferson and his colleague James Madison to understand the First Amendment. Since then, critics have used Rehnquist’s argument to support greater government involvement in religion. Historian John Ragosta defends Jefferson’s vision, tracing it to his religious beliefs and reexamining the origins of the First Amendment. Ragosta argues that the amendment was intended to impose a strict limit on federal involvement in religion. Wed., Dec. 2, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-590; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
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“Keep Calm and Carry On”
The Seven Wonders of Rome
England’s Home Front in World War II
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have long captured the world’s imagination. Within that tradition of extraordinary human achievement, archaeologist and historian Darius Arya turns a Roman lens on the innovations that transformed an empire and continue to influence the modern world. Through original on-location footage filmed at sites across the former empire, Arya explores the ingenuity that made Rome one of history’s greatest builders. Guided by the principles of the architect Vitruvius, he examines how Roman ideas about design and construction enabled extraordinary feats—and why so many of these structures have endured for nearly two thousand years. From the Pantheon in Rome to the Alcántara Bridge in Spain, Arya reveals the evolution of Roman engineering and the impact of ancient solutions that still shape Roman Forum the world.
British government propaganda dubbed World War II “The People’s War.” In it, there would be no distinction between a soldier and civilian, as air raids targeted populations once considered off limits: women, children, and the elderly. Historian Julie Taddeo looks at the many ways in which civilians British Board of Trade poster, participated in the war effort, ca. 1943 from the Home Guard volunteers of “Dad’s Army” to housewives who were reminded to “Make Do and Mend” to cinema audiences inspired by patriotic films like Mrs. Miniver. She also discusses how memories of the period live on in British TV shows and films—so much that Queen Elizabeth II invoked the wartime spirit as a rallying call for unity during the Covid-19 pandemic, with Britons and Americans proudly growing Victory Gardens in 2020.
TATE GALLERY
Thurs., Dec. 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-761; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Mon., Dec. 7, 12 p.m., CODE 1D0-190; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Slavery and the American Revolution
The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781 (detail) by John Singleton Copley, 1783
Historian Richard Bell explores the American Revolution through the experiences of enslaved and free African Americans, revealing a story of upheaval, opportunity, and the limits of freedom. The Revolution was a transformative moment in African American history, second only to the Civil War. On the eve of conflict, more than half a million African Americans lived in slavery across the colonies, from South Carolina’s rice fields and Virginia’s plantations to the port cities of Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. When war erupted in 1775, thousands pursued freedom amid the turmoil. British promises of emancipation encouraged many to leave rebel enslavers, making the conflict a struggle over both independence and slavery. At war’s end, fortunes diverged sharply. Most remained enslaved, but more than 6,000 escaped on British ships.
JACKDAWSON1970 / GEORGFOTOART / CC BY-SA 3.0
Mon., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-490; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Nazis in South America Notorious War Criminals Who Escaped Justice Journalist and lecturer Adam Tanner explores how many of Nazi Germany’s most-wanted war criminals avoided justice after World War II. Disguised as refugees and sometimes assisted by sympathetic priests and Catholic Church officials, thousands obtained false identities and travel documents, enabling them to escape to Argentina, Brazil, and other Latin American countries. Among the fugitives were perpetrators of some of the war’s worst atrocities. Adolf Eichmann, a principal organizer of the Holocaust, worked for Mercedes-Benz in Argentina. Franz Stangl, commandant of the Treblinka and Sobibor death camps, was employed by Volkswagen in Brazil under his real name. Josef Mengele, the infamous Auschwitz doctor, also traveled openly for years. While many escaped detection for decades, dedicated Nazi hunters eventually tracked down and prosecuted some of these criminals, though many were never brought to justice. Tues., Dec. 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-219; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Passport used by Josef Mengele, 1949
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A Tudor Christmas Feasts, Festivities, and Fantastic Entertainment The Tudors made the most of each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Step into that world with historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger and discover how Tudor monarchs, courtiers, and ordinary people celebrated the festive season. Explore a court filled with disguises, extravagant clothing, and the antics of the Lord of Misrule, who oversaw holiday revelry. Learn about New Year’s gift-giving ceremonies, where offerings ranged from baked goods to gold and jewels. Hampton Court Palace is one of only two surviving palaces owned Lloyd-Stanger examines the religious and social traditions that shaped Christmastide, from by King Henry VIII church services and open houses to lavish feasts featuring the elaborate Tudor Christmas pie. She also reveals court intrigue involving Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, uncovering how holiday celebrations became opportunities for diplomacy, romance, politics, and display during one of the most vibrant seasons of the Tudor year. Wed., Dec. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1M2-492; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The B-29 Superfortress The Airplane That Changed World History The development of the B-29 Superfortress transformed World War II and reshaped the future of military aviation. Drawing from his new book Bird Men: The Rise of American Airpower and the Machine That Ended World War II, historian A.J. Baime chronicles America’s dramatic transformation from a nation with a modest air force into the world’s dominant air power. Baime reveals how innovation, industrial might, and strategic leadership produced the B-29—an aircraft so advanced that its development rivaled the Manhattan Project in cost and scale. The result was a machine that helped bring World War II to a close and ushered in a new era of American power. Copies of Bird Men (Harper Collins) are available for purchase. Thurs., Dec. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-222; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Persian Wars and the Birth of Classical Greece Popular accounts portray the Persian Wars as a simple struggle between East and West, with freedom-loving Greeks defeating barbaric Persian despots. Historian Jeremy McInerney argues that this familiar narrative is misleading. Although Athenians celebrated their democratic triumph over Persia, they often imposed harsh control on other Greek communities. Rather than an inevitable clash of civilizations, McInerney presents the wars as the result of misjudgments, political rivalries, logistical difficulties, and mutual misunderstandings. By examining both sides with greater balance and nuance, he reveals a more complex story than the traditional tale of heroic Greeks resisting Eastern tyranny. McInerney's book By Land and by Sea: The Persian Wars and the Birth of Classical Greece (Oxford University Press) is available for purchase. Mon., Dec. 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-764; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
History for the Holidays The Spirit of Celebrations Past The holiday season in America is a rich tapestry woven from diverse cultural threads, yet many of the customs cherished today are surprisingly recent inventions. Public historian Ken Turino traces how Christmas evolved from a rowdy, outlawed celebration into today’s family-centered holiday and explores the broader winter traditions that shape American life. Drawing on examples from regions across America shaped by Spanish, French, Dutch, and other immigrant influences, Turino reveals how Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and even Santa Claus came to be. He also weaves in the stories of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day, showing how these celebrations reflect cultural and social history. This illustrated lecture offers a fresh look at how winter holidays connect us to the complexities of the past—and to each other. Mon., Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-044; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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The Olmsted in All of Us The Legacy of America’s Greatest Landscape Architect From New York’s Central Park to the U.S. Capitol and the White House grounds, the influence of Frederick Law Olmsted and his successor firms is woven into the American landscape. Yet few realize there were three generations of Olmsteds, whose work helped define landscape architecture and transform the way Americans think about parks, public spaces, and cities. Portrait of Frederick Landscape historian Charles A. Birnbaum, founder and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, follows the Law Olmsted (detail) evolution of the Olmsted practice from 1857 to 1979. He introduces the visionary designers and collaborators who by John Singer shaped communities nationwide and explores pioneering ideas including parkways, park systems, and landscape as Sargent, 1895 essential infrastructure. Birnbaum also highlights Olmsted’s understanding of ecology, water, soil, and planning and concludes by examining the relevance of this legacy, ongoing preservation efforts, and its application to 21st-century challenges. Wed., Dec. 16, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-223; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
A Preservationist’s Palette Architecture in Color
The Hindenburg Disaster Prelude to World War II
Historic homes require special attention to many architectural elements during the preservation process, including paint color. Elizabeth Paliga, senior preservation services manager at Historic New The Painted Ladies in San Francisco are an example of historical house England, a nonprofit historic painting preservation organization, explores how color captures or complements a building’s character. Paliga offers a framework for understanding which of thousands of color options are historically appropriate to enhance and preserve a building’s style. She delves into changes in paint technology that drove color trends in various periods, illustrating how color choices relate to architectural styles in the Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Victorian, Colonial Revival, and modern eras.
On the evening of May 6, 1937, the German zeppelin Hindenburg approached Lakehurst, New Jersey, before erupting into flames and crashing in a disaster that unfolded in just 34 seconds. Historian Catherine Grace Katz reconstructs the tragedy through the accounts of passengers, crew members, journalists, and other witnesses, revealing how an engineering achievement became one of history’s most unforgettable catastrophes. Katz also situates the Hindenburg within the broader context of the 1930s, when technological innovation coexisted with rising political tensions. Once a symbol of progress and modernity, the airship was ultimately used by the Nazi regime as a propaganda tool, reflecting a world on the verge of dramatic change. Her newest book, Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War (Viking), is available for purchase.
Thurs., Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-046; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Thurs., Jan. 7, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-193; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Reconsidering Claudius Ancient Rome’s Unexpected Emperor According to the standards of Roman elites, Claudius should never have become emperor, asserts historian Colin Elliott. Ridiculed for his physical disabilities, excluded from serious politics, remembered by hostile writers as a fool, it was a shock that he became emperor after his nephew Caligula’s assassination. Yet this supposedly absurd emperor governed for 13 years and left behind impressive accomplishments: aqueducts, harbor works, better conditions for slaves, an improved grain supply, and the conquest of Britain. Claudius was eccentric, insecure and often surrounded by dangerous courtiers, but his reign ultimately improved material conditions for many Romans. Did this emperor, despite being mocked as unworthy of the purple by Rome’s aristocrats, in fact understand the empire's practical needs better than they did? Thurs., Jan. 7, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-763; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Claudius as Jupiter by Michelangelo Simonetti, Vatican Museum
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The Merchants of Venice Business and Commerce in the Middle Ages and Renaissance Venice is known for the magnificent palaces that line its canals and the dazzling paintings that adorn its churches. But where did the money come from to create and purchase this beauty? Historian Dennis Romano, author of Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City, explores the commercial and business history of the Most Serene Republic. He uncovers the multiple keys to Venetian business greatness in the Middle Ages and Renaissance and examines the panoply of skills it took to be a successful merchant of Venice. Romano concludes by considering the impact of commerce on the city’s life and culture and the lingering influence of Venetian trade.
View of the Grand Canal: Santa Maria della Salute and the Dogana from Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo by Bernardo Bellotto, 1743
Tues., Jan. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-195; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Wonderful Nice The Legacy of the Pennsylvania Dutch The Pennsylvania Dutch have made a significant impact on the nation’s development, yet many Americans remain unaware of the unique history of these communities and their language. In 1950, more than half a million people spoke Pennsylvania Dutch. In a lively exploration, public historian Bradley Smith, a native of Lebanon County, examines the origins of the Pennsylvania Dutch, their traditions, and the importance of their legacy. Discover how these communities shaped American agriculture, craftsmanship, cuisine, and folk traditions while preserving a distinctive language and cultural identity across generations. Whether you’re a native Pennsylvania Dutch speaker who grew up with the language or are encountering this rich heritage for the first time, Smith offers a deeper appreciation of this remarkable American culture.
The First Barbary War
The Trans-Siberian Railway
The First Barbary War (1801–1805) was the United States’ first overseas military conflict and a defining moment in the development of American foreign policy. Naval historian Abby Mullen provides a look at this often-forgotten war in which the country sought to protect its merchant ships from the Barbary corsairs operating along the North African coast. American leaders faced difficult choices about diplomacy, naval power, and the price of peace. Mullen explains how the Navy A Sea Fight with Barbary Corsair and diplomats worked together by Laureys a Castro, 1681 to solve one of the young nation’s first major foreign relations crises, as she considers how the threat of Barbary corsairs arose, how the Americans approached the threat, and how successful they were.
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world, stretching nearly 6,000 miles east from Moscow to Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast. Conceived under Czar Alexander III as one of the 19th century’s most ambitious engineering projects, it transformed the geography, economy, and Trans-Siberian Railway history of Russia. Blending engineering, politics, and human drama, railway historian Christian Wolmar tells the story of the Trans-Siberian’s planning, construction, and expansion, including the BaikalAmur Mainline—one of the most expensive railway projects ever undertaken. He also explores the larger-than-life personalities behind its creation and examines the pivotal role the railway played in the Russian Civil War.
Thurs., Jan. 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-099; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Fri., Jan. 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1CV-100; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
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, homegrown 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
Maurice Ravel at piano with Manoah Leide-Tedesco (center) and George Gershwin (far right), 1928
How to Listen to Jazz Listening to jazz is a skill that can be learned through active practice. Educator and jazz musician Alan Sherwin compares hearing jazz without understanding it to watching a game without knowing the rules— events seem random and confusing. Contrary to the myth that jazz musicians simply play whatever they feel, most performances follow a structured harmonic framework that guides improvisation. Learning to recognize this underlying structure can transform jazz from sounding chaotic into something organized, expressive, and exciting. In an engaging introduction, Sherwin demonstrates active listening techniques through familiar songs performed by notable jazz artists. He explains the concept of song form, highlights how jazz musicians interact within an ensemble, and offers listeners practical tools for gaining a deeper appreciation of the music and its artistry. Wed., Dec. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-755; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Introduction to Music Theory
Japanese Culture Through the Eyes of Studio Ghibli
With Conductor Ernest Johnson
8-session series: Thurs., Oct. 1–Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1P0-915; Members $235; Nonmembers $260; includes textbook (plus shipping)
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Miyazaki, Takahata, and Beyond PICRYL / CC0 1.0 UNIVERSAL
Learn the language and elements of musical notation and composition in this interactive online course led by music educator and conductor Ernest Johnson. He guides exercises and assignments geared to Ernest Johnson developing the foundation every musician needs: the aural and visual understanding of pitch, rhythm, harmony and form. Topic areas include an overview of the elements of music and music terminology; notation of pitch and rhythm; ear training: developing the ability to hear, identify and notate pitches, intervals, melodies and chords. A variety of audio and music score clips support lesson materials. The course includes a variety of online and print resources to support and enhance musical learning. Optional assignments are given each week. Basic computer skills are required. Registration is limited to 25 students.
The anime creations of Studio Ghibli in Japan have traversed the globe since it was founded in 1985. Linda Ehrlich, who has taught Asian studies and Japanese film for several universities, focuses on the artistic and cultural influences of two of the studio’s Spirited Away, 2001 key films: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 2001), directed by Miyazaki Hayao, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime, 2013), directed by Takahata Isao. Ehrlich also analyzes other Studio Ghibli films, including Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke (1997) and Takahata’s Only Yesterday (Omoide poro poro, 1991). In addition, she considers what might happen to the Ghibli brand after the death of Takahata and the (frequently) announced retirement of Miyazaki. Mon., Oct. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-542; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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The Film Music of Ennio Morricone: Underscoring Memories Few composers have made a mark on film like Ennio Morricone. His reputation as a master of underscoring, deftly building psychological and emotional impact with music, earned him two Academy Awards. While he is perhaps best remembered for his work on spaghetti Westerns such as A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), he composed and arranged scores for more than 400 film and television productions during a career that spanned more than six decades. Film music scholar Franco Sciannameo examines a selection of Morricone's scores to illuminate the composer’s ability to bring viewers into the cinematic narrative. Ennio Morricone
Thurs., Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-031; 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
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.
Lodgers in Bayard Street Tenement, Five Cents a Spot by Jacob Riis, 1889
Mon., Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-480; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Support Smithsonian Associates’ lifelong learning programs For six decades, education has been at the heart of our work at Smithsonian Associates: opening the Smithsonian’s vast resources to people of all ages. Unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and essential membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and registration revenue. Please consider a charitable gift in support of the rich educational experiences that bring the Smithsonian's world of knowledge to a vibrant learning community across the country.
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Jancis Robinson and the Newest World Atlas of Wine With Tasting
CHRIS TERRY
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. Sat., Oct. 10, 3 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1T0-089; Members $55; Nonmembers $70 Jancis Robinson
The Man Behind the Musketeers
Paranoia on Screen
Alexandre Dumas and French Identity
The Sci-Fi and Horror Movies of the Cold War Era
Alexandre Dumas has functioned as a powerful and evolving symbol in the shaping 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 Alexandre Dumas by one of the most widely read writers of his Félix Nadar, 1855 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. 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
“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
What people are saying…
“Thank you Smithsonian Associates for the opportunity to view so many outstanding programs.”
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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
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Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects COURTESY THE JIM HENSON COMPANY. PHOTO BY LYNN GOLDSMITH. CHARACTERS ©DISNEY, ©SESAME WORKSHOP, ©HENSON
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
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 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Piero della Francesca, 1463–1465
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
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Before Baker Street: Joseph Bell and the Making of Sherlock Holmes
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How to Read a Film
Mon., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-035; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Tues., Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-751; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
HELLACINEMA / FLICKR / CC BY 4.0
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.
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 Christopher Nolan deconstruct a film to see how it was put together. Jenkinson uses three films as illustrations: Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and his newest, The Odyssey, and Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff. Participants are encouraged to view these films beforehand.
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
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. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in Swing Time, 1936
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4-session series: Thurs., Oct. 29–Nov. 19, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0583; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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Fall Wine Adventures: Global Sips | A TOP SOMMELIER'S GUIDE TO WINE 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.
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. The Rumford Cook Book by Fannie Farmer, 1910
Wed., Nov. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-097; 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.
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Smithsonian Chamber Music Society 2026–2027 Season
Featuring musical masterpieces from the first decade of the 17th century to the early 21st, the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society (SCMS) celebrates its 50th season with performances on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments. The season’s repertoire ranges from acclaimed masterpieces to undeservedly obscure gems by frequently overlooked composers. Veteran musicians of the society, some returning to the series after many years, are joined by emerging artists on several programs. Kenneth Slowik, SCMS artistic director and recipient of the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar Award and Early Music America’s Howard Mayer Brown Lifetime Achievement Award, curates a series of pre-concert talks one hour before most programs, shedding light on the glorious music and the lives and times of the featured composers. Most concerts take place in the intimate Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music in the National Museum of American History.
For a full season overview visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/scms
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences have the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicolò Amati—in this popular four-concert series. The Axelrod Quartet continues to honor Joseph Haydn, “The Father of the String Quartet,” by including one of his 68 inventive masterpieces of the genre in each program.
JACLYN NASH
The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati
Season-opening concerts: Works by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven
JACLYN NASH
Sat., Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.
Counterclockwise: Kenneth Slowik, Joan DerHovsepian, Marc Destrubé, and Mark Fewer
Masterworks of Five Centuries In late November, countertenor Drew Minter and Slowik explore Schubert’s chilling monodrama on texts by Wilhelm Müller, which the composer called “a cycle of terrifying songs” that “have affected me more than have any other of my Lieder.” Another masterful song cycle, Gustav Mahler’s autumnal Das Lied von der Erde (“The Song of the Earth”), brings back members of the Smithsonian Academy Orchestra in a chamber arrangement completed by the Dutch composer Reinbert de Leeuw shortly before his death six years ago. In early April, the strings of the Smithsonian Academy Orchestra give a Wednesday evening performance of Mahler’s rarely heard “expansion” of Schubert’s haunting “Death and the Maiden” quartet. In mid-April, Naoko Takao joins Slowik in a 4-hands Schubertiade. The season concludes with an evening of music Haydn Naoko Takao and Kenneth Slowik composed for the Esterházy court’s baryton-loving prince. Leopold Mozart called the baryton “one of the most charming of instruments” whose sound resembles that of “the soft humming of bees.”
Upcoming concert: Schubert: Winterreise, D 911 (1827) Sun., Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m.
All programs and artists are subject to change. For complete concert schedules, repertoire, subscriptions and individual concert tickets, and bonus offerings for subscribers visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/scms
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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. Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Rachmaninoff With a legacy of printed compositions but almost no recordings, Felix Mendelssohn Franz Liszt 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. 4-session series: Mon., Nov. 9–30, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-747; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
America’s Sweet Tooth
From Hell to Texas
250 Years of Sweets, Treats, and Traditions
The Psychological Westerns of the 1950s
What can a slice of pie, a candy bar, or a chocolate chip cookie reveal about American history? As Thanksgiving approaches, food historian Francine Segan explores the origins of America’s favorite desserts, from the pies and cakes brought by early English settlers to today’s social media-driven trends. She shows how invention, accident, and necessity shaped the nation’s sweets: kerosene lamp by-products inspired candies such as jelly beans and candy corn, Prohibition boosted commercial candy sales, and Depression-era shortages led to resourceful recipes like water pie. Segan also uncovers truths behind familiar names and myths—from German chocolate cake (not German) to Betty Crocker (not a real person) and the debated origins of Baby Ruth bars—alongside classics like chocolate chip cookies. Registrants receive a companion handout with recipes spanning American dessert history.
During the Truman-Eisenhower era, Westerns moved beyond simple tales of heroes and villains. Stars including Robert Mitchum, Randolph Scott, James Stewart, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, and Robert Ryan often played troubled drifters burdened by war, guilt, or trauma, becoming frontier versions of noir anti-heroes. Rather than presenting clear-cut morality, creators of 1950s Westerns explored greed, prejudice, violence, and psychological conflict. Directors including Fred Zinnemann, John Ford, and William Wyler created classics, while Robert Aldrich, Nicholas Ray, Samuel Fuller, and others used the genre to examine human and social issues. Together, they transformed the Western into a richer, more mature storytelling form. Saddle up as film historian Max Alvarez leads a multimedia cattle drive through hostile territories of beleaguered sheriffs, gunslingers, bank robbers, ruthless land barons, and jaded saloon gals.
Tues., Nov. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-184; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Wed., Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-753; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
AI and the Humanities The words “Artificial Intelligence” are now invoked thousands of times per day. AI has implications for the world’s economy, the future of jobs, war, medicine, national security, and much more. Clay Jenkinson, a public humanities scholar who studied English literature at Oxford University, examines some of the questions that have risen around the humanities and AI: Will AI reinvigorate the humanities and the reading of great books or kill them off? How will K–12 schools and higher education learn to accommodate the AI revolution while also harnessing it to deepen the experience of reading and writing? Using several classics—Hamlet, The Odyssey, and Crime and Punishment—Jenkinson explores how AI, properly employed, can enrich students’ engagement with the humanities. Thurs., Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-760; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
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“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 The Dromio twins, The Comedy expectations about society. She traces how the playwright shifts his focus over his career, from early plays of Errors 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
As You Like It As You Like It (ca. 1599–1600) stands among Shakespeare’s most enchanting comedies, celebrated for its pastoral setting, sparkling wit, and unforgettable characters, including the resourceful Rosalind, the melancholy Jaques, and the charming Orlando. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, offers an in-depth exploration of Shakespeare’s lyrical language, dramatic artistry, and representations of love, identity, nature, and self-discovery, among other central themes. Luzzi examines how As You Like It fits into the trajectory of Shakespeare’s career and highlights the defining qualities and theatrical innovations that have made the play a perennial favorite. Rosalind, As You Like It
Fri., Dec. 4, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-592; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Fairies of Winter
The Grateful Dead has more than music to share: The band offers lessons on impermanence, interconnection, and the search for meaning, which author Casey Rae explores. Tracing the Grateful Dead’s connections to the Beat generation, psychedelia, and Eastern philosophy, Rae examines how the band’s music, community, and improvisational ethos reflect deeper questions about transcendence, identity, and human connection. He also offers insights into the Grateful Dead’s influence and timeless appeal. His new book, Dead Dharma: The Grateful Dead and the American Quest for Transcendence (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.
If you ask most people what a fairy is, they would describe a small, sweet, human-shaped being with butterfly wings who occasionally sparkles and grants wishes. If you ask folklorists, however, they’ll tell you that the tiny, sparkling version of fairies is a relatively new idea, and that, in fact, the fairies of older traditions are something much stranger and wilder. Among the most Detail from a Norwegian holiday compelling are the fairies of the dark, card depicting a nisse, 1885 cold winter. Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman explore winter fairies from different cultures, including the horse- and home-tending Scandinavian nisser, who love a good bowl of porridge; Cailleach Bheur from Scotland, who may be a personification of winter; and Yuki Onna of Japan, who will suck your breath away if she catches you alone on a mountain during a snowstorm.
Tues., Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-108; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Thurs., Dec. 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-591; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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From Nisser to Huldufolk
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NORWAY / CC BY 2.0
The Grateful Dead and the Quest for Transcendence
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The Grapes of Wrath
Days of Miracle and Wonder
A Philosophical Journey Through Steinbeck’s American Epic
In 1984, Paul Simon’s new marriage was failing and his career was in danger of stalling. That summer, a bootleg cassette of township jive—the street music of South Africa—became his personal soundtrack. Although South Africa was run under a racist apartheid system, with economic and cultural boycotts in place, Simon grew determined to create a collaboration that included township jive musicians. The result was “Graceland,” which won two Grammys and sold 16 million records. Grammy Award–winning music historian Ashley Kahn unfolds the album’s history and impact, revealing Simon’s creative process, the controversies the music raised, and the forces that helped the album achieve mainstream popularity. Kahn’s new book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland (Atria), is available for purchase.
DOROTHEA LANGE / FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION/1935
Paul Simon’s “Graceland”
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Published in 1939, John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath remains one of the most powerful examinations of injustice, displacement, and human resilience in American literature. Philosopher Samir Chopra leads an exploration of this literary masterpiece through close reading and philosophical analysis, examining how Steinbeck weaves questions of dignity, community, morality, and social responsibility into a compelling narrative of the Great Depression. Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-098; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
Fri., Dec. 4, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-043; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Dickens Without the Humbug “Please, sir, I want some more.” BRITISH LIBRARY
With his gripping plots, vivid characters, and penetrating social commentary, Charles Dickens always left his readers wanting more. The prolific author of David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol enjoyed immense popularity during his lifetime and remains one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. From his early hardships in a shoe-blacking factory through his wildly popular performances of his own works, Dickens lived a life of stunning triumphs and tragic reversals almost as adventurous and dramatic as one of his own novels. Follow the life and career of Charles Dickens through the best of times and the worst of times with author Daniel Stashower. He explores Dickens’ life and legacy as actor Scott Sedar reads from a selection of the writer’s most celebrated works. Illustration by John Leech of Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by a ghost, 1843
Mon., Dec. 7, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-187; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Keep Connected—Your Way Smithsonian Associates members now can select how you hear from us. Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org, log into “My Account,“ select “Go Green & Contact Preferences,” and you’re ready to fly. Choose email-only or email with a printed Smithsonian Associates program guide. Our communications will be winging their way to you—just the way you like.
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Nathaniel Hawthorne
This Is Rob Reiner
Unpublished Fragments, Uncensored Imagination
From Small Screen to Big Screen
Novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne is celebrated for his psychologically complex explorations of guilt, sin, morality, and the darker aspects of human nature in masterworks such as Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables published in the early 1850s. Scholar Robert S. Levine draws from his most recent book, Nathaniel Hawthorne: Parables, Fantasies, Fragments, to discuss the little-known fragments that Hawthorne wrote during the 1830s and 1840s. During that time, he kept a series of never-published notebooks in which he allowed his imagination to wander freely without having to worry about being called unconventional, radical, depressive, or even mad. Levine addresses Hawthorne’s early writing career, the later publication history of his notebooks, and the fragments themselves to reveal a new, unfamiliar Hawthorne: a literary experimenter and proto-modernist for the contemporary moment. Tues., Dec. 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-756; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The late Rob Reiner was one of Hollywood’s most versatile talents. As a director, he moved effortlessly among genres, creating such films as This Is Rob Reiner Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, and The American President. They attracted major stars and earned both critical and popular success. Before filmmaking, Reiner became famous as Mike Stivic on the landmark sitcom All in the Family. The son of actor-director Carl Reiner, he also wrote for television, appeared in numerous TV series, and later continued acting in films by leading Hollywood directors. Beyond entertainment, he was an active political advocate. Film historian Max Alvarez explores the life, career, and legacy of the not-easily-classifiable Rob Reiner. Wed., Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-757; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
The History of the Game Show In 1923, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle launched radio’s “Brooklyn Eagle Quiz on Current Events,” the earliest known mass-media game show. Over the next century, game shows evolved from radio to television, cable, and streaming platforms, surviving scandals, investigations, and repeated predictions of decline while awarding millions in prizes. Television transformed the genre in the late 1940s, and by the 1950s high-stakes quiz shows made ordinary contestants national celebrities. The quiz show scandals soon exposed widespread manipulation, leading to public outrage and lasting industry reforms. Despite these challenges, game shows thrived, with more than 1,000 formats entertaining audiences worldwide. Drawing on nearly 50 years of experience, producer Bob Boden explores the genre’s evolution through archival footage and behind-the-scenes stories, revealing why shows Richard Dawson and contestants like Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune remain enduring cultural favorites. on the set of the television game show Family Feud, 1976
Wed., Dec. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-221; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Two Holiday Masterworks Handel’s Messiah and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker As winter draws near and the holiday season begins, Handel’s Messiah and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker remain among the most powerful expressions of celebration and wonder. Behind each composer’s triumphant achievement lies a history filled with complex personal struggles, bereavement, social and political change, and religious controversy. In a two-part series, speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin takes a close look into the factors that shaped the creativity of both Handel and Tchaikovsky and why Messiah, an instant success when it premiered at Easter in 1742, and The Nutcracker, whose poorly received 1892 debut evolved into international adoration, continue to inspire. 2-session series: Thurs., Dec. 10 and 17, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-762; Members $50; Nonmembers $70
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The Evolution of the American Cookie
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN
30 Years of Innovation at America’s Test Kitchen Join Julia Collin Davison, executive editorial director of America’s Test Kitchen, for a delicious look into how cookie baking has evolved over the past 30 years. Drawing on the show’s new book, The New Cookie: Creative Takes on the Classics You Love, Davison reveals the science behind irresistible cookies, including the flavor-enhancing power of browned butter and malted milk powder, plus secrets to achieving a perfect chewy, crispy, or crunchy texture. In conversation with Megan J. Elias, curator of food and wine history at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Davison considers how cookies have reflected America’s changing tastes, traditions, and home-baking culture across generations. Signed copies of The New Cookie (Penguin Random House) are available for purchase. Tues., Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-100; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Julia Collin Davison
Lucille Ball The Fabulous First Lady of Funny Come for the laughs (the chocolate factory, the nightclub act with Desi, and a spoonful of “Vitameatavegamin”) and stay for the story of the groundbreaking, television-changing, brilliant comedian who the whole world called Lucy. She left her flagging movie career for the brand-new world of television and stood up to executives who didn’t want her husband Desi to play her husband on-screen. She perfected the screwball comedy, broke taboos about women, and altered the viewing habits of Americans and the direction of television. Who doesn’t love Lucy? Serious about her craft, she is unsurpassed as a comedian and was the first woman to run a large, influential Hollywood studio. In a night full of hilarity and admiration, filmmaker Sara Lukinson celebrates one of the greatest and most gifted entertainment legends. Wed., Dec. 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-765; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Lucille Ball from I Love Lucy, 1957
Dylan Thomas, Poet and Broadcaster
Dylan Thomas, 1938
Dylan Thomas, who remains one of the most popular Modernist poets of the 20th century, asked his readers to “Love the words.” From his early life in Wales to his untimely death, he honed his craft through varied forms of writing, including work for the BBC. Nerys Williams, poet and associate professor at University College Dublin, highlights Thomas’s early life in Wales, his adventures in London, and travels in the United States. His extensive experience as a feature writer and reader at the BBC prepared Thomas for four arduous reading tours of America. Through a close reading of key poems, prose extracts, and excerpts from his radio features, Williams considers Thomas’s evolution as a writer as well as his achievements. Thurs., Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-933; 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.
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UFOs: How Would Humanity Respond?
Beethoven’s Concertos
In 2021, the Pentagon acknowledged that Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) are real and could pose national security concerns, though it offered no evidence that they are extraterrestrial. International relations scholar Alexander Wendt argues that if governments concluded and publicly revealed that UAP were controlled by extraterrestrials, the greatest danger would stem not from aliens but from humanity’s response. While many assume such a discovery would unite the world, Wendt contends it could instead destabilize the international system. Knowing that states are powerless against a vastly superior intelligence could trigger uncertainty, political instability, social disruption, and conflict on a worldwide scale. Wendt’s book The Last Humans: UFOs, Global Security, and the Threat to State Sovereignty (Oxford University Press) is available for purchase.
Nearly 200 years after his death during a violent thunderstorm, Beethoven remains one of the most influential figures in Western culture. Speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores his remarkable collection of concertos, from the five piano concertos and the Choral Fantasy to the delightful Triple Concerto and Ludwig van Beethoven by radiant Violin Concerto. Written as showcases for soloist and Joseph Karl Stieler, 1820 orchestra, these works reveal Beethoven’s brilliance as a pianist and his revolutionary expansion of the concerto form. Their unprecedented drama, scale, and emotional depth transformed the concert experience. When advancing deafness ended his performing career, his concerto output ceased. Yet the masterpieces he left behind reshaped public performance and helped define the style of the Romantic era.
Tues., Jan. 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-768; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
4-session series: Thurs., Jan. 7–28, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-767; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
Willa Cather: Life and Literature
Truth, Debate, and Moral Decision-Making
Willa Cather’s fiction offers vivid glimpses into pivotal moments in the nation’s past, from the close of the settlement era and World War I to the legacies of enslavement and Reconstruction. Her lasting achievement lies not only in narrating history but in adding depth and complexity to ordinary lives, relationships, and experiences. Shaped by her early years in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and the Great Plains of Nebraska, Cather worked in Pittsburgh and New York City as a journalist, teacher, and magazine editor before emerging as one of America’s most celebrated novelists, a career that would later earn her the Pulitzer Prize. Ashley Olson, executive director of the National Willa Cather Center, illuminates how she found her voice as a writer and how her writing helps to shape an understanding of the American experience.
3-session series: Wed., Jan. 13–27, 7 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-ETH; Members $75; Nonmembers $95
SmithsonianAssociates.org
IMAGE COURTESY OF NATIONAL WILLA CATHER CENTER
Thinking Ethically Ethical questions shape our everyday lives, from personal choices to public debates, yet productive conversations about morality often seem difficult. In a three-part series, philosopher Steven Gimbel offers an introduction to moral reasoning, exploring what makes ethical claims meaningful, how different philosophical traditions approach questions of right and wrong, and how these ideas can help in navigating challenging moral dilemmas. Drawing on centuries of philosophical thought and contemporary examples, Gimbel provides practical tools for thinking more clearly, discussing more thoughtfully, and engaging more constructively with the ethical issues that matter most.
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A Bicentennial Celebration
Wed., Jan. 20, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-226; Members $25; Nonmembers $35 Willa Cather by George Marsden 1921
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Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
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 AlKhalili 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
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 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. American kestrel by Matt Felperin
Fri., Oct. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-216; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
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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
Orchids: Rooted in History
Past, Present, and Future
Orchids aren’t just beautiful—they’re ancient survivors, with a lineage stretching back more than 120 million years. Over time, they’ve adapted to nearly every environment, evolving extraordinary forms. Emperors, explorers, artists, and collectors have all been drawn to them. Barb Schmidt, the vice president of the American Orchid Society, leads a journey through deep time, from orchids that grew alongside dinosaurs to the dazzling varieties of today. Schmidt explores their evolution and cultural meanings, plus stories of daring orchid hunters.
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 Castle Geyser erupts, upper geyser basin Yellowstone’s dramatic of Yellowstone National Park landscape today.
Mon., Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-097; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Mon., Oct. 26, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-213; 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 captioned
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
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COURTESY OF AOS/ AWARD PHOTO
Galaxy M87 emits fast-moving radiation and particles, seen by the Hubble Space Telescope
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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, amid the world’s largest trees and one of the Sierra’s most awe-inspiring environments.
Dawn light strikes Mount Whitney
Tues., Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-215; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
In the Company of Pandas Giant pandas have fascinated people for centuries. Panda expert Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, offers a firsthand look at these bamboo-eating carnivores, exploring their personalities, behaviors, and daily care. Smith shares stories that reveal their individual quirks while dispelling common myths about panda biology and evolution. She also examines the conservation challenges pandas face. Their unusual reproductive strategy makes them vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change and complicates breeding efforts in zoos. Smith discusses the complexities of raising panda cubs and highlights the ongoing work to protect giant pandas and ensure their survival. Her new book, In the Company of Pandas: My Life with the World’s Favorite Bear (Atria), is available for purchase. Wed., Dec. 2, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-047; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs For more than 150 million years, dinosaurs ruled the Earth, evolving from humble beginnings into an astonishing diversity of species before a catastrophic extinction. Drawing on the latest discoveries and his own expedition experience, paleontologist Steve Brusatte follows the dinosaurs’ journey from their origins in the Triassic period through their dominance of the Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds to the asteroid impact that brought their reign to an end. He shares fascinating new findings, from feathered predators and giant carnivores to the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and modern birds. Mon., Dec. 7, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-101; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 Fossil specimen of a Zhenyuanlong, early Cretaceous
What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
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Evidence, Theories, and Mystery
Preserving the Legacy of Women Astronomical “Computers”
The Grand Canyon is one of Earth’s most iconic landscapes, yet a fundamental question remains: How—and when—did it form? Despite nearly 170 years of investigation, geologists continue to debate the canyon’s origins. Geologist and author Wayne Ranney has spent more than five decades studying the Grand Canyon and following the theories behind its creation. From pioneering geological work in the 19th century to innovative research today, scientists have Grand Canyon searched for clues preserved in the canyon’s rocks and landforms. New discoveries have challenged long-held assumptions and offered fresh perspectives on this mystery. Ranney explores competing theories of the Grand Canyon’s formation and explains why this natural wonder continues to fascinate both scientists and visitors.
The Harvard Plate Stacks Astronomical Photographic Glass Plate Collection comprises over 500,000 glass plate negatives with astronomical annotations made by pioneering women who assisted the director of the Harvard Observatory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At a time when women were discouraged from working outside the home, these socalled astronomical computers made An early astronomical major discoveries, created vital photograph of a 1918 solar reference catalogs, set foundational eclipse during multispectral best practices, and served as careful imaging with light of different wavelengths stewards of Harvard’s one-of-a-kind astronomical glass plate collection. Thom Burns, curator of the collection, and advanced imaging pioneer Michael Toth discuss the collection’s history and how they use advanced technical imaging to preserve and share the work of these women. The collection is at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.
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Carving the Grand Canyon
Thurs., Dec. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-595; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Tues., Dec. 8, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-220; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Tropical Gardens of Florida
The Stars of Harry Potter In the blockbuster book series Harry Potter, author J. K. Rowling gave wizard Sirius Black (Harry’s godfather) the name of the brightest star in the nighttime sky. And who can forget the nefarious Draco Malfoy, Harry’s Hogwarts nemesis? Fittingly, the constellation Draco is a serpent-like dragon that wraps around Polaris, the North Star. Follow Sky & Telescope’s Kelly Beatty in a bit of whimsy as he explores the true nature of the celestial objects made famous by their literary namesakes. Mon., Dec. 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-597; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
South Florida’s tropical climate nurtures an extraordinary diversity of plants from around the world. Join Kris Bonner, a master gardener and speaker, on a visually rich virtual exploration of some of the region’s most beautiful gardens and natural landscapes. Blending travel, horticulture, and history, Bonner visits Fairchild Tropical Botanic Naples Botanical Garden Garden, the Kampong, and the stunning gardens of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Along the way, discover the story of famed botanist, plant hunter, and spy David Fairchild, whose introduction of more than 20,000 exotic plants and crop varieties helped transform American agriculture. The journey continues to Naples Botanical Garden, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and Everglades National Park, showcasing spectacular flowering plants, majestic palms, rare tropical specimens, and the rich natural heritage that makes South Florida a paradise for gardeners and nature lovers alike. Tues., Jan. 12, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-224; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
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You love art.
Now become the expert you’ve always wanted to be.
World Art History Certificate Program Art is all around us. It excites us, enriches our lives, and enlivens our imaginations. But to truly appreciate any work of art, we need to understand the context and culture in which it was produced. That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers an exciting World Art History Certificate Program. The wide-ranging offerings are designed to provide a global perspective on art and architecture and draw on the Smithsonian’s world-class collections, the rich resources of other Washington institutions, and noted national and international museums. The core courses and electives in this program are selected from among Smithsonian Associates’ ongoing courses, seminars, study tours, and Studio Arts classes. You’ll find an expanded roster of instructors and a new range of course topics. Complete the program requirements at your own pace and track your credits online. Credits are counted from the day of program registration and are not given retroactively. To learn more about the Smithsonian Associates World Art History Certificate Program, visit
SmithsonianAssociates.org/ArtCertificate
Left column: from the top: Taj Mahal, completed 1643, Agra, India; Fresco of the Libyan Sibyl, ca. 1511, Sistine Chapel, by Michelangelo; The Young Ladies of Avignon, 1907, by Pablo Picasso; Equestrian ceramic figure, ca. 13th–15th centuries, Mali*. Second column: The Calf-Bearer, ca. 570 B.C., Athens, Greece; Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, 2010, by Frank Gehry, Las Vegas; Frida Kahlo by Magda Pach, 1933*; Before the Ballet, ca. 1892, Edgar Degas. *from Smithsonian museum collections
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Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Secrets and Symbols in Art Iconography: Keepers of Secrets In the final lecture of his iconography series, art historian Noah Charney examines artworks that hide deeper meanings through coded messages. Using Hans Holbein the Younger’s The Ambassadors and Thomas Gainsborough’s Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, he explores Holbein’s distorted skull, political symbolism, and the mystery of Gainsborough’s unfinished patch. He concludes with one of art history’s greatest enigmas: Giovanni Bellini’s Sacred Allegory. Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-924; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein, 1533
Paris: A Virtual Adventure The lively Left Bank of Paris has historically been the home of intellectuals, artists, and musicians. Take a look at three Latin Quarter museums, then pay tribute to the most famous Left Bank landmark, the Eiffel Tower, before continuing to the leafy expanses of Bois de Boulogne and Montparnasse. Journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy as you discover intriguing sites, historical aspects, and art in this virtual exploration using maps, photos, and videos.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Tues., Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-096; 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.
The Lone Tenement by George Bellows, 1909
Thurs., Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-479; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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 Women of Algiers in their Apartment by Eugène Delacroix, 1834 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
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Art-full Fridays | Live from Italy, with Elaine Ruffolo World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each
MARTA DE BORTOLI 1991, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elaine Ruffolo, a Florence-based Renaissance art historian, examines the rich heritage of Italian art and architecture
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.
Tribuna room, Uffizi Gallery, Florence
2-session series: Fri., Oct. 16 and 23, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-180; Members $50; Nonmembers $70
Michelangelo's Painted World
The Last Judgment (detail) by Michelangelo, 16th century
While Michelangelo Buonarroti is best known for his masterful sculptures such as “David” and the “Pietà,” his paintings reveal another dimension of his artistic genius. In the 551st anniversary year of his birth, Ruffolo explores Michelangelo’s monumental painted works, including the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the dramatic The Last Judgment, where he transforms the human form with extraordinary emotional intensity and scale. She considers his distinctive techniques and the cultural forces that shaped his vision, revealing why these painted masterpieces stand among the defining achievements of the High Renaissance and remain some of the most renowned images in Western art. Fri., Nov. 20, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-186; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Sacred Images The Christmas Story in Renaissance Art The Christmas story has inspired some of the most affectionate, gentle, and intimate images in the history of Western art. They bring to life the account of Christ’s birth, first told in the New Testament gospels of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke. Equally beautiful are the paintings that depict the events leading up to and following Christ’s miraculous birth. How the biblical narrative was portrayed in Renaissance art dramatically evolved over time, mirroring changes in society and shifts in religious attitude. Its depiction moved from a narrow, sacred vision of mother and child to a full-blown cast of humans and animals extending into modern times. Ruffolo offers a lavishly illustrated exploration of the Christmas story as told through the period’s paintings.
Adoration of the Shepherds by Domenico Ghirlandaio
Fri., Dec. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-191; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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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. Court of Emperor Justinian, Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy
Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1T0-091; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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
3-session series: Tues., Nov. 3, 10, and 17, 10 a.m.; CODE 1K0-738; Members $120; Nonmembers $140
NOV 10 Discover Story NOV 17 Capture Sensation
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 Workshops
Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, these reflective writing workshops led by Mary Hall Surface invite 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
Winter’s Wisdom
A Reflective Writing Workshop
A Reflective Writing Workshop
Inspired by artworks by landscape painter Jasper Francis Cropsey and poetry by Mary Oliver, explore what autumn reveals when we slow down, look closely, and reflect. Tues., Oct. 13, 10 a.m.; CODE 1K0-
Autumn–On the Hudson River 737; Members $45; Nonmembers $55 (detail) by Jasper Francis Cropsey, 1860
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Self-portrait at the Clavichord with a Servant by Lavinia Fontana, 1577
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Inspired by Claude Monet’s The Magpie and poetry by Mary Oliver, explore the lessons that this season offers when we slow down, look closely and reflect.
The Magpie by Claude Monet, 1869
Tues., Dec. 1, 10 a.m.; CODE 1K0754; Members $45; Nonmembers $55
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
German Art After WWI
Stormtroopers Advance Under a Gas Attack by Otto Dix
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.
Cuadra San Cristóbal, designed by Luis Barragán
Mon., Oct. 19, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-179; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Art in the Post–World War II Era
Wed., Oct. 21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-925; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
BENJAMIN SMITH / CC BY-SA 1.0
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.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Holy Terrors: Medieval Gargoyles
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 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 OCTOBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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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.
Dance (I) by Henri Matisse, 1909
Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-483; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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
In the historic university city of Bologna, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna houses one of Italy’s The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia most important collections of (detail) by Raphael, 1514 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 legacy of Bologna’s artistic tradition. Mon., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-581; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Palazzo Barberini Today part of the Gallerie Nazionali d’Arte Antica, the Palazzo Barberini in Rome offers a journey through the development of Italian art from the Renaissance through the Baroque period. Among its treasures are masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, Hans Holbein the Younger, and Filippo Lippi. Ruggiero Portrait of Maffeo Barberini (detail) by Caravaggio, 1598 discusses the significance of this collection, the ambitions of the powerful Barberini family, and the artistic innovations that transformed Rome into the cultural capital of the Baroque world. Mon., Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-587; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
JOSÉ LUIZ BERNARDES RIBEIRO / CC BY-SA 4.0
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna
Palatine Chapel In the heart of Palermo, within the historic complex of the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Palatine Chapel stands as one of the most extraordinary monuments of medieval Europe. Commissioned in the 12th century by Roger II of Sicily, it represents a unique fusion of Norman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Latin artistic traditions. Ruggiero highlights the chapel’s interior, where shimmering Byzantine mosaics depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments cover the upper walls, set against richly carved wooden ceilings executed in the intricate muqarnas style of Islamic art. Mon., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-593; Members $30; Nonmembers $45 Mosaic in the Palatine Chapel
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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. A jian bronze mirror from the Warring States period, 475–221 B.C.E.
4-session series: Tues., Nov. 3–24, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0584; 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.
The Fighting Temeraire by J.M.W. Turner, 1839
CHRISTIAN SCHD / CC BY-SA 3.0
Thurs., Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-485; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
In Person World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Gaudí’s Vision Heritage, Innovation, and the Future of Design As the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, explore the lasting influence of this visionary architect. Most of Gaudi’s Modernist designs are in or near Barcelona, Spain, and seven of them have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Through the lenses of architecture, cultural heritage, and contemporary design, Amilcar Vargas, head of heritage at Casa Batlló—a Gaudi masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site—examines how the architect’s work continues to inspire conversations about creativity, sustainability, craftsmanship, and the relationship between nature and the built environment. Vargas shares insights into preserving and interpreting Gaudí’s legacy for modern audiences. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities of heritage stewardship in the 21st century Casa Batlló, by Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona, Spain and the global resonance of Gaudí’s ideas. Wed., Nov. 4, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1T0-103; Members $35; Nonmembers $50
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit ANDREW PARLETTE /CC BY 4.0
Art and Beauty in Siena Siena’s beautiful townscape encapsulates everything visitors love about Tuscany— charming towns among rolling hills, rich history, and artistic treasures from its medieval heyday—rivaled only by its Tuscan neighbors, Florence and Pisa. Art historian and author Laura Morelli leads an immersive virtual tour of Siena’s artistic treasures, including the city’s best-known landmarks: the Gothic cathedral, Siena’s city hall, the Palazzo Pubblico, and the unusually shaped town square, the Piazza del Campo. She examines masterpieces by Siena’s most famous artists: Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers. The historic city offers the best of medieval art and architecture to those who travel there by plane or armchair. Piazza del Campo
Fri., Nov. 6, 12 p.m. CODE 1H0-930; 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 Barcelona chair 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 works of modern design that continue to influence how we live, work, and gather.
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Mon., Nov. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-183; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Step into the World of M.C. Escher Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898–1972), popularly referred to as M.C. Escher, is known for what he called his “mental images,” which connect to mathematics and various branches of science. During his 50-year career, Escher’s works evolved from realistic observations of the world to inventions of his imagination that explored multidimensional alternate realities. A meticulous printmaker, Relief after M.C. Escher on a municipal building in The Hague Escher printed all his woodcuts by hand—with a spoon. Dena M. Woodall, curator of prints and drawings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, explores how Escher’s imagery transformed over time, examining his lesser-known early period in Italy and his later, more famous tessellations, metamorphoses, impossible buildings, and space that somehow was bent. Thurs., Nov. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-041; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
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Becoming Frank Lloyd Wright Historian and architecture lecturer Bill Keene presents an illustration-rich exploration of the life and career of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s most celebrated architects. He examines Wright’s Welsh roots, unsettled family life, and early love of nature shaped by rural Wisconsin. The presentation follows the highs and lows of Wright’s personal and professional journey from the 1890s through the 1950s, including marriages, affairs, scandals, murders, and tragedies that influenced his outlook and work. Keene also discusses the intellectual and artistic forces that shaped Wright’s vision, from Emerson and Whitman to Louis Sullivan, European architects, and Japanese art and architecture. He concludes by tracing Wright’s growing fame, the strategies he used to cultivate it, and the evolution of his practice into a major business enterprise during the later decades of his remarkable and influential career. Frank Lloyd Wright by Al Ravenna, 1954
Thurs., Nov. 12, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-218; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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 Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian, 1525
250 Years of American Silversmithing Silversmithing—the art of turning silver into beautiful jewelry and objects that are both useful and attractive—has evolved over the past 250 years of American history. Philadelphia Museum of Art curator David Barquist provides an overview of the production of silver goods in the United States. In the late 18th century, American silversmiths were still grounded in stylistic and workshop traditions inherited from Europe. The industrial revolution then shifted silver manufacturing from small workshops to factories, which grew larger in the 19th century. By the end of the century, the Arts and Crafts movement led a reaction against industrial production. The 20th century saw handicraft and industry on parallel paths, and in the 21st century, craft artists have continued to keep traditional techniques alive while developing innovative processes.
Teapot made by Peter Bentzon, ca. 1817-1829 SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Mon., Nov. 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-586; 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.
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Art of Chagall Marc Chagall’s whimsical, colorful art, inspired by the stories and imagery of his native Russian culture, blends dreamlike emotion with poetic imagination that transcends logic. From his beginnings in the Jewish shtetl of Vitebsk to his artistic maturity in France, he remained deeply connected to his Jewish identity and heritage. Chagall worked across many media, including painting, drawing, book illustration, stained glass, stage and costume design, ceramics, tapestries, and prints. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar examines Chagall’s life and work, focusing on his upbringing, artistic training, first visit to Paris, and the influence of his wife Bella. He also discusses Chagall’s autobiography My Life, his designation as a “degenerate artist,” and his years in America, while highlighting major works, the Chagall Museum in Nice, celebrated stained-glass windows, and significant international commissions. I and the Village (detail) by Marc Chagall, 1911
Tues., Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-752; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Mosaics of Ravenna A Glittering Vision in Glass and Gold Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and the Byzantine Exarchate, Ravenna is renowned for its magnificent 5th- and 6th-century mosaics. Composed of glass, stone, and gold-leaf tesserae, these dazzling works reflect imperial ambitions, theological ideas, and exceptional craftsmanship. The city’s several UNESCO World Heritage monuments make Ravenna a key site for understanding early Christian art and the development of mosaic decoration. In a richly illustrated lecture, Columbia University art historian Sophia D’Addio explores Ravenna’s artistic legacy, examining how its mosaics draw on earlier traditions while introducing innovative imagery and visual motifs. She also highlights the skilled artisans who created them and the powerful patrons whose commissions shaped this artistic achievement.
Procession of the Virgin Martyrs (detail), Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Tues., Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-487; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Visual Language of Islamic Art Islamic art encompasses a variety of artistic traditions that have flourished across a vast geographic region from southern Spain and North Africa to the islands of Southeast Asia. Museum consultant Sabiha Al Khemir provides an overview of Islamic art across a range of media, including calligraphy, painting, ceramics, metalwork, and textiles. Her survey explores the artistic principles and visual language of Islamic art within the cultural contexts in which it was produced, connecting the various aspects that are present throughout different media and highlighting artistic styles and their cultural significance. The program is illustrated with examples of work from public and private collections around the world. Roundel, 11th-century Iran
Tues., Dec. 1, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-188V; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Irrepressible Rosa Bonheur “The 19th Century’s Most Famous Woman Artist” An international celebrity in her lifetime, French animal painter Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899) became less familiar as modern art shifted toward abstraction, but her work is now being rediscovered. The first woman awarded France’s Legion of Honor, Bonheur created realistic, anatomically precise images of animals that conveyed vitality and individuality. Dedicated to close observation, she studied animals in farms, zoos, Ploughing in Nevers by Rosa Bonheur, 1849 and even Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. Bonheur also challenged social conventions by wearing trousers, cutting her hair short, and smoking in public. Art historian Nancy G. Heller explores Bonheur’s life, artistic achievements, relationships to French and English animal painters, and the significance of her fiercely independent character and impact. Wed., Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-488; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
BROOKLYN MUSEUM
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Mark Rothko’s Philosophy, Life, and Career “Silence is so accurate” Mark Rothko (1903–1970) is one of the most celebrated and misunderstood artists of the modern era. At age 10, he immigrated to America from Russia with little more than the Buster Brown suit he wore, an experience that deepened his sense of being an outsider. That feeling shaped both his life and his art. From the late 1940s onward, Rothko created luminous Abstract Expressionist paintings and carefully conceived environments that he believed could help viewers confront “basic human emotions.” Yet Rothko grew frustrated that many people admired his paintings mainly for their decorative beauty rather than the profound emotional experience he hoped they would inspire. Art historian Matthew Palczynski explores Rothko’s life and vision.
Mark Rothko, Yorktown Heights, ca. 1949 by Consuelo Kanaga
Thurs., Dec. 3, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-932; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Venice’s Artistic Revolution
The Miracle of the Cross at the Bridge of San Lorenzo by Gentile Bellini, 1500
Around 1500, when many feared the world would end, Venice reached the height of its economic and cultural power, surpassing Florence as the wealthiest city in the West. Its unique position on water made it healthier and more secure than other European cities, while its humid atmosphere, distinctive light, and access to prized Eastern pigments fostered a revolution in painting. At the center stood the Bellini family, especially Giovanni Bellini, whose innovations in oil-based color transformed Venetian art. His influence shaped Giorgione and the seven-decade career of Titian, whose expressive brushwork helped establish oil painting as Europe’s dominant medium. Yet the city’s peak concealed decline, as trade and artistic leadership shifted north to Antwerp and Amsterdam. In a richly illustrated program, art historian Nigel McGilchrist explores the rise and fall of Venice’s artistic revolution. Tues., Dec. 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1M2-491; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit per session
Contemporary Architecture: Global Vision Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano, and Tadao Ando
Renzo Piano's Bubble, Genoa, Italy RALF ROLETSCHEK / CC BY-SA 3.0
Around the world, pioneering architects are transforming skylines and reimagining the spaces we inhabit. In an era of rapid technological advancement and evolving cities, contemporary architecture has challenged traditional ideas about what buildings can be and how they shape lives. In a three-session series, art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the groundbreaking work of architects with distinctly different visions who have expanded the possibilities of design and reshaped the way the built environment is experienced. DEC 10 Zaha Hadid JAN 14 Renzo Piano FEB 11 Tadao Ando 3-session series: Thurs., Dec. 10, Jan. 14, and Feb. 11, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-194; Members $75; Nonmembers $95 Individual sessions: Thurs., Dec. 10 (CODE 1D0-194A); Thurs., Jan. 14 (CODE 1D0194B); Thurs., Feb. 11 (CODE 1D0-194C); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
Bergisel Ski Jump by Zaha Hadid
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is one of the most important masters of the Dutch Golden Age. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar presents a chronological framework for studying Rembrandt’s vast output: his time as a young, ambitious prodigy in his hometown; his early success as a portraitist; the height of his societal and financial peak, culminating in his famous work The Night Watch; his years of hardship and more introspective work; and his poignant final years. Special attention is given to masterpieces such as The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Danaë, and The Night Watch in addition to the artist’s series of commissioned portraits. Cassar discusses Rembrandt’s works within the historical context of the time, outlining his legacy in painting, drawing, and etching. The Night Watch by Rembrandt, 1642
Fri., Dec. 11, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-758; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
The History of Western Art From Antiquity Through the Middle Ages From prehistoric cave paintings and the monuments of the ancient world to the churches and cathedrals of medieval Europe, artists created works that reflected the beliefs, values, and societies of their time while establishing traditions that continue to shape art today. Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton offers a broad overview of the major works of architecture, sculpture, and painting created in the Western tradition before the Renaissance, from prehistoric art and the ancient world Banquet scene in a fresco through early Christian, Byzantine, and medieval traditions, exploring how historical, social, and religious forces from Herculaneum, Italy shaped these masterpieces. This survey of artistic developments continues with The History of Western Art: Renaissance to the Present in spring 2027. 2-session series: Sat., Dec. 12 and 19, 1 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-192; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Scandinavian Design Clean, minimal, and warm, Scandinavian design has become synonymous with timeless modern living. Emerging across the Nordic countries during the first half of the 20th century, the movement championed simplicity, craftsmanship, and the belief that good design should enhance everyday life. With its close connection to nature, respect for craftsmanship, and the Danish concept of hygge—or coziness—Scandinavian design embraces warmth, comfort, and thoughtful composition. Art historian Jennie Hirsh examines the cultural forces behind its rise and explores the pioneering work of designers such as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Verner Panton, and Poul Henningsen, revealing how their innovative approaches helped establish Scandinavian design as a global phenomenon whose influence remains as strong today as ever.
Arne Jacobsen, 1968
Wed., Dec. 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-189; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
Understanding Greek Art and Civilization Why is Greek art and civilization still studied today and why do they retain a profound impact on the contemporary world? Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar answers these questions by providing a comprehensive look at Greek civilization through its paintings, marble and bronze statuary, architecture, pottery, and coins. In a four-session course, Cassar closely examines some of the greatest marvels of Greek art to provide a deeper understanding of its importance from antiquity to today. Greek coin depicting Athena, after 449 B.C.E. CLASSICAL NUMISMATIC GROUP, INC. CNGCOINS.COM
4-session series: Wed., Jan. 6–27, 10:30 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-766; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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 Rubens' 1603 drawing, after Leonardo da Vinci's cryptic inscription cerca trova—seek and you will find. Art historian Laura Morelli lost mural Battle of Anghiari 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., Jan. 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-926; 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.
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Color Theory and Chroma-psychology
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue ONLINE: Thurs., Dec. 3, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APW; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
Techniques in Modernist Painting INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 8–Nov. 12, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQT; Members $260; Nonmembers $295
By Nick Cruz Velleman
Keeping up the Sketchbook Habit
Hues in Harmony
INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ARK; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
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
By Lori VanKirk Schue
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Introduction to Figure Drawing
Pet Portraits
Graphite: The Versatile Medium
INSTRUCTOR: Tom Kim IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 6–Nov. 3, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARS; Members $215; Nonmembers $250
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 22 and 29, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APU; Members $95; Nonmembers $120
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue ONLINE: Thurs., Nov. 12 and 19, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APV; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
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 By Lori VanKirk Schue
By Tom Kim
Picture Yourself in Studio Arts Classes Whether you want to tap into your creative side for the first time or expand your existing skills, there’s no better way to do it than with a Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts program. Each term brings a gallery of online courses and workshops—as well as select in-person offerings—in just about every area you can imagine, from drawing to fiber arts, mixed media to painting, and book arts to photography. Our extensive offerings for all levels of experience will sharpen your technical and artistic abilities as well as your confidence. More than 60 classes—including 10 brand-new ones—will begin this winter. Find out about them in the November program guide.
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FALL PAINTING SANDRA GOBAR
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Examining Cézanne: From Landscape to Figure 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
ONLINE
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
Watercolor Journeys Travel Sketching
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 3, 10:15 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ANT; Members $140; Nonmembers $165
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By Cindy Briggs
NEW CLASS
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Amaryllis and Paperwhites Luminous Winter Florals
Drawing Light
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
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
By Cindy Briggs
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Holiday Keepsake Ornaments
A Walk on the Wild Side with Photomontage
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sun., Dec. 6, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARH; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sat., Nov. 7 and 14, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARF; Members $115; Nonmembers $140 By Sharon Robinson
See videos, class photos, and meet students on
By Sharon Robinson
facebook.com/smithsonianstudioarts
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FALL 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
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
By Sharon Robinson
Mixed Media Art Warmups
ONLINE ONLINE
INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 9 and 16, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQB; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
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
Where’s My Muse? INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson ONLINE: Tues., Nov. 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARD; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
By Sharon Robinson
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 By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
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Unique and Exciting Knitting Techniques Beginner Embroidered Patch Workshop INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 3, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APC; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Knitting for Beginners
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 By Ann Richards
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
By Heather Kerley
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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
When Good Patterns Go Bad
INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Howard ONLINE: Sat., Nov. 14 and 21, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQP; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 18, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANL; Members $45; Nonmembers $60
Avoiding and Fixing Knitting Mistakes
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Collage Flag Books
Handmade Storybooks
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
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
By Krista Sharp
Takuga ONLINE
Introduction to Beading INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 3–17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0AQC; Members $150; Nonmembers $175
Botanical Prints in Sumi Ink and Watercolor INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0ARL; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
Upcycled Aluminum Holiday Ornament INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0AQF; Members $70; Nonmembers $85
Jazz It Up Holiday Cards Using Pointed-Pen Calligraphy
The Art of Floral Design
INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5 and 12, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARA; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
INSTRUCTOR: Arrin Sutliff ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 27–Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., no class Nov. 24; CODE 1E0-ANM; Members $160; Nonmembers $195
Mosaic Jewelry INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Fitzgerald ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ANP; Members $75; Nonmembers $90
By Sue Fierston
By Sharmila Karamchandani
NEW CLASS MÏA VOLLKOMMER
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
Jewelry Tool Talk: Cold Connections 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
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Introduction to Bookbinding AMAAL YOUNES
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 ONLINE: Thurs., Nov. 2 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
By Mïa Vollkommer
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Smartphone Photography
The Exposure Triangle
INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 24, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQY; Members $80; Nonmembers $105
ONLINE
On-Location Photography
By Joe Yablonsky
ONLINE
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 18– Nov. 22, 1:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APK; Members $205; Nonmembers $240
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APH; Members $160; Nonmembers $185
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.)
By Joe Yablonsky
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
NEW CLASS
Autumn Scenes
By Joe Yablonsky
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
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.
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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
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 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. Begin 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 Arts and Industries Building Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 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. The tour leader is Bill Keene, a lecturer in history, urban studies, and architecture. Sun., Oct. 18, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CW-C09; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
Bus Tour
Historic Washington Cemeteries
TIM1965 / CC BY-SA 4.0
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 recounts 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. Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Fri., Oct. 16, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-019; Members $175; Nonmembers $235
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COURTESY OF HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN \ PHOTO: BY RICK COULBY
Walking Tour
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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. Ball-Sellers House, Arlington, Begin with a short lecture by your study leader before exploring the Arlington Historical Museum to Virginia 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
Bus Tour
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 Lindy Point 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.
Walking Tour
APK / CC BY-SA 4
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. TWO OPTIONS: 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
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St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown
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A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island
Enjoy a fall morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C. Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city. Statue of Theodore Roosevelt on the island
Bus Tour
TWO OPTIONS: Tues., Nov. 10 (CODE 1CW-A13); Wed., Nov. 11 (CODE 1CW-B13); 8:30–11:30 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
War and Memory on the National Mall
Every monument, memorial, and historic site reflects a series of choices about what to honor, how to tell the story, and what lessons future generations should take away. While history records the events of the past, memory shapes how people understand and commemorate them. By looking closely at monuments, you can gain insight into the events they represent and the values and priorities of their creators. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a day of discovery on the National Mall, beginning with a morning lecture at the Ripley Center that introduces the concepts of history and memory and provides practical tools for interpreting monuments. After a boxed lunch, head onto the National Mall for an immersive study of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. Through guided observation and discussion with your study leader, discover how these powerful spaces forge public memory, provoke reflection, and continue to influence the way Americans understand the past.
Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
Fri., Nov. 20, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-022; Members $125; Nonmembers $185
ANNA TURNER / SMITHSONIAN
2-Day Tour
Holidays in the Brandywine Valley
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 and Library, 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. Holidays at the Hagley Museum and Library
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
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CONNIE RAGSDALE
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Holiday Charms in Fairmount Park
In the late 18th century, Philadelphia was a thriving center of commerce and culture, and many of its wealthiest citizens built elegant country retreats along the banks of the Schuylkill River to escape the bustle of city life. Six mansions known as the “Charms” are among the few remaining from the dozens of villas that once lined what is now Fairmount Park. Each December, these beautifully preserved homes are transformed with period-inspired holiday decorations that evoke the warmth of Christmases past. They offer a glimpse into the city’s architectural, social, and cultural history while showcasing different styles of American design, from the balanced proportions of Palladian architecture to the refined elegance of the Federal style and the influence of Neoclassicism. Experience the Holidays at Strawberry Mansion enchantment of three “Charms” on this tour. Begin at Strawberry Mansion, one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the region. Richly furnished with an outstanding collection of American decorative arts, the mansion’s period rooms are decked with festive greenery and seasonal displays that highlight 19th-century holiday traditions. Continue to Woodford Mansion, a National Historic Landmark celebrated for its elegant interiors and one of the country’s premier collections of colonial furnishings and decorative arts. Holiday decorations complement the home’s craftsmanship and provide a welcoming backdrop for exploring the lives of the family who once lived there. At Laurel Hill Mansion, a graceful Georgian-style estate overlooking the Schuylkill River, discover beautifully restored rooms decorated with greenery, ribbons, and ornaments inspired by historic celebrations. Learn about the development of Fairmount Park as one of America’s great urban landscapes. The day concludes with a visit to the Fairmount Water Works, a pioneering 19th-century engineering marvel that supplied clean water to a growing city. Local historian Tom Keels serves as the tour leader. Fri., Dec. 11, 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-023; Members $239; Nonmembers $300
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
2-Day Tour
A Trio of Modern Museum Gems
Explore the evolution of modern and contemporary art on a weekend in New York City led by modern art historian Nancy Hirshbein. From groundbreaking American artists to the international masters who transformed the visual language of the 20th century, discover how modern art challenged tradition and reimagined the way we see the world. Begin at the Whitney Museum of American Art, home to one of the world’s foremost collections of 20th- and 21st-century American art. Whitney Museum of Housed in Renzo Piano’s striking building overlooking the High Line, the American Art Metropolitan Museum of Art Whitney follows the development of American Modernism through works by Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many others. The visit also includes a guided tour of the special exhibition featuring the work of Roy Lichtenstein. Monday morning is all about the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a guided look at “Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous.” The first major New York exhibition devoted to Lee Krasner or Jackson Pollock in more than two decades, it brings together more than 120 works to examine the artists’ intertwined lives and careers while celebrating their distinct creative achievements. The exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the emergence of Abstract Expressionism and the enduring influence of two of the movement’s most Museum of Modern Art important figures. Conclude the day at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). A guided highlights tour explores the museum’s collection, which spans painting, sculpture, photography, design, film, architecture, and new media. Encounter masterpieces by pioneering artists including Picasso, Matisse, Dalí, Monet, van Gogh, Warhol, Pollock, Kahlo, and O’Keeffe while examining how their innovations challenged convention and redefined artistic expression. Tour participants stay at The Iroquois New York in the heart of Manhattan. An early three-course supper is included before you set off on Monday. Sun., Jan. 24, 8 a.m.–Mon., Jan. 25, 10:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-MOD; Members $723; Nonmembers $965
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The Gift of Color Limited-edition prints from the Smithsonian Associates Art Collectors Program capture brilliant and memorable worlds of color— and make great gifts for all occasions. For details, visit ArtCollectorsProgram.org
Hopi Eagle Dance by Dan Namingha (detail) Retail: $1200 Members: $900*
August Breakfast/Maine by Carolyn Brady (detail) Retail: $1200
Members: $800*
Flowers For a Country by Mindy Weisel (detail) Retail: $1200 Members: $1000*
Lotus by Janet Fish (detail) Retail: $1200 Members: $950*
Blue Moonlight by April Gornik (detail) Retail: $1200
Members: $950*
Red Geranium by Robert Kushner (detail) Retail: $1500
Members: $1200*
Piazza San Marco by LeRoy Neiman (detail) Retail: $1200 Members: $950*
*Member pricing applies to Promoter level and above | For membership levels visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels
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There’s more than mild temperatures and sunshine that make Florida a captivating winter destination. The state also boasts the world’s largest concentration of Art Deco architecture and the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings at a single site, offering a uniquely rich experience. This five-day journey from Tampa to Miami 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.
Historic district, Ybor City, Tampa Vintage neon sign at the Vagabond Hotel Miami
DAY 1: Welcome
Participants arrive in Tampa. The tour opens with a welcome orientation and dinner at the hotel.
Coral Gables, Florida
DAY 2: Historic Tampa and Ybor City
DAY 4: Miami: Art Deco to Contemporary Design
Explore the historic Ybor City neighborhood, where Cuban, Spanish, Historic 7th Ave., Ybor City, Tampa 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.
EBYABE / CC BY-SA 2.0
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 Danforth Chapel, designed by Frank National Registry of Lloyd Wright, Florida Southern College 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.
Spend a full day exploring Miami’s Little Havana’s Domino Park 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. Art Deco district, South Beach, Miami
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 Vagabond Hotel Miami), 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. SPECIAL OFFER: Register for the tour by Thurs., Oct. 1 and receive complimentary access for one person to the online Associates’ program Becoming Frank Lloyd Wright on Thurs., Nov. 12 (p. 45).
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IMAGE COURTESY OF VAGABOND HOTEL MIAMI
Florida: History, Design, and Architecture
INFROGMATION / CC BY-SA 2.0
5-Day Tour
CULTURE
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE– $10,000
BENEFACTOR–$5,000
PARTNER–$3,000
SPONSOR–$1,200
PATRON–$600
CONTRIBUTOR–$300
CIRCLE OF SUPPORT ADVOCATE–$200
PROMOTER–$140
EXPLORER–$60
Smithsonian Associates Membership Levels and Benefits
CHAMPION–$100
INTRODUCTORY LEVELS
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
To become a member visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/join or call 202-633-3030 (M–F, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. ET) OCTOBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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HELPFUL INFORMATION Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •) Courses, Performances, and Lectures—Multi-Session Tues., Nov. 3, 10, and 17
Thurs., Oct. 1–22 Jazzing the Classics ...............................................................................................20
Write Into Art: Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art.................................40 Tues., Nov. 3–24
Thurs., Oct. 1–Nov. 19 Introduction to Music Theory...............................................................................20
Chinese Art: From the Bronze Age to the People’s Republic......................43 Mon., Nov. 9–30
Wed., Oct. 7–28 Judgment Days: Famous Trials in American History.......................................5
Great Composer-Pianists ......................................................................................27 Sun., Nov. 22
Wed., Oct. 14–Nov. 4 Artists’ Travels to North Africa: From Delacroix to Paul Klee.....................38 Thurs., Oct. 15 and Nov. 12
Masterworks of Five Centuries •................................................................26 Thurs., Dec. 10 and 17
Visions of a Brighter Tomorrow: World’s Fairs of the 1930s .............................6 Fri., Oct. 16 and 23
Two Holiday Masterworks: Messiah and The Nutcracker ............................30 Thurs., Dec. 10, Jan. 14, and Feb. 11
Masterpieces of the Uffizi.....................................................................................39
Contemporary Architecture: Global Vision.......................................................48 Sat., Dec. 12 and 19
Thurs., Oct. 22 and Nov. 19 The American Revolution..............................................................................................7
The History of Western Art: Antiquity Through the Middle Ages..............48 Wed., Jan. 6–27
Thurs., Oct. 29–Nov. 19 A History of the Movie Musical............................................................................24
Understanding Greek Art and Civilization ........................................................49 Thurs., Jan. 7–28
Sat., Oct. 31 and Sun., Nov. 1
The Axelrod String Quartet • ......................................................................26
Beethoven’s Concertos: A Bicentennial Celebration .....................................32 Wed., Jan. 13–27
Mon., Nov. 2–23 Jamestown: The First 100 Years ..........................................................................10
Thinking Ethically: Truth, Debate, and Moral Decision-Making..................32
Lectures and Seminars—Single Session Fri., Oct. 2
A Horse’s World ..........................................................................33
Fri., Oct. 16
The Knights Templar ...................................................................6
Mon., Oct. 5
Studio Ghibli: Miyazaki, Takahata, and Beyond .................20
Sat., Oct. 17
Medieval History Through Artists’ Eyes ..............................40
Antiques in the Garden .............................................................21
Mon., Oct. 19
The Man Behind the Musketeers ..........................................22
New York City in the Gilded Age ............................................21
German Art After WWI .............................................................41
Understanding Time .................................................................33
Luis Barragán and Mexican Modernism ...............................41
Iconography: Keepers of Secrets .........................................38
Tues., Oct. 20
The Sack of Rome .......................................................................7
Tues., Oct. 6
Paris: A Virtual Adventure .......................................................38
The Port Royal Experiment ........................................................7
Wed., Oct. 7
An Appalachian Journey ..........................................................33
Paranoia on Screen....................................................................22
Thurs., Oct. 8
The Film Music of Ennio Morricone.......................................21
Wed., Oct. 21
Art In the Post–World War II Era ............................................41
The Ashcan School of Painting..............................................38
Thurs., Oct. 22
Mussolini ........................................................................................7
Fri., Oct. 9
Backyard Birding ........................................................................33
Sat., Oct. 10
Jancis Robinson: The Newest World Atlas of Wine ..............22
Fri., Oct. 23
• ...............................................................23 Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects • ....................23
Tues., Oct. 13
The Art of Surviving: Belle Isle and Beyond .........................5
Sat., Oct. 24
Death and Beyond .....................................................................23
The Civil War..................................................................................5
Mon., Oct. 26
Churchill and the Crown.............................................................8
Wed., Oct. 14
•
Our Weird and Wild Universe..................................................34
Before Baker Street ...................................................................24
Autumn’s Harvest.......................................................................40
The Geology of Yellowstone....................................................34
Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil ...................................4
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna .........................................42
Crafting Witches ..........................................................................6
Thurs., Oct. 15
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Stirred by the Ages
The History of Washington’s Cemeteries ..............................4
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HELPFUL INFORMATION Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •) Tues., Oct. 27
•
Science Without Borders ........................................................3
The Russian Revolution From Within.....................................13 Excommunication in Medieval England ................................13 Thurs., Nov. 12
Heresy ..............................................................................................8 Wings of Change ...........................................................................8
Holy Terrors: Medieval Gargoyles ...........................................41
Step into the World of M.C. Escher .......................................44 Becoming Frank Lloyd Wright ................................................45
Fri., Nov. 13
Ethel Kennedy ................................................................................9
Thurs., Oct. 29
Historic New York Restaurants................................................12
How to Read a Film ....................................................................24 The Language of 1776................................................................24 Wed., Oct. 28
Tues., Nov. 10
The Great Harry Houdini ............................................................8
Threads of the Viking World.....................................................13 The Artists of Renaissance Venice ........................................45
Mon., Nov. 16
The Last Invasion of England...................................................13
The American Colonies in the Age of Sail .............................9
When and How Leaders Matter ...............................................14
Terrors in America: 1830s Cholera Pandemic.......................9
Palazzo Barberini ........................................................................42
Henri Matisse: An Enduring Fascination ..............................42
250 Years of American Silversmithing .................................45
• ............................................................................................3
Fri., Oct. 30
Fortified Wine .............................................................................25
Mon., Nov. 2
The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story.......................10
America’s Sweet Tooth ..............................................................27
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Rise of Fascism .................10
The Sierra Nevada......................................................................35
Orchids: Rooted in History.......................................................34
The Art of Chagall ......................................................................46
Tues., Nov. 3
Magna Graecia: Early Greek Culture in Italy........................10
Wed., Nov. 4
Virunga National Park .................................................................4
Wed., Nov. 18
Voice
Treasures of Warsaw .................................................................14 From Hell to Texas ......................................................................27
By Illegitimate Means .................................................................11
Thurs., Nov. 19
AI and the Humanities...............................................................27
A History of Gibraltar .................................................................11
Fri., Nov. 20
Michelangelo's Painted World.................................................39
San Francisco: Then and Now..................................................11
Sat., Nov. 21
“What Fools These Mortals Be” ..............................................28
The American Table ...................................................................25
Mon., Nov. 30
Masada: The Untold Story ........................................................14
Gaudí's Enduring Vision Thurs., Nov. 5
Tues., Nov. 17
• ........................................................43
Joseph Smith................................................................................12
The Panama Canal ......................................................................14 Tues., Dec. 1
The Cuban Missile Crisis...........................................................15
J.M.W. Turner and John Constable ........................................43
The Grateful Dead .....................................................................28
Fri., Nov. 6
Art and Beauty in Siena............................................................44
Winter’s Wisdom: A Reflective Writing Workshop .............40
Mon., Nov. 9
The Art of Historic Preservation .............................................12
The Mosaics of Ravenna ..........................................................46
Take a Seat! ..................................................................................44
The Visual Language of Islamic Art ......................................46
Support Smithsonian Associates’ lifelong learning programs For six decades, education has been at the heart of our work at Smithsonian Associates: opening the Smithsonian’s vast resources to people of all ages. Unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and essential membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and registration revenue. Please consider a charitable gift in support of the rich educational experiences that bring the Smithsonian's world of knowledge to a vibrant learning community across the country.
Demonstrate your support today at SmithsonianAssociates.org/donate
OCTOBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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HELPFUL INFORMATION Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •)
Wed., Dec. 2
The Roots of Religious Freedom .............................................15
Thurs., Dec. 10
The Legacy of Women Astronomical "Computers" ...........36
How to Listen to Jazz ................................................................20
Thurs., Dec. 3
In the Company of Pandas .......................................................35
Fri., Dec. 11
Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age ...............................48
The Irrepressible Rosa Bonheur..............................................47
Mon., Dec. 14
History for the Holidays .............................................................17
Justice on Trial: The Dreyfus Affair .......................................15
The Persian Wars ........................................................................17
“Keep Calm and Carry On"........................................................16
The Stars of Harry Potter.........................................................36
The Fairies of Winter..................................................................28
Tues., Dec. 15
Brewed Brilliance ........................................................................25
Wed., Dec. 16
Lucille Ball: The Fabulous First Lady of Funny....................31
Paul Simon’s “Graceland”..........................................................29 The Grapes of Wrath..................................................................29
Mon., Dec. 7
Slavery and the American Revolution....................................16
The New United States in the Age of Sail ..............................9 The Olmsted in All of Us............................................................18
As You Like It................................................................................28
Sat., Dec. 5
Together in Spirit ..........................................................................3 The Evolution of the American Cookie ..................................31
Mark Rothko..................................................................................47 Fri., Dec. 4
The B-29 Superfortress .............................................................17
Scandinavian Design..................................................................49 Thurs., Dec. 17
A Preservationist’s Palette: Architecture in Color ..............18 Dylan Thomas, Poet and Broadcaster....................................31
The Seven Wonders of Rome ...................................................16 Dickens Without the Humbug ................................................29 The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs ........................................35
Fri., Dec. 18
Sacred Images .............................................................................39
Tues., Jan. 5
UFOs: How Would Humanity Respond? ................................32
Thurs., Jan. 7
Reconsidering Claudius .............................................................18
Palatine Chapel............................................................................42 Tues., Dec. 8
Nazis in South America .............................................................16
The Hindenburg Disaster...........................................................18 Tues., Jan. 12
Nathaniel Hawthorne .................................................................30
Wed., Dec. 9
The Merchants of Venice...........................................................19 Tropical Gardens of Florida......................................................36
Carving the Grand Canyon.......................................................36
Wed., Jan. 13
Wonderful Nice: The Pennsylvania Dutch.............................19
Venice’s Artistic Revolution ......................................................47
Thurs., Jan. 14
The First Barbary War ................................................................19
The Forbidden City ......................................................................4
Wed., Jan. 20
Willa Cather: Life and Literature.............................................32
A Tudor Christmas.......................................................................17
Fri., Jan. 22
The Trans-Siberian Railway ......................................................19 Seek and You Shall Find............................................................49
The History of the Game Show...............................................30 This Is Rob Reiner.......................................................................30
Tours—Single and Multi-Session• Sat., Oct. 10
Historic Arlington County........................................................56
Wed., Nov. 11
A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island ...........................57
Fri., Oct. 16
Historic Washington Cemeteries...........................................55
Fri., Nov. 20
War and Memory on the National Mall .................................57
Sat., Oct. 17
A Day at Blackwater Falls State Park ..................................56
Sun., Dec. 6
Holidays in the Brandywine Valley .........................................57
Sun., Oct. 18
Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn ............................55
Fri., Dec. 11
Holiday Charms in Fairmount Park........................................58
Fri., Oct. 23
A Stroll Through Georgetown.................................................56
Sat., Jan. 23
Florida: History, Design, and Architecture..............................60
Sat., Oct. 24
A Stroll Through Georgetown.................................................56
Sun., Jan. 24
A Trio of Modern Museum Gems............................................58
Tue., Nov. 10
A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island ..........................57
Studio Arts Art Theory and Practice, Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Fiber Arts, Other Media, and Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50-54
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SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES Please visit SmithsonianAssociates.org for more details MEMBERSHIP
CONTACT US
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!
Email: CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org
REGISTRATION FOR PROGRAMS
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.
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
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 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 SMITHSONIAN 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 IN PUBLISHED SCHEDULES 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.
Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560-0701
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