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Dear Friends and Members, This month, you’re invited to focus on material culture—the physical things people create, use, build, visit, and value in their daily lives—and uncover the stories woven into the objects, places, art, and structures that shape the world. The elegant silver teapot on the cover captures the aesthetics, traditions, and craftsmanship of a particular moment in 19th-century American history (p. 45). Examine how art looted by Nazis also stole identity, history, and memory (p. 6). Trace how the Statue of Liberty became an enduring symbol of America (p. 13). Embark on a virtual adventure in Paris that covers the artistic and architectural movements that originated here (p. 24). One of its masterworks is Notre-Dame de Paris, where scientists, artists, and researchers are
September 2026 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Studio Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
reconstructing the Gothic cathedral's
Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
historic colors (p. 40).
Helpful Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Closer to home, pull up a chair
facebook.com/smithsonianassociates
and learn the backstories of how
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20th-century furniture designers
issuu.com/smithsonianassociatesprograms
reimagined seating (p. 44). So the next time you admire a work of art, settle into a chair, or pour a cup of tea, consider the stories those objects might hold. Associates is delighted to welcome you
Programs with this icon showcase the Smithsonian’s world of knowledge and long-term initiatives
Programs with this icon showcase the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 initiative that celebrates 250 years of American independence in 2026
as we explore them together.
Frederica R. Adelman, Director adelmanf@si.edu
On the cover: Silver teapot, ca. 1817-1829 made by Peter Bentzon, a pioneering silversmith of African descent. PHOTO: SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Smithsonian Associates (USPS 043-210) Vol. 55, No. 1, September 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.
SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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Connections& Collaborations Perspectives on America at 250 As the United States enters its semiquincentennial year, Smithsonian Associates launches two special program series and a host of commemorative programs as part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. Marking 250 years of the nation’s experiment in self-government, these programs explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and aspirations that have shaped America—and how the past informs the challenges and possibilities ahead.
The Enduring Power of International Exchange Hosted in partnership with the Smithsonian’s Office of Global
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,
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/250 for additional program details and registration information.
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The Enduring Power of International Exchange
Bernardo de Gálvez by José Nicolás de Escalera, 1781
In Person
Series
How Spain Supported the American Revolution
Science Without Borders
The Key Role of Bernardo de Gálvez
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 Enrico Fermi 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, moderated by National Museum of American History curator Kristen Frederick-Frost.
Spain provided essential support to the American colonies during the Revolutionary War, with Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, playing a critical role in providing supplies, troops, and military leadership. Historian Larrie D. Ferreiro illuminates Spain’s contributions to American independence, and National Portrait Gallery curator Robyn Asleson highlights an 18thcentury painting of de Gálvez—never seen before in the United States—that is on loan from a private collection and currently in the museum’s “Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900” exhibition.
Tues., Oct. 27, 6 p.m.; Embassy of Italy; CODE 1JDIPLO5; free; registration required for members begins Sept. 3 and the general public on Sept. 8
Thurs., Sept. 17, 6 p.m.; Cultural Office, Embassy of Spain; CODE 1TDIPLO4; free; registration required
Faith in Harmony: Soundscapes of American Spirituality
Italian Physicists in American Discoveries
In Person
Series
Ringing The range of emotions evoked by the sound of ringing reflects a deep connection with the human spirit, one that operates on different levels in different faiths, including Hindu, Buddhist, and Native American traditions. This program illuminates the power of bells, chimes, and jingles to connect us to the divine—and even to heal—as we celebrate faith in harmony. NEW DATE: Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.; Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian; CODE 1W0-996; free; registration required
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
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. SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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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.
Samarra and the Abbasid Caliphate Once the thriving capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, Samarra in the 9th century served as the center of an Islamic empire that stretched from northern Africa to Central Asia. Its striking spiral minaret serves as an enduring reminder of the Great Mosque that once enclosed this sacred ground along the banks of the Tigris River. Jacobs focuses on Samarra’s rare preservation of Islamic art, architecture, and city plans from the heyday of the Abbasid Caliphate. Wed., Sept. 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-574; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Spiral minaret, Samarra, Iraq
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
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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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. SEPT 24 Turning Point: The Battle of Saratoga OCT 22 Cowpens and Yorktown: The Final Campaigns of the Revolution NOV 19 The Newburgh Conspiracy: Civil–Military Tensions in the Early Republic Individual sessions: Thurs., Sept. 24 (CODE 1D0-172B); Thurs., Oct. 22 (CODE 1D0-172C), Thurs., Nov. 19 (CODE 1D0-172D); 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumbull, 1822
Loyalists in the American Revolution Standing by Britain and the Crown Loyalists emerged as the great losers of the American Revolution. These men and women who opposed independence and fought to keep the colonies within the British Empire saw their fortunes collapse after the patriot victory at Yorktown in 1781. History quickly lost sight of them, and from today’s perspective it’s hard to understand why so many ordinary Americans were bitterly opposed to the break with Britain and the birth of a new democratic nation. Historian Richard Bell reexamines the conflict through the experiences of loyalists from all rungs of the social ladder, challenging stereotypes that portray them as cowardly elites or self-interested officials. Bell explores their motivations, their wartime struggles, and the profound changes they faced once the patriots prevailed. Tues., Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-472; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
PLH1234US / CC BY-SA 3.0
Battle of Springfield, New Jersey, 1780
The History and Beauty of Mount Desert Island Mount Desert Island off Downeast Maine is known for its granite cliffs, rocky harbors, and the sweeping vistas of Acadia National Park, but its dramatic scenery is inseparable from its human history. Historian Ralph Nurnberger traces the island’s story from its Native peoples and Samuel de Champlain’s early exploration through centuries of settlement. In the 19th century, Hudson River School artists helped establish its reputation for majestic, unspoiled beauty, and by the Gilded Age it had become a summer haven for prominent families. Together, these and other stories reveal the history and beauty of Mount Desert Island. They invite a closer look at the landscape, people, and forces that continue to shape it today and why it Jordan Pond and the Bubbles, Mount remains one of America’s most remarkable coastal landscapes. Desert Island
Wed., Sept. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-173; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Registered for a Smithsonian Associates online program but missed it because of a schedule conflict? Wish you could take a second look at a presentation you loved? Associates Encores offers the answer to these questions—and more.
Your programs... your time
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org for more information
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The History of Flight Four curators and historians from the National Air and Space Museum trace the history of flight, from humanity’s early aspirations for aerial transit, to 12 breathtaking seconds at Kitty Hawk, to the advances that came with global combat, to how jet engines and digital technology are opening a new future for aviation. SEPT 3
The Dawn of Early Flight
SEPT 10 The Birth of Heavier-Than-Air Aviation Through World War I SEPT 17 The Birth of Commercial Aviation SEPT 24 The History of Flight in the Digital Age Individual sessions: Thurs., Sept. 3 (CODE 1W0-025A); Thurs., Sept. 10 (CODE 1W0-025B); Thurs., Sept. 17 (CODE 1W0-025C); Thurs., Sept. 24 (CODE 1W0-025D); 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art The Nazis didn’t steal just art, says author and prosecutor Adena J. Bernstein: They also stole identity, history, and memory. Decades later, thousands of those artworks hang in museums and private collections not because their histories are unknown but because laws permit institutions and third parties to retain them. Drawing on research covering 13 nations, Bernstein describes how coerced sales were later treated as legitimate transactions and how survivors and their families have been asked to meet heavy evidentiary burdens. She considers what accountability should look like and whether legal systems are equipped to deliver it. Bernstein’s new book, Stolen Legacies: The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art, is available for purchase. Tues., Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-088; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The Little Ice Age and the “Global Crisis” of the 17th Century The View from Northern Europe The 17th century in Europe was a time of intense turmoil—war, rebellion, plague, famine, and widespread mortality. These human crises unfolded alongside the Little Ice Age, a centuries-long period of cooler temperatures across Europe and Frost Fair on the parts of the Northern Hemisphere. While Thames, with Old scholars debate its precise influence, London Bridge in the distance (detail), historians such as Geoffrey Parker argue ca. 1685 that climate change significantly shaped what has been called the century’s “Global Crisis.” Ariel Hessayon of the University of London examines this connection by drawing on often-overlooked evidence: ice cores, pollen samples, tree rings, stalactites, manuscripts, printed treatises, and visual art. He also reveals the strategies people used to endure and adapt to a harsher climate. Tues., Sept. 8, 12:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-923; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
White House Memories Recollections of the Longest-Serving Chief Usher In a richly illustrated conversation, Gary J. Walters, the longest-serving chief usher in White House history, reflects on extraordinary moments from his 37 years of service. In his role, Walters oversaw the Executive Mansion’s administrative, fiscal, and personnel operations while working closely with each first family from Presidents Nixon through George W. Bush. He offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into major events, including Watergate and Nixon’s final day, Queen Elizabeth II’s Bicentennial visit, the first papal visit, Election Day tensions, presidential transitions, and a detailed account of what was going on at the White House on Sept. 11, 2001. Walters’ book, White House Memories 1970–2007: Recollections of the Longest Serving Chief Usher (White House Historical Association), is available for purchase. Wed., Sept. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-726; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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Allied Strategy and Operation Overlord The Great WWII Crusade Most Americans know the basic outlines of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944. After four and a half years of war, 160,000 British, Canadian, and American soldiers landed in occupied France under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Not as well known, however, is the Allied strategy and planning that led to Operation Overlord. Meeting of the Allied Supreme Command, 1944 Military historian Kevin Weddle traces the development and deployment of the Allied military strategy for Europe and the cross-channel invasion. He describes the bitter disagreements and reluctant compromises between American and British senior military and political leaders and how their forces came together to fight in what Weddle considers as the greatest military operation in history.
SKUBASTEVE834 / CC BY 4.0
Mon., Sept. 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-728; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Cahokia An Ancient City at the Heart of America Once the largest urban center north of Mexico, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois, stands as one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in North America, reshaping the understanding of pre-Columbian civilization. At its peak, Monks Mound, Collinsville, Illinois ca. 950–1350, Cahokia was a thriving city of tens of thousands, defined by monumental earthworks, sophisticated planning, and far-reaching influence. Today it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Site interpreter Angela Cooper places Cahokia within the broader story of Indigenous North America, outlining its deep historical roots and the shared traditions of the Mississippian world. She focuses on Cahokia’s rise in the American Bottom, exploring how this remarkable city developed and flourished. Cooper connects Cahokia to other Mississippian sites and to descendant communities today, underscoring its enduring cultural significance. Mon., Sept. 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-211; Members $25; Nonmembers $35; Related tour: St. Louis: Gateway to the West, p. 56
Visions of a Brighter Tomorrow SÉEBERGER FRÈRES / WIKIPEDIA / OUVERTE 1.0
World’s Fairs of the 1930s The World’s Fairs of the 1930s offered vivid visions of a world in flux—attempting to chart a future when stability felt out of reach. As the Great Depression reshaped daily life and global tensions rose, fairs in Chicago, Paris, and New York became spectacular stages where nations projected optimism, power, and unease through architecture, technology, and performance. Art historian Jennie Hirsh examines this trio of landmark fairs, revealing how they transformed crisis into dazzling displays that captured both the aspirations and anxieties of their era. SEPT 17 Chicago 1933–1934: A Century of Progress OCT 15 Paris 1937: In the Shadow of War NOV 12 New York 1939: Dawn of a New Day 3-session series: Thurs., Sept. 17, Oct. 15, and Nov. 12, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-177; Members $75; Nonmembers $95 Individual sessions: Thurs., Sept. 17 (CODE 1D0-177A); Thurs., Oct. 15 (CODE 1D0-177B); Thurs., Nov. 12 (CODE 1D0-177C); 6:45 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
Paris World’s Fair, 1937
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
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The Plantagenet Dynasty
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Power, Identity, and the Making of Medieval Britain
Katherine Parr: More Than the “Survivor”
Few royal houses shaped the political and cultural landscape of medieval Britain more profoundly than the Plantagenets. Ruling from the 12th to the 15th centuries, they forged an empire stretching from Scotland to the Pyrenees, developed Parliament, clashed with the Church, fought crusades, and waged the Hundred Years’ War, all while also inspiring some of the most enduring legends Battle of Crécy, 1346, by Loyset Liédet, 15th century in British history. In a full-day seminar, historian Cheryl White traces how perceptions of the Plantagenets have evolved over time, examining the dynasty’s role in shaping law, kingship, national identity, and historical memory. As modern scholarship reassesses these rulers to attempt to separate myth from reality, White explores why the Plantagenets remain a source of fascination.
Many people know the six wives of Henry VIII through the famous rhyme: Divorced, beheaded, died, / Divorced, beheaded, survived. Dismissed for many years as simply the “survivor,” Katherine Parr was reimagined as a matronly A portrait of Katherine Parr by William Scrots, 1545 nursemaid who kept the ailing king comfortable in his final years, fading loyally into the background. Recent portrayals reveal a woman who was a potentially devious political operator, focused on her survival at the expense of others. Nursemaid, manipulator, or something else entirely: Who was the real Katherine Parr? Tudor and Shakespeare scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger draws on the the latest scholarship to provide a fuller portrait of this complex woman who caught the eye of an infamous king and kept his favor in a volatile and dangerous court.
Sat., Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-473; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
Tues., Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-474; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
History by a Hair Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, and Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery In 2011, staff at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History discovered a hair, light red in color and possibly human, between pages of an unpublished manuscript by Thomas Jefferson. That hair sparked an unprecedented scientific quest: Could advances in modern genomics recover Jefferson’s DNA and finally resolve the most divisive and enduring question surrounding his personal life—the paternity of the children of Sally Hemings, one of hundreds of African Americans enslaved at Monticello? Richard Kurin, Smithsonian distinguished scholar, discusses the decade-and-a-half-long genomic investigation that settles the historical record, deepens understanding of the third president’s life and legacy, and acknowledges generations of family histories. Kurin’s new book, History by a Hair: Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings & Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery (Crown), is available for purchase. Wed., Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-028; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
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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A Day in History: The Battle of Salamis Few days in ancient history can be reconstructed in nearly hour-by-hour detail, but the Battle of Salamis in September 480 B.C.E. is one of them. Professor emeritus of classics Robert Garland recounts this consequential clash between the Greeks and the Persian Empire, often called “the battle that saved Western civilization.” On the eve of battle, King Xerxes positioned his navy to trap the Greek fleet. Most Greek commanders favored withdrawal, but the Athenian general Themistocles refused, convinced that Athens’ salvation lay in its fleet, the “wooden wall” of Delphic prophecy. In the narrow straits of Salamis, the smaller Greek force outmaneuvered and defeated the vastly larger Persian navy—a lasting reminder of how strategy can overcome overwhelming power and how hubris invites defeat.
Battle of Salamis, 480 B.C.E.
Thurs., Sept. 24, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-576; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
James Wilson: The Lost Founding Father James Wilson, a brilliant yet largely forgotten Founding Father, helped shape America’s core political ideals. As a young lawyer, he wrote a powerful case for independence—an essay Thomas Jefferson kept nearby while drafting the Declaration of Independence. Wilson later produced the first draft of the Constitution and introduced “We the people,” reflecting his belief that Americans themselves are the true source of governmental power. Although he became one of the first Supreme Court justices, his career collapsed after reckless land speculation. Author Jesse Wegman brings to life one of America’s most prescient early patriots and his remarkable, complicated legacy. Wegman’s newest book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution (Celadon Books), is available for purchase.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Wed., Sept. 30, 6:45 p.m.: CODE 1D0-176; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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 The Adams Memorial, Rock Creek Cemetery grounds in the nation’s capital. By examining their design and symbolism and the lives they commemorate, Muraskin presents cemeteries not as static resting places but as dynamic cultural landscapes that continue to shape how we understand the city’s past. Tues., Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-208; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Judgment Days Famous Trials and Social Conflict in American History
The Lizzie Borden murder trial, 1893
Americans have always been captivated by trials, not just as legal proceedings but as gripping public dramas. As Michael Ross, professor of history at the University of Maryland, argues, the most sensational trials do more than determine guilt or innocence: They expose the fault lines in American society. The trials that linger in the collective memory do so because the conflicts they reveal never fully disappear. They continue to reverberate across decades, even centuries. In this series, Ross brings to life four of the most famous trials in American history—focused on witchcraft, an accused Gilded Age double murderess, the debate over evolution, and the controversial Chicago Seven—showing how each became a flashpoint for the tensions of its time and explaining why each still matters.
4-session series: Wed., Oct. 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-478; detailed program information on website; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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The Art of Surviving Belle Isle and Beyond During the Civil War, tens of thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers endured brutal conditions in prison camps such as Belle Isle in Richmond. Yet amid hardship, many prisoners found ways to preserve their humanity. They sketched, carved, wrote, and crafted objects from whatever materials they could find, using artistic expression to cope with captivity, document their experiences, and maintain a sense of identity and hope. Kelly Hancock of the American Civil War Museum examines the harsh realities of these camps and highlights works from the museum’s extensive POW art collection. Tues., Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-210; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
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. Tues., Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-927; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Map of the free states and slave states in the United States, 1856
Crafting Witches
The Knights Templar
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 Illuminated manuscript women, working in league depicting witches, 1451 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.
The Rise, Fall, and Legend of Europe’s First Military Order
Wed., Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-090; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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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
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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. Tues., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-928; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
ADAM TANNER
Mussolini and the Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy Discover the dramatic story of Benito Mussolini with writer and lecturer Adam Tanner. He traces the rise of Italy’s fascist dictator, his consolidation of power, the reconciliation with the Vatican, overseas empire in Africa, evolving relationship with Adolf Hitler, and impact of his policies on Jewish communities and Italian society. Developing throughout this History of Rome Through its Public history is a growing cult of Works (detail, Mussolini on horseback) personality that portrayed the by Publio Morbiducci, 1939 dictator as a genius in many fields, from a mastery of skiing and the violin to a willingness to join workers in harvesting crops and helping lay bricks. Tanner also looks at how Mussolini changed how Italy looks today, as many fascist buildings—from imposing government structures to grand public monuments—remain in Rome and other cities across the country. A mix of historical context and striking visual examples reveals how Mussolini’s rule left a lasting mark, showing both the ambition and the darker consequences of his rule. Thurs., Oct. 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-212; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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
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 Winston Churchill with Queen home at Chartwell, draws Elizabeth, 1953 on the 2022 exhibition “Churchill and the Crown” to explore their remarkable relationship—from their first meeting, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and she a 2-year-old princess, to the state funeral she bestowed on him a quarter century later. Using archive images from the display, she shares the history of this truly remarkable friendship that changed the course of history. Mon., Oct. 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-744; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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The Great Harry Houdini Harry Houdini died a century ago on Oct. 31, 1926—now celebrated as National Magic Day. Rising from vaudeville and dime museum stages, Houdini became the “eclipsing sensation of the age,” astonishing audiences with escapes from chains, manacles, handcuffs, and even a straitjacket while suspended upside down above Times Square. Harry Houdini, 1913 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.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Life, Death, and the Afterlife
Tues., Oct. 27, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-181; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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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 Execution of Czech religious belief ”), and this debate shaped reformer Jan Hus, condemned for heresy, 1415 early Christianity. How did the term heresy evolve from the Greek word hairesis, which originally meant choice? What is the difference between heresy and schism? How did the debates strengthen the Christian Church? Historian David Gwynn explores these questions and their importance for understanding the historical evolution of Christianity from the original disciples and the apostle Paul to the Christian Roman empire and beyond. Wed., Oct. 28, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-582; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Wings of Change: The Tuskegee Airmen and the Fight for Equality
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
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. Wed., Oct. 28, 7 p.m.; CODE 1D0-188; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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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. Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-036; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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Hidden Terrors in America LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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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
Jamestown: The First 100 Years While the early days of Jamestown were marred with struggle, conflict, and tragedy, the settlement would survive as the first permanent English colony in North America. Unearth the tumultuous first century of Jamestown in this four-part series with Mark Summers, the public historian for the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological project. 4-session series: Mon., Nov. 2–23, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-JTN; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story 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. Mon., Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-037; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
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Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Rise of Fascism 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 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 traces 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. Wed., Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-096; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Mon., Nov. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-759; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
By Illegitimate Means How Birth Decides Dynasties
Magna Graecia 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 The Paestum Temples, Campania 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.
In medieval and early modern England, legitimacy was never a private matter. Birthright could reorder kingdoms, ignite wars, and reshape history. Historian Cheryl White traces how disputed births, contested heirs, and the fragile politics of bloodline altered dynasties. She begins with William the Conqueror—mocked as “the Vintage etching of William Bastard” yet able to seize a the Conqueror, 19th century 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.
Tues., Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-929; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Wed., Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-484; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
BRUNO RIJSMAN / CC BY-SA 2.0
Early Greek Culture in Italy
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COURTESY OF CLIFFHOUSEPROJECT.COM /JOHN A. MARTINI
San Francisco: Then and Now
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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
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 CLINT DURRETT / PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS
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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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
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
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
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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 and reveal stories that seldom appear in written sources. 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
The Last Invasion of England
Mon., Nov. 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0042; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
A gown from Ikigaat, Greenland, ca. 1380-1530
When and How Leaders Matter
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 highlights the Dutch Armada and the last seaborne invasion of England, exactly a century after the Spanish Armada’s defeat. 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.
PETER DANSTROM / NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENMARK
Threads of the Viking World: Women’s Lives in Cloth and Craft
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
Treasures of Warsaw 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 Royal castle and the Old Town 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
HISTORY HISTORY
Wed., Nov. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-588; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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The Panama Canal
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 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 Ruins of the Fortress of Masada 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 President Theodore Roosevelt canal perfectly reflected at the Panama Canal, 1906 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, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-931; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Mon., Nov. 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-185; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Justice on Trial The Cuban Missile Crisis
NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Re-examining a Moment of Extreme Danger
The Dreyfus Affair and the Making of Modern France
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 President John F. Kennedy and actions of John F. Kennedy, Chairman Nikita Khrushchev 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.
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 Front page of the newspaper L’Aurore with the letter written with the wrongful conviction of by Émile Zola, Jan. 13, 1898 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.
Tues., Dec. 1, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-589; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Thurs., Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-489; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Slavery and the American Revolution 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 The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January emancipation encouraged many to leave rebel enslavers, making the conflict a struggle over both in1781 (detail) by John Singleton Copley, dependence and slavery. At war’s end, fortunes diverged sharply. Most remained enslaved, but more 1783 than 6,000 escaped on British ships. Mon., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-490; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
JACKDAWSON1970 / GEORGFOTOART / CC BY-SA 3.0
TATE GALLERY
HISTORY HISTORY
Nazis in South America Notorious War Criminals Who Escaped Justice Writer 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. Passport used by Josef Mengele, 1949 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
A Tudor Christmas Feasts, Festivities, and Fantastic Entertainment
Hampton Court Palace is one of only two surviving palaces owned by King Henry VIII
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. Lloyd-Stanger examines the religious and social traditions that shaped Christmastide, from 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
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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Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
Antonio Vivaldi
The Hudson Theatre
Revival of a Baroque Genius
A Journey Through Broadway History
Antonio Vivaldi’s music is so beloved today that it’s surprising he was nearly forgotten for almost two centuries. In his lifetime, the fiery-haired virtuoso violinist and Catholic priest was admired for bold innovations in Baroque form, yet after his death much of the “Red Priest’s” work disappeared from performance. An anonymous portrait of A remarkable 20th-century Vivaldi rediscovery of his manuscripts revived his reputation and revealed the extraordinary breadth of his creativity. From the vivid musical storytelling of The Four Seasons to choral masterpieces like the Gloria and his hundreds of concertos and operas, Vivaldi’s legacy now defines the Baroque era. In an illustrated lecture with live musical demonstrations, concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores his colorful life, groundbreaking style, and the dramatic comeback of his music.
Join Tim Dolan, actor and owner of Broadway Up Close tours in New York City, as he steps into 1903 for an insider’s look at Broadway’s oldest playhouse, the historic Hudson Theatre. This online program traces a remarkable story through more than a century The Hudson Theatre of careful restoration, near-demolition, and cultural significance. Explore the building’s hidden corners and architectural details, including its original design elements and the luminous work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Along the way, discover the vivid history that unfolded within its walls—from tales of tragedy and intrigue to unforgettable moments shaped by legendary figures in theater, music, and popular culture. Dolan brings the Hudson’s past and present to life, offering a rare glimpse into one of Broadway’s most storied stages. Tues., Sept. 1, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-205; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Tues., Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-723; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing (1598–99) remains one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and frequently performed comedies, featuring such memorable characters as the witty, bickering Benedick and Beatrice and the more straightforward Hero and Claudio. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, explores Shakespeare’s lyrical language, narrative techniques, and representations of love, honor, and marriage, among other key themes. Luzzi discusses how this riveting comedy fits into the broader arc of Shakespeare’s career as a playwright and focuses on the defining qualities and techniques that imbue it with such enduring appeal. Tues., Sept. 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-571; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Shakespeare’s Sonnets Shakespeare’s sonnets go deeply—with wisdom, sympathy, rage, and sly humor—into the heart of countless human struggles and joys, as readers have kept discovering for more than 400 years. Through close readings of a dozen poems, prominent Shakespearean scholar and author Robert N. Watson of the University of California, Los Angeles examines nostalgia, depression, professional rivalry, solitary travel, biblical interpretation, heterosexual and homosexual desire, post-coital regret, the art of writing a better love letter, the etiquette of breaking up gently or sharply (or both), and the challenges of aging. Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-725; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Title page of Shakespeare's Sonnets (detail), 1609
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Revenge, Ambition, and Betrayal The Makings of a Shakespearean Tragedy Shakespeare’s tragedies, filled with ambition, love, betrayal, and devastating choices, have captivated audiences for centuries. Shakespeare scholar and historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger considers what makes these plays so compelling: the way he takes us into the mind of his characters, the complexity of their experiences, and the language that has become part of our discourse. King Lear, Act I, Scene I by Edwin Austin Abbey, 1898 In Shakespeare’s Roman tragedies, the stakes are public more than personal. His revenge tragedies explore the tension between justice and retribution. Romantic tragedies examine the fragile balance between love and destruction, and political tragedies challenge the reality of authority and legitimacy. In a full-day seminar, Lloyd-Stanger explores the tragedies by considering their place in Shakespeare’s time and the ways they continue to resonate with audiences today. Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-476; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
“What Fools These Mortals Be” A Closer Look at Shakespeare’s Comedies Shakespeare’s comedies invite audiences into a world of mistaken identity, romantic entanglements, disguise and deception, and exploration of complex issues of relationships and identity. Featuring pirates, bumbling constables, mismatched couples, separated-at-birth twins, a boisterous weaver who believes he’s a stage star, and a dog—the comedies offer a view of the world that seems like a simple romp but also explores human nature. In a daylong seminar, historian and Shakespeare scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores how in works from The Comedy of Errors to The Tempest, Shakespeare uses fools, confusion, and magic to upend expectations about society. She traces how the playwright shifts his focus over his career, from early plays that rely on slapstick humor to later works that offer hope of reconciliation and reunion.
The Dromio twins, The Comedy of Errors
Sat., Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-486; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
Anacostia: Architecture East of the River
The World of Gustav Mahler and His Early Symphonies
Step beyond the monuments and virtually explore one of Washington’s most dynamic neighborhoods with Carolyn Muraskin of DC Design Tours. Travel east of the Anacostia River through a vivid narrative of historic homes, cultural landmarks, and stories of resilience and reinvention. Trace Anacostia’s evolution from its early roots to its role as a center of Black culture, activism, and civic life. Along the way, encounter restored 19th-century rowhouses, ambitious preservation efforts, and a thriving arts scene. Through curated images, maps, and archival Frederick Douglass House, materials, visit sites such as the Anacostia Anacostia Arts Center, the Go-Go Museum, and the iconic Big Chair. Explore residential streets rich with architectural detail before concluding at Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’ final home, reflecting on his enduring legacy.
The music of Gustav Mahler, among the most powerful and emotive of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, speaks deeply to many listeners. His creative life forms a spiritual quest, exploring fundamental questions of existence, purpose, and the fate of the soul after death. Across his 11 symphonic works, Mahler offers shifting answers to these mysteries, each symphony revealing a different facet of his philosophical search. Baroque flutist and Carnegie Mellon professor Stephen Schultz Gustav Mahler, 1896 traces the stylistic evolution of Mahler’s early creative period, illuminating the defining qualities of his music. He highlights the programmatic, spiritual, and emotional dimensions that shape the early symphonies and situates them within their broader historical context.
Wed., Sept. 9, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-206; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
2-session series: Thurs., Sept. 10 and 17, 12 p.m; detailed program information on website; CODE 1W0026; Members $80; Nonmembers $100 SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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Smithsonian Chorus
Legends of Song: Vaudeville to Broadway Celebrate memorable music from the stage and screen as conductor, performer, and educator Melodia Mae Rinaldi leads the ensemble in arrangements of the hits you know and love. Selections may include works by Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Stephen Schwartz. (The final song list and arrangements are chosen to fit the group’s vocal and musical abilities.) No audition is required. However, participants should sing on pitch; have a basic understanding of musical notation; be able to follow a choral score; and practice their vocal part by listening to rehearsal links that are provided. Rehearsals culminate in a free performance on Nov. 30 for invited guests (reservations are required). 10 sessions plus performance: Mon., Sept. 14–Nov. 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m., no rehearsal Oct. 12; Mon., Nov. 30 performance, 7:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1P0-914; Members $150; Nonmembers $165
Rediscovering Sammy Davis Jr. Sammy Davis Jr. was a prodigy in vaudeville, trailblazer in desegregating Las Vegas, and global superstar who shone on Hollywood and Broadway. Performer and educator Aaron Reeder examines how Davis’s artistry intersected with questions of race, religion, and identity in 20th-century America and the contradictions of fame that defined his career. Reeder explores Davis’ life and legacy through rare recordings, archival images, and performance excerpts. Through commentary and music, Reeder reveals the man behind the spotlight—a boundary-breaking artist whose call to authenticity, “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” continues to resonate today.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Tues., Sept. 15, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-573; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Sammy Davis Jr., 1966
Jazz: America’s Signature Musical Art Jazz crosses lines of race, class, geography, politics, religion, and genre. In this three-part lecture series, explore the origins and proliferation of jazz, from its beginnings in New Orleans, Chicago, New York, and Kansas City to its most recent appearances in Europe and Asia. Musicology professor Anna Harwell Celenza shares recordings of blues, Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, and fusion to reveal what makes jazz vital to America’s multifaceted identity as she demonstrates how it has never stopped changing. Louis Armstrong by Harry Warnecke and Gus Schoenbaechler, 1947
3-session series: Tues., Sept. 15–29, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1T0-087; Members $75; Nonmembers $95
Jazzing the Classics The Enduring Influence of American Jazz on Classical Music Beginning in the earliest part of the 20th century, European “art” or “classical” music enjoyed a brief but intense romance with American jazz. In a 4-part series, concert pianist Rachel Franklin uses her live piano demonstrations and historic and contemporary film clips to explore early jazz origins and how American ragtime and jazz conquered Parisian nightclubs in the feverish pre- and post-World War I era. She traces the role of jazz in the ’20s and ’30s as a symbol of political freedom and cultural modernity for composers including Ravel, Milhaud, and Stravinsky. In the United States, Copland, Gershwin, and other artists used jazz as a source of inspiration while coming to terms with its identity as a highly complex, home-grown African American artform. 4-session series: Thurs., Oct. 1–22, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-733; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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Maurice Ravel at piano with Manoah Leide-Tedesco (center) and George Gershwin (far right), 1928
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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
Dressing the Story
“And Away We Go”
How Costumes Style Character on Film
A Look Back at the Early Days of Television Comedy
Costume design shapes a film’s storytelling by using clothing to express character, history, and emotion while anchoring the narrative in a specific time, place, and genre. In Hollywood’s studio era, vast wardrobe departments dressed stars in glamorous, idealized designs for historical epics and Fan of Pirates of the contemporary films—often influencing Caribbean dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow mainstream fashion. As independent filmmaking grew and realism became more valued, costume design reflected authentic, character-driven choices that span a broader range of experiences. Working with actors, designers use custom creations, costume houses, and contemporary clothing to help performers inhabit their roles. Nancy Friedland, librarian for film studies and performing arts at Columbia University, traces the evolution of costume design in American cinema and explores how wardrobe remains an essential element of character and narrative.
The first decade of American TV comedy was an extraordinary period of innovation. The era from the late 1940s to the late 1950s produced a range of distinctive programs: live comedy and variety shows Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in I Love Lucy, 1956 like Your Show of Shows, filmed sitcoms like I Love Lucy, and late-night talk programs like The Tonight Show. Pioneering performers and creators such as Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, and Steve Allen helped shape a new visual language of comedy that influenced television for the next 60 years. As he shares dozens of clips, media historian Brian Rose examines why this era may have produced more laughter than any other period in television history.
Wed., Sept. 16, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-196; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Thurs., Sept. 17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-575; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Classical English Rhetoric The Art of Choosing the Right Words What makes the best speeches and writings stand the test of time? What can be learned from them about how to write better ourselves? Ward Farnsworth, professor at the University of Texas School of Law and author of a series of books on English rhetoric and style, shows how small choices regarding the selection of words, the arrangement of sentences, and the creation of a cadence can put force into writing and speech. He provides examples of the very best use of rhetorical devices and shows how Lincoln and other masters of the language wrote so memorably. Thurs., Sept. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-735; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Summer Wine Adventure Southern Stars | A Top Sommelier’s Guide
Spend a fascinating Friday evening expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a delectable adventure. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience. Amazing Australia Australia’s wine industry dates back to 1788. Over the years it has evolved into a global powerhouse known for quality, innovation, and uniqueness. While most famous for Shiraz (Syrah), Australia has over 60 distinct wine regions across an immense diversity of geography. Fri., Sept. 18, 6 p.m.; CODE 1T0-077; Members $70; Nonmembers $85 See p. 29 for wine-tasting kit information
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So Young, So Bad The Juvenile Delinquency Movies of the 1950s The 1950s lit up America’s marquees with titles like Dragstrip Riot, High School Confidential!, Hot Rod Girl, and High School Hellcats—Hollywood couldn’t get enough of the nation’s flaming, bewildered postwar youth. From Marlon Brando’s brooding biker in The Wild One and James Dean’s anguished teen in Rebel Without a Cause to Elvis Presley’s swaggering drifter in King Creole, studios chased the hearts, minds, and pocket change of a new generation. Depending on who delivered the moral lecture, these kids were either rotten to the core or heartbreakingly misunderstood. The so-called “juvenile delinquency” cycle pretended to offer sympathy, but it was the onscreen misbehavior that packed theaters and drive-ins. Film historian Max Alvarez plays cinematic hall monitor to John Cassavetes, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Mamie Van Doren, and more in this totally “boss” multimedia deep dive. Thurs., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-731; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Paris: A Virtual Adventure The storyline of Paris can be followed along the banks of its iconic River Seine. On both the Right Bank and the Left, evidence of the city’s 2,000-year history, the figures who shaped it across the centuries, and the artistic and architectural movements that originated here can be seen. Journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy as you discover Paris, including intriguing sites, historical aspects, and art in this virtual exploration using maps, photos, and videos. 2-session series: Tues., Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-PAR; Members $50; Nonmembers $60 Individual sessions: Tues., Sept. 29 (CODE 1CV-095); Tues., Oct. 6 (CODE 1CV-096); 7 p.m.; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society A Landmark 2026–2027 Season In Person
Celebrating its 50th season, the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, under the artistic direction of Kenneth Slowik, sweeps listeners on a musical journey with the Axelrod String Quartet and Masterworks of Five Centuries series. Performed on some of the world’s most treasured instruments, the season features beloved masterpieces alongside rare works by overlooked composers. Distinguished SCMS veterans and outstanding emerging artists come together in a golden-anniversary season that promises fresh insights, virtuosic performances, and unforgettable experiences for chamber music lovers. For details visit
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Bach’s Mass in B Minor A Cathedral of Spirituality and Sound
Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, ca. 1746
By blending new sections with reimagined earlier music spanning 35 years, Bach compresses the full range of Baroque musical styles into less than two hours of radiant sound. Its emotional sweep—from profound sorrow to exuberant joy, sometimes only moments apart—matches its technical breadth, moving from simple, song-like lines to intricate polyphony. Singer and Bach specialist Thierry van Bastelaer examines the Mass in B Minor’s history, structure, and meaning, drawing on performances by today’s most insightful and expressive interpreters to illuminate this monumental creation. Wed., Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-477; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Apples of Uncommon Character The apple is one of the world’s most diverse food plants. A century ago, the United States grew 16,000 varieties; today, industrial agriculture has narrowed what appears in stores, though hundreds of remarkable apples survive and are returning in a new renaissance. Some shaped American history, some rose from obscurity to national fame before fading again, and many offer flavors far beyond the familiar supermarket types. Rowan Jacobsen, author of Apples of Uncommon Character, highlights extraordinary apples such as the explosively crisp Pixie Crunch, the dark Kingston Black, the lychee-scented King of the Pippins, and America’s oldest variety, the Roxbury Russet. Profiling some of the best and brightest, the oddballs and veterans, Jacobsen tells the tale of the apple in America and reveals a world every bit as magical today as it was a century ago. Wed., Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-029; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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)
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 develErnest Johnson oping 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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GONZALO TELLO / CC BY-SA 2.0
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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
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Materials, Meanings, and the Making of Place
New York City in the Gilded Age
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.
The late 19th century in New York City was an era of spectacular architecture, beautiful parks and squares, exquisite mansions, and palatial public buildings—all magnificent markers of what has become known as the Gilded Age and the wealth that made it possible. Yet the city was a study in dichotomies, an urban society whose contrasting facets were both celebrated and critiqued in the writings of Edith Wharton and Henry James and boldly exposed in the photographs of Jacob Riis. Mark Twain slyly referred to the period as the Gilded Age, to make the point that the golden, splendiferous surface only masked an underlying core of more disturbing socio-political and economic realities. George Scheper of Johns Hopkins University surveys the cultural panorama of New York as the foundations of its modern identity were created.
Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-736; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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A Cultural History
Mon., Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-480; Members $30; Nonmembers $45 Lodgers in Bayard Street Tenement, Five Cents a Spot by Jacob Riis, 1889
Jancis Robinson and the Newest World Atlas of Wine With Tasting
Jancis Robinson has been writing about wine since 1975 and is described by Decanter magazine as “the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world.” She is the coauthor, with Hugh Johnson, of the new 9th edition of The World Atlas of Wine. Since it was first published in 1971, the Atlas has been widely recognized as an authoritative wine reference. In a conversation with Dave McIntyre, formerly the Washington Post’s wine columnist, she shares insights on what’s new in the world of wine. Afterward, raise a glass as you sample a selection of wines representative of today’s trends. Robinson signs copies of The World Atlas of Wine (Mitchell Beazley), available for purchase. Sat., Oct. 10, 3 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1T0-089; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
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The Man Behind the Musketeers Alexandre Dumas and French Identity Alexandre Dumas has functioned as a powerful and evolving symbol in the construction of French national and global identity. Best known as the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas occupied a paradoxical position in 19th-century France: He was one of the most widely read writers of his time yet frequently marginalized by literary elites. His mixed-race heritage and experiences with racism further compliAlexandre Dumas by cated 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 Félix Nadar, 1855 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
In Person
Stirred by the Ages
The Sci-Fi and Horror Movies of the Cold War Era
A Dialogue Between Cocktails and History
“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.
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.
Tues., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-743; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Thurs., Oct. 22, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1T0-092; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
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With Tasting
DEAN KOTZ
Paranoia on Screen
Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects
From inventing beloved characters such as Kermit the Frog and crafting fantastical worlds in The Dark Crystal to creating television for the whole family in The Muppet Show, Jim Henson’s creative genius was unparalleled. The Jim Henson Company Archives Director Karen Falk and biographer Brian Jay Jones explore six extraordinary objects donated by Henson’s family to the National Museum of American History. These artifacts reveal how Henson blended artistry, technology, and storytelling to reshape modern entertainment. Guided by Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the discussion weaves together biography, behind-the-scenes insights, and historical context. Following the program, attendees have the rare opportunity to see objects from the National Museum of American History’s collection not on public display. Fri., Oct. 23, 12 p.m.; National Museum of American History, Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music; CODE 1J0-580; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
COURTESY THE JIM HENSON COMPANY. PHOTO BY LYNN GOLDSMITH. CHARACTERS ©DISNEY, ©SESAME WORKSHOP, ©HENSON
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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
Before Baker Street: Joseph Bell and the Making of Sherlock Holmes
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 deconstruct a film to Christopher Nolan 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
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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
4-session series: Thurs., Oct. 29–Nov. 19, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0583; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
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
The Rumford Cook Book by Fannie Farmer, 1910
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. Wed., Nov. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-097; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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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
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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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
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NORWAY / CC BY 2.0
The Fairies of Winter From Nisser to Huldufolk 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 compelling are the fairies of the dark, 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. Detail from a Norwegian holiday card depicting a nisse, 1885
Thurs., Dec. 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-591; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Dickens Without the Humbug
A Philosophical Journey Through Steinbeck’s American Epic
“Please, sir, I want some more.”
Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1CV-098; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
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 Illustration by John Leech of Ebenezer Scrooge being lifetime and remains one of the visited by a ghost, 1843 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 a selection of the writer’s most celebrated works. BRITISH LIBRARY
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.
DOROTHEA LANGE / FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION/1935
The Grapes of Wrath
Mon., Dec. 7, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-187; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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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 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 Nathaniel Hawthorne having to worry about being called unconventional, weird, 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 radical literary experimenter and proto-modernist for the contemporary moment.
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 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 Rob Reiner 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.
Tues., Dec. 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-756; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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
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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Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
The Life and Plight of Koalas Few animals are as instantly recognizable as the koala, an enduring symbol of Australia’s unique wildlife. Yet behind this familiar image lies a species in decline, with populations now only a fraction of what they were before European colonization. Wildlife conservation biologist Fred Bercovitch explores koalas’ vulnerabilities and how this emblematic marsupial offers a compelling window into the evolutionary forces that shape animal behavior. He examines their reproductive behavior and feeding habits and puts biological insights into a broader conservation context. Currently koalas are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of endangered species, classified as vulnerable to extinction as their numbers have plummeted by close to 30% in the last three decades. Thurs., Sept. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-095K; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
For more than 140 million years, dinosaurs were among the dominant land animals on Earth. Thousands of species lived and died on every landmass, evolving a spectacular diversity of sizes and shapes that scientists are still uncovering today. The National Museum of Natural History’s curator of Dinosauria, paleontologist Matthew Carrano, explores what life was like for dinosaurs in these ecosystems. Carrano delves into what bizarre dinosaurs like short-armed Mononykus and scoop-toothed Masiakasaurus were actually up to; why there were no dinosaur moles, squirrels, bats, primates, or whales; and how young T. rex and adult Nanotyrannus might have coexisted. He discusses what scientists know, don’t know, and hope to learn about the ecology of dinosaurs.
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. ART BY JULIUS T. CSOTONYI
The Ecology of Dinosaurs
A group of Diplodocus, late Jurassic
Wed., Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1W0-027; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Prairie Dogs Drawing on more than 40 years of fieldwork, John Hoogland offers an engaging look into the lives of prairie dogs—social, diurnal rodents that inhabit western North American grasslands and help hold the ecosystem together. He examines how they form large colonies, use complex alarm calls, and balance cooperation with competition. Hoogland highlights surprising findings on mating behavior, kin favoritism, predation, population cycles, and conservation challenges, reshaping how scientists understand social animals. Blending scientific insight with field stories and comparisons across species, he presents the prairie dog as a powerful model for studying behavior, ecology, and the importance of long-term research. Hoogland’s new book, Prairie Dogs: Ecology and Social Behavior (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase. Wed., Sept. 23, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-207; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Invasive Species, Humans, and Where We All Belong In the early 20th century, U.S. government scientists and their European colleagues went to great lengths to bring home new seeds and cultivars from abroad. But in many cases these “plant explorers,” though much praised in their day, wound up triggering what are now considered ecological disasters. How did Western attitudes toward imported plants and animals change so completely within a century? Journalist Amy Crawford explores how confronting the complexities of nature and the role of humans in a changing world can place unwanted plants and animals in a new light. Crawford’s new book, Undesirable: Invasive Species, Humans, and Where We All Belong (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase. Wed., Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-086; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
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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
An Appalachian Journey
While scientists have come a long way toward deciphering the laws of the universe, many of them still regard time as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries. Physicist Jim Al-Khalili explores questions about time such as whether it has a beginning and an end; why it points toward the future and not the past; and whether time is even real. Al-Khalili examines these questions across the three central pillars of physics—quantum mechanics, general relativity, and thermodynamics—showing how time is understood differently in each domain. His new book, On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick (Princeton University Press), is available for purchase.
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.
Skyline Drive to the Great Smokies
Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1W0-030; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Wed., Oct. 7, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-209; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Backyard Birding
American kestrel by Matt Felperin
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 to the 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 all you need to get started. Fri., Oct. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-211; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Our Weird and Wild Universe The universe is far stranger than science fiction ... and it’s all real. Kimberly Arcand of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory leads a journey through weird and wild places in the cosmos, from merely mind-bending to truly extreme. Along the way meet blazars (hyperactive, distant black holes) that outshine entire galaxies, quasars powered by supermassive black holes, city-sized neutron stars, and pulsars that keep time more precisely than atomic clocks, plus some wild worlds orbiting distant suns. Arcand talks about how these extreme objects are found and what they reveal about the cosmos. Tues., Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-578; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
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Galaxy M87 seen by the Hubble Space Telescope
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The Geology of Yellowstone Past, Present, and Future The Yellowstone Caldera, which formed during a massive volcanic eruption approximately 630,000 years ago, is the centerpiece of America’s first national park, founded in 1872. The volcanic story of Yellowstone National Park, however, begins nearly 17 million years ago and will continue long into the geological future, says volcanologist Kirt Kempter. He offers an exploration of the geology of Yellowstone, including the rocks and hydrothermal features that make this national park unique in the world. Google Earth aerial views help observe the park’s geology from a bird’s-eye perspective, along with instructive diagrams, maps, and field photos. Participants also gain insight into how ongoing volcanic and geothermal processes continue to shape Yellowstone’s dramatic landscape today.
Castle Geyser erupts, upper geyser basin of Yellowstone National Park
COURTESY OF AOS/ AWARD PHOTO
Mon., Oct. 26, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-213; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Orchids: Rooted in History
The Sierra Nevada
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.
California’s Grand Range of Light
Mon., Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-097; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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. Dawn light strikes Beginning in Southern California, head into a Mount Whitney 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. Tues., Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-215; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Carving the Grand Canyon Evidence, Theories, and Mystery 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 searched for clues preserved in the canyon’s rocks and landforms. New discoveries Grand Canyon have challenged long-held assumptions and offered fresh perspectives on this mystery. Ranney leads a journey through deep time as he explores competing theories of the Grand Canyon’s formation and explains why this natural wonder continues to fascinate both scientists and visitors. Tues., Dec. 8, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-220; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit
Art + History John Trumbull’s Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull
As they examine Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull, art historian Paul Glenshaw and Revolutionary War scholar Iris de Rode bring a fresh perspective to the French–American alliance, unfolding the story behind the battle and the painting’s 1826 unveiling in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. They also explore how Trumbull’s unusual career as soldier, diplomat, and artist shaped this iconic work. Wed., Sept. 2, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-734; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Bayeux Tapestry The Bayeux Tapestry is something of a miraculous survival from the Middle Ages. Nearly intact, and as vibrant today as it was when new, the tapestry was produced in the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the fates of the kingdoms of England and France were, on a single day in October of that year, fundamentally altered ever after. The tapestry was conceived with a role to play in managing and shaping the memory of the violent events of 1066. Historian Samuel Collins explores the agenda and arguments laid out on Bayeux Tapestry (detail), 1066 the Bayeux Tapestry and what the latest scholarship reveals about the strategies its makers employed for rendering a pointed account of the months leading up to the Battle of Hastings.
ELVERT BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY / CC BY-SA 2.0
Wed., Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-922; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Contemporary Women Artists: Five Superstars Art by women is now widely exhibited, and recent decades have seen a surge of interest in female painters, sculptors, and installation artists working in diverse media and styles. Art historian Nancy G. Heller highlights five exceptional women who have earned MacArthur “genius” grants, major retrospectives, and honors from international exhibitions like the Venice Biennale. The artists are Simone Leigh, known for making massive, stylized clay and bronze images of Black women; Julie Mehretu, who produces multi-layered abstract paintings with subtle references to landscapes and politics; the humorous and insightful work of Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooke/Crow) that explores her cultural history; Amy Sherald, who has reinvigorated the venerable painted portrait; and Spanish sculptor Cristina Iglesias, who has produced work that can only be viewed while wearing scuba gear.
The Soil You See by Wendy Red Star, 2023
Thurs., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-471; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
You love art. Now go deeper. That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers a World Art History Certificate Program. Look for World Art History Certificate throughout the program guide to see current listings. Get started today and complete the certificate requirements at your own pace. Registration is ongoing; Credits are counted from day of registration and are not given retroactively.
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
FRED ROMERO / CC BY-SA 2.0
Le Corbusier: Architect of the Modern World Le Corbusier—born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret in 1887—was a Swiss-French architect whose radical theories on Modernism, housing, and urban planning reshaped 20th-century design. Art historian Jennie Hirsh situates his work in its political and intellectual context, highlighting landmarks such as Villa Savoye, Villa La Roche, the Unité d’habitation, Ronchamp Chapel, and Tokyo’s National Museum of Western Art. These projects—many now UNESCO World Heritage Sites—demonstrate how his vision transformed how people live in cities. Fri., Sept. 11, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-174; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 Roof terrace of La Cité Radieuse, Marseille
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
Russian Art
Georgia O’Keeffe
From Icons to the Avant-Garde
The Mother of American Modernism
The evolution of Russian art is inextricably bound to the rich cultural exchanges between East Portrait of an Unknown Woman and West. These resulted in a by Ivan Kramskoi, 1883 fascinating blend of diverse visual languages and styles, from the late-medieval icons and frescos indebted to Byzantium to the great avant-garde experiments of the early part of the 20th century that developed side by side with the various currents of Modernism in other parts of Europe. In a four-part course, art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine brings the culture of this vast country to life as she highlights some of the major art developments in Russia over the centuries.
Georgia O’Keeffe is one of America’s most influential artists, best known for her largeformat paintings of flowers, bones, scenes of New York skyscrapers, and depictions of the New Mexico desert. Her marriage and cooperation with pioneering photographer Alfred Stieglitz proved to be influential in promoting her career and in finding her true vocation as an artist. Georgia O'Keeffe by Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar traces her Alfred Stieglitz, 1932 journey from humble beginnings through her formative artistic education, her landmark exhibitions at Gallery 291, and the development of her Lake George works. He follows her travels to Palo Duro Canyon and Hawaii, culminating in her eventual settlement in New Mexico, and offers a critical analysis of her major works and legacy.
4-session series: Fri., Sept. 11–Oct. 2, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-729; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
4-session series: Wed., Sept. 16–Oct. 7, 10:30 a.m. detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-730; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Hudson River School The Hudson River School—a loose fraternity of American landscape artists—was neither a school nor confined to the Hudson River Valley. Beginning in the early 19th century, the painters most associated with this group drew inspiration from America’s unspoiled landscape, finding aesthetic taste, a feeling of nationalism, and spirituality in the wilderness. At about the same time they were creating their idealized landscapes, progress in the form of industrialization and Manifest Destiny Niagara by Frederic E. Church, 1857 began to erode the vision of a pristine American “Garden of Eden.” Art historian Bonita Billman examines the work of Hudson River School artists Thomas Cole, Frederic E. Church, Asher B. Durand, and others. She also considers the painters’ influences and methods and how these shaped the work of American landscapists of a second generation. Thurs., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-475; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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Lesser-Known Museums and Churches of Italy
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In this ongoing series, Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero spotlights the significant collections of sometimes-overlooked museums and churches throughout Italy. World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna In the historic university city of Bologna, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna houses one of Italy’s most important collections of The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia Renaissance painting, spanning (detail) by Raphael, 1514 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., Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-572; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Mon., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-581; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Palazzo Barberini
Palatine Chapel
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 Portrait of Maffeo Barberini Holbein the Younger, and Filippo (detail) by Caravaggio, 1598 Lippi. Ruggiero 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.
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 highMosaic in the Palatine Chapel lights 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., Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-587; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
JOSÉ LUIZ BERNARDES RIBEIRO / CC BY-SA 4.0
In the heart of Siena, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena preserves an extensive collection of paintings from the Sienese school, spanning the 13th to the 17th centuries. The museum traces the evolution of Sienese painting from the luminous Madonna with Child (detail) by Pietro Lorenzetti, 1329 gold-ground panels of its medieval origins, through the achievements of the Renaissance and Mannerist periods, and into the artistic developments of the 17th century. Ruggiero examines the significance of this collection and the legacy of Siena’s artistic tradition.
Mon., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-593; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
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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Art-full Fridays | Live from Italy, with Elaine Ruffolo World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each Elaine Ruffolo, a Florence-based Renaissance art historian, examines the rich heritage of Italian art and architecture
Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine by Artemisia Gentileschi, 1615-1617
Fri., Sept. 18, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-175; Members $25; Nonmembers $35 MARTA DE BORTOLI 1991, CC BY-SA 4.0
NATIONAL GALLERY, CITY OF WESTMINSTER
The Spirit of Artemisia Artemisia Gentileschi was a pioneering 17th-century Baroque artist, celebrated for her dramatic and emotionally charged paintings that often depict powerful women at the center of action. Overcoming significant personal adversity, including a highly publicized trial for sexual assault by a painter, she carved out a remarkable place for herself in the male-dominated art world of her time. Works such as Judith Slaying Holofernes are renowned for their intensity, technical mastery, and psychological depth, reflecting both her artistic innovation and distinctive perspective. As Gentileschi herself declared, “I’ll show you what a woman can do… you will find the spirit of Caesar in this soul of a woman.” Ruffolo explores Gentileschi’s compelling life story, artistic innovations, and enduring legacy in the history of art.
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 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
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
Iconic American Architecture Across Time Discover some of the most important works of American architecture through the lens of four thematic categories: residences; commercial buildings; spaces for enrichment and reflection; and public buildings, monuments, structures, and memorials. Join art historian Matthew Palczynski in a seminar that examines what makes a building part of a particular architectural style, including why Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is Neoclassical and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is Modernist. Delve further into how architectural styles provide sociological insights into their respective eras. See which architects stand out in the canon and how to identify their signature styles. Learn how all of this comes together to tell the story of how architecture shapes our spaces for living, working, learning, and respite.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater
Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–2:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1H0-921; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit STÉPHANIE DUCHÊNE
Notre-Dame in Color
Jennifer M. Feltman documenting west façade of the Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Gothic sculptures that adorn the doorways of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris were once richly painted in jewel tones, much like the stained glass of the same period. Prophets wore robes colored with azurite (blue), red ochre, and malachite (green). Angels and saints were enlivened with rose-colored cheeks and red lips. Although the 2019 fire at the cathedral was devastating, it provided researchers with a unique opportunity to investigate these colors. Art historian Jennifer M. Feltman, a leading American scholar and member of the official research team restoring Notre-Dame after the fire, explores the history of polychromy on the cathedral’s portals and discusses the international collaborative research project that is recreating their original appearance using digital art. Mon., Sept. 28, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-732; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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 workshos 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. Autumn–On the Hudson River Tues., Oct. 13, 10 a.m.; CODE 1K0737; 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
Secrets and Symbols in Art Iconography: Keepers of Secrets
Mon., Oct. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-924; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein, 1533
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.
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 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 Rubens' 1603 drawing, after Leonardo da Vinci's lost mural in 1506. Battle of Anghiari Decades later, Giorgio Vasari covered Leonardo’s work with a fresco bearing the cryptic inscription cerca trova—seek and you will find. Art historian Laura Morelli traces the mural’s mystery from celebrated copies like Rubens’ drawing to scientific investigations and new research suggesting Leonardo may never have completed the painting at all. NEW DATE: Fri., Jan. 22, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-926; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
Artists’ Travels to North Africa From Delacroix to Paul Klee In the 19th century, European artists viewed North Africa as a source of exotic inspiration and new artistic experience. Eugène Delacroix was among the first to travel to Morocco, spending six months filling seven sketchbooks with studies of its people, landscapes, and colors—material that helped shape Orientalism. Women of Algiers in their Apartment His journey inspired later artists, including Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Paul 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 SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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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
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
Self-portrait by Elfriede Lohse-Wächtler, German avant-garde painter, 1930
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Artists working in America during and just after the Second World War grappled with the war from a variety of perspectives. The Nazi “Degenerate Art” exhibition of 1937 codified precisely which artists the Nazis deemed undesirable and sparked a systematic purging of artists and artworks. The inhospitable climate for vanguard artists in Germany also impacted French art, precipitating an exodus of some of the most important artists of the era to the U.S. Art historian Matthew Palczynski explores how this transatlantic shift led by Marc Chagall and others ultimately opened the door to a radically different artistic epicenter in New York. Examine how Americans responded to the war, from depictions inside Japanese internment camps to Edward Hopper’s nighttime scenes. Wed., Oct. 21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-925; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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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.
BENJAMIN SMITH / CC BY-SA 1.0
HISTORY
Wed., Oct. 28, 7 p.m.; CODE 1D0-182; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Henri Matisse: An Enduring Fascination The pioneering French Modernist Henri Matisse is considered one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century. Matisse’s oeuvre—created over more than five decades— includes a wide range of materials and styles, from exquisite tiny etchings to enormous cast-bronze 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, Dance (I) by Henri Matisse, 1909 which pulsate with the intense light and vivid color of southern France. Art historian Nancy G. Heller examines these canvases, as well as Matisse’s more cerebral Cubist works, in depth. Thurs., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-483; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
Chinese Art: From the Bronze Age to the People’s Republic With a dynamic, far-reaching history that spans the Neolithic period to the modern age, Chinese civilization has given rise to some of the world’s most remarkable artistic creations. Robert DeCaroli, a professor in the department of history and art history at George Mason University, explores that complex legacy by examining how shifts in China’s social, religious, and political life have influenced transformations in its material culture. 4-session series: Tues., Nov. 3–24, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-584; Members $115; Nonmembers $140
A jian bronze mirror from the Warring States period, 475–221 B.C.E.
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. The Fighting Temeraire by As contemporaries in London’s Royal Academy, they developed contrasting artistic aims and exhibition J.M.W. Turner, 1839 practices, yet both viewed nature as a source of imagination and creative power. Turner drew inspiration from Dutch landscape traditions and often traveled in Europe, with Constable following the lineage of Thomas Gainsborough, focusing on the scenery of his native East Anglia. Art historian Bonita Billman examines their lives, influences, patrons, and painting methods, revealing how each artist forged a distinct vision that shaped the course of British art. Thurs., Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-485; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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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
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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Thurs., Nov. 12, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-218; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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 Frank Lloyd Wright by Al from the 1890s through the 1950s, Ravenna, 1954 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.
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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 Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian, 1525 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 1K0-750; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Art of Chagall 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 Teapot made by Peter Bentzon, ca. production of silver goods in 1817-1829 SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN the United States. HISTORY AND CULTURE 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.
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 I and the Village (detail) by and costume design, ceramics, Marc Chagall, 1911 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. Tues., Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-752; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Mon., Nov. 16, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-586; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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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
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Irrepressible Rosa Bonheur
Venice’s Artistic Revolution
“The 19th Century’s Most Famous Woman Artist”
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. The Miracle of the Cross at the Bridge of San Lorenzo At the center stood the Bellini by Gentile Bellini, 1500 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.
An international celebrity in her lifetime, French animal painter Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899) became less familiar as modern art shifted toward abstraction, Ploughing in Nevers (detail) but her work is now being by Rosa Bonheur, 1849 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, 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
Tues., Dec. 8, 12 p.m.; CODE 1M2-491; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
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. Tulp, Danaë, and The Night Watch by Rembrandt, 1642 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. Fri., Dec. 11, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-758; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
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ART THEORY AND PRACTICE
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Poetry and Art Club
Art Journaling for Self-Expression INSTRUCTOR: Carter Umhau IN PERSON: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANR; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
ONLINE ONLINE
Color Theory for Embroidery Artists INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APA; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Nov. 9, 12 p.m., no class Oct. 12; CODE 1E0-ARM; Members $160; Nonmembers $195
Color Theory and Practice INSTRUCTOR: Theresa Otteson ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., no class Oct. 12; CODE 1E0-ARQ; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Student work
Bring your own poem—or a poem you admire—to this monthly gathering and create art that responds to it. Each session includes group tutorials, short exercises, and moments of inspiration and research. INSTRUCTOR: Kate Lewis ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, and Dec. 15, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APP; Members $195; Nonmembers $220
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Techniques in Modernist Painting INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 8–Nov. 12, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQT; Members $260; Nonmembers $295
Hues in Harmony Color Mixing and Maximizing Your Palette INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 27–Dec. 1, 10 a.m., no class Nov. 24; CODE 1E0-AQJ; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
Keeping up the Sketchbook Habit INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ARK; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Color Theory and Chroma-psychology
Figure Drawing
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
DRAWING
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PERSON ININ PERSON
Beginning Drawing INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 2 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANX; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
Intermediate Drawing INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANY; Members $280; Nonmembers $315
Observation and Perception: Unlocking the Skill of Drawing INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Wed., Sept. 23– Nov. 18, 2 p.m., no class Nov. 11 (CODE 1E0AQR); Sat., Sept. 26–Nov. 14, 10:15 a.m. (CODE 1E0-AQU); Ripley Center; Members $265; Nonmembers $300
INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan IN PERSON: Sun., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 2:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AQX; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
Introduction to Figure Drawing INSTRUCTOR: Tom Kim IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 6–Nov. 3, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARS; Members $215; Nonmembers $250
Breaking the Line Contours Inspired by Delacroix and Rembrandt INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0AQM; Members $65; Nonmembers $80
Drawing Techniques Perspective
ONLINE ONLINE
Digital Drawing Fundamentals INSTRUCTOR: Mike O’Brien ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0AQG; Members $65; Nonmembers $80
See videos, class photos, and meet students on
INSTRUCTOR: Desarae Lee ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 7:15 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANV; Members $90; Nonmembers $115
Beginning Drawing INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter ONLINE: Sun., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APN; Members $260; Nonmembers $295
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FALL Pet Portraits
NEW CLASSES
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 22 and 29, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APU; Members $95; Nonmembers $120
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Masters and Mediums Silverpoint
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Learn a little art history alongside silverpoint, a traditional artform that is experiencing a modern revival. Silvepoint uses a silver stylus on prepared paper to produce a delicate drawing. INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APT; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
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
Illustrated Mapmaking Explore the art of illustrated mapmaking, where the rigid rules of cartography don’t apply and instead you capture a place as you remember it. Delve into composition, visual hierarchy, and the interplay between text and image. INSTRUCTOR: Michael Avery ONLINE: Mon., Oct. 19 and 26, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ART; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
Graphite: The Versatile Medium INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue ONLINE: Thurs., Nov. 12 and 19, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APV; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
By Michael Avery
PAINTING
Beginning Acrylic Painting INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Marshall Wright IN PERSON: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANQ; Members $240; Nonmembers $275
NEW CLASS SANDRA GOBAR
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Beginning Oil Painting INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Wed., Sept. 23– Nov. 18, 6 p.m., no class Nov. 11 (CODE 1E0AQS); Sat., Sept. 26–Nov. 14, 2:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-AQV); Ripley Center; Members $285; Nonmembers $310
Intermediate Oil Painting INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan IN PERSON: Sun., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AQW; Members $295; Nonmembers $330
Autumn Sketching in the Smithsonian Gardens INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 24 and Nov. 7, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARJ; Members $130; Nonmembers $155
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Examining Cézanne: From Landscape to Figure Explore the revolutionary visual language of Paul Cézanne through direct observation in the beautiful Enid A. Haupt Garden combined with an in-studio figurative painting session with a live model. Using watercolor, water-based inks, and water-soluble colored pencils, investigate the dynamic relationships between light, atmosphere, architecture, botanical form, and color. INSTRUCTOR: Sandra Gobar IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 4–18, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AQQ; Members $170; Nonmembers $195
ONLINE ONLINE
Landscape Elements in Watercolor
Exploring Color in Watercolor
INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 5 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APY; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APX; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Essence Over Detail Expression and Sketching in Watercolor INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Oct. 13, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQH; Members $160; Nonmembers $185
Beginning Oil Painting INSTRUCTOR: Theresa Otteson ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 22–Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARR; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
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FALL NEW CLASSES
Figures and Fashion in Watercolor and Ink This class is for students wanting to master the standing figure and explore dynamic ways to dress it up. Experiment with rendering a variety of fabrics such as satin, velvet, and sheers. INSTRUCTOR: Amy Dapice ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Nov. 9, 6 p.m., no class Oct. 12; CODE 1E0-ANE; Members $195; Nonmembers $220
By Amy Dapice
Playful Perspective in Watercolor
Continued Watercolor INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24–Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-APM; Members $260; Nonmembers $295
Introduction to Watercolor INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 28–Nov. 30, 6 p.m., no class Oct. 12 and Nov. 23; CODE 1E0-APL; Members $270; Nonmembers $305
Portrait Painting in Oil and Acrylic
Learning perspective doesn’t have to be difficult. Students come away understanding which rules must be followed and which ones can be bent or disregarded. INSTRUCTOR: Amy Dapice ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 29–Nov. 3, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANF; Members $195; Nonmembers $220
INSTRUCTOR: Eric Westbrook ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 30–Nov. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0ANW; Members $225; Nonmembers $260
Watercolor Journeys By Amy Dapice
Travel Sketching INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 3, 10:15 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ANT; Members $140; Nonmembers $165
Amaryllis and Paperwhites Luminous Winter Florals Explore how to translate a festive bouquet into a luminous watercolor, capturing the movement and softness of florals in winter light. INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs ONLINE: Tues., Dec. 1 and Thurs., Dec. 3, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0ANS; Members $135; Nonmembers $150 By Cindy Briggs
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Drawing Light How the Masters Did It in Color INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 29–Dec. 3, 10 a.m., no class Nov. 26; CODE 1E0-AQN; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
Watercolor Beginning Techniques
Sketching Turner
INSTRUCTOR: Jean Pederson ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 2–16, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APE; Members $135; Nonmembers $160
Expressing Atmosphere and Skies in Watercolor INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 14, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AQK; Members $160; Nonmembers $185 By Nick Cruz Velleman
MIXED MEDIA
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PERSON ININ PERSON
Mixed Media Madness
Dissecting Design with Abstract Collage INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARC; Members $165; Nonmembers $200 By Sharon Robinson
A Walk on the Wild Side with Photomontage INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sat., Nov. 7 and 14, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARF; Members $115; Nonmembers $140
Holiday Keepsake Ornaments INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sun., Dec. 6, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARH; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
Rev up your collage and mixed-media experience to create an enhanced repertoire of materials and techniques in this two-day intensive class. Transform everyday objects and experiment with materials to create unique textures and By Sharon Robinson effects. INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sat., Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARE; Members $115; Nonmembers $140
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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
Collage and Mixed Media
ONLINE ONLINE
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
Exploring Abstraction INSTRUCTOR: Delna Dastur ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 24–Nov. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ANU; Members $260; Nonmembers $295
Mixed Media Art Warmups By Delna Dastur
NEW CLASS
By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 9 and 16, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQB; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
Make It Miniature
Where’s My Muse?
Big Ideas in Small Formats
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson ONLINE: Tues., Nov. 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARD; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
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 Sharon Robinson
FIBER ARTS
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NEW CLASS
Unique and Exciting Knitting Techniques Beginning Tapestry Weaving INSTRUCTOR: Tea Okropiridze IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 29–Nov. 10, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ARP; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
Beginner Embroidered Patch Workshop INSTRUCTOR: Heather Kerley IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 3, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APC; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Knitting for Beginners INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 20–Dec. 1, 2 p.m., no class Nov. 24; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANJ; Members $165; Nonmembers $200
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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
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 Ann Richards
ONLINE ONLINE
Build Your Log Cabin (Quilt) INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Kingsland ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 14, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APS; Members $155; Nonmembers $180
HISTORY
CULTURE
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ART
STUDIO ARTS STUDIO ARTS
TOURS
FALL 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
OTHER MEDIA
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NEW CLASSES
Handmade Storybooks
Introduction to Book Making
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
This class introduces you to the fundamentals of bookbinding. Learn about the essential tools and materials needed to create your own handmade books, as well as a range of core techniques, including folding, sewing, and gluing. INSTRUCTOR: Krista Sharp IN PERSON: Wed., Sept. 23–Oct. 28, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APQ; Members $225; Nonmembers $260
Collage Flag Books 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 By Krista Sharp By Bonnie Fitzgerald
Mosaic Jewelry
Introduction to Pointed-Pen Calligraphy INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani ONLINE: Sun., Sept. 27–Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARB; Members $140; Nonmembers $165
Introduction to Beading INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 3–17, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0AQC; Members $150; Nonmembers $175
The Art of Floral Design INSTRUCTOR: Arrin Sutliff ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 27–Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., no class Nov. 24; CODE 1E0-ANM; Members $160; Nonmembers $195
Upcycled Aluminum Holiday Ornament INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQF; Members $70; Nonmembers $85
Takuga Jazz It Up
Botanical Prints in Sumi Ink and Watercolor INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ARL; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
Holiday Cards Using Pointed-Pen Calligraphy INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5 and 12, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ARA; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
NEW CLASS
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
SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
MÏA VOLLKOMMER
ONLINE ONLINE
INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Fitzgerald ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ANP; Members $75; Nonmembers $90
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FALL NEW CLASSES
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 TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Thurs., Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ANC); Thurs., Nov. 12 and 19, 1:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-AND); Members $170; Nonmembers $195
Wirework Intensive: Explorations in Fiber Jewelry Explore the intersection of fiber art and jewelry to create soft, tactile, textural pieces of wearable sculpture, including a pair of embroidered earrings. Working with recycled fabrics and creating bead embroidery and 3D forms are explored. INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer ONLINE: Sat., Nov. 7–21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQE; Members $150; Nonmembers $175
By Mïa Vollkommer
PHOTOGRAPHY
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Introduction to Photography INSTRUCTOR: Andargé Asfaw TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Tues., Sept. 22– Nov. 10, 3 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ANG); Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ANH); Ripley Center; Members $255; Nonmembers $290
Smartphone Photography
Night Photography in Washington, D.C.
INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 24, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AQY; Members $80; Nonmembers $105
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.)
NEW CLASSES
On-Location Photography Architectural Details
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 18–Nov. 22, 1:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-APK; Members $205; Nonmembers $240
Good architectural photography doesn't have to capture the whole building. This class covers how to zoom in to emphasize details, textures, and subjects that catch your eye. INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 23 and 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-APG; Members $90; Nonmembers $115
ONLINE
ONLINE
By Joe Yablonsky
The Exposure Triangle INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 7–28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0APH; Members $160; Nonmembers $185
Autumn Scenes
By Joe Yablonsky
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Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
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SCULPTURE
ININ PERSON PERSON
Figure Sculpture INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 22–Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ANZ; Members $325; Nonmembers $360
LINDA RUBENSTEIN
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
HISTORY HISTORY
CULTURE CULTURE
SCIENCE SCIENCE
ART ART
STUDIO STUDIO ARTS ARTS
TOURS TOURS TOURS
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.
4-Day Tour
Revolutionary Boston
Cradle of Liberty Few American cities are as deeply entwined with the birth of the nation as Boston. From village greens where militias first mustered to crowded wharves and meetinghouses alive with revolutionary debate, trace the dramatic opening chapters of the American Revolution. Guided by historian Fred Zilian, explore the landscapes and ideas that transformed a cluster of colonial towns into the epicenter of a struggle for independence. Quincy Market along the Freedom Trail
DAY 1: Participants arrive in Boston. Begin with a welcome orientation, dinner, and lecture at the hotel from your study leader introducing the people, politics, and pivotal events of Boston’s revolutionary world. DAY 2: During a morning excursion to Lexington and Concord, stand on the village green in Lexington and at the North Bridge in Concord and visualize how local resistance ignited a war that reshaped history. Back in Boston, a driving tour reveals the city’s evolving civic and architectural identity, from Beacon Hill to Harvard Square.
DAY 3: A guided walking tour traces key sites of protest, debate, and defiance along the Freedom Trail, with time to explore Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Then move on to Boston Harbor for a cruise that highlights the city’s maritime and military significance. The day concludes in the North End with visits to Copps Hill Burying Ground, Old North Church, and the Paul Revere House. DAY 4: Conclude with a visit to the Old South Meeting House, Old State House, and USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, before your airport transfer.
Sun., Sept. 13, 6 p.m.–Wed., Sept. 16, 4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-BOS; Members $1,747; Nonmembers $2,329 NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to and from Boston.
Walking Tour
New Deal Projects, Part 1
Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the New Deal ignited an unprecedented use of government resources to address crucial public services as a way to kick-start the American economy. But President Franklin Roosevelt said that in a hundred years, his New Deal would be remembered more for its arts than its job relief. Discover landmarks, art, and other projects from the New Deal period with author David Taylor during a walking tour in Washington, D.C. Begin at Judiciary Square to see the public sculptures and dramatic courthouse bas reliefs there, including one by architectural sculptor John Gregory. Highlights along the route include the Henry F. Daly Building, constructed in the Classical Moderne style with the aid of Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds; the Federal Trade Commission Building, which features monumental sculptures by WPA artists in Art Deco style; and the National Mall and Washington Monument, which were renovated during the New Deal period. Conclude at the Department of the Interior for an optional staff-led tour of more than 40 New Deal–era murals, plus several 1941–1942 photomurals by Ansel Adams. Fri., Sept. 18, 9:30–11:45 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CW-B10; Members $55; Nonmembers $75
Man Controlling Trade by Michael Lantz, 1942, at the Federal Trade Commission Headquarters Urban Life by John Gregory, 1941, at Judiciary Square NCINDC / CC BY-SA 2.0
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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Bus Tour
CULTURE
SCIENCE
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TOURS TOURS
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
A Sustainability Infrastructure Tour Rather than treating waste as an end point, cities and counties increasingly view it as a stream of materials that can be redirected, reused, and transformed. The communities around Washington, D.C., are no exception. Urban studies lecturer Bill Keene leads an exploration of three local facilities working to recover, reuse, and regenerate and the infrastructure that makes these efforts possible. The Prince George’s County Materials Recycling Facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland, offers a window into the world of materials recovery, where tons of paper, plastic, metal, and cardboard are sorted, separated, and prepared for new life. Guided by facility experts, you observe the intricate combination of machinery Bundled recyclables and manual labor that makes recycling possible. Along the way, gain a clearer understanding of what can and cannot be recycled and how individual choices at home affect the efficiency and success of the system. Food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials take on new value at the Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where they are transformed into nutrient-rich compost. A tour of the facility and Visitor’s Center offers a look at the science of decomposition. A visit to Community Forklift in Edmonston, Maryland, a nonprofit reuse center, highlights another dimension of sustainability: salvaging architectural materials and household goods and giving them new life, free to community groups and families in need. Hear about the center’s community partnerships and how goods are acquired. Lunch is included. Fri., Sept. 18, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-017; Members $169; Nonmembers $230;
Walking Tour
Old Town’s African American History
Founded in 1749, Alexandria, Virginia, was a major American port that was home to both the country’s largest slave-trading firm and a large free Black community. Local guide John Chapman leads a walking tour of the city’s OId Town neighborhood that takes in sites connected to this history. Begin in front of the Freedom House Museum, where the office of Franklin and Armfield—notorious slave traffickers in antebellum Alexandria—was housed. Stop along the Duke Street corridor at the site of Bruin’s Slave Jail, which played a part in the story of the Edmonson sisters who had tried to escape to freedom on the schooner Pearl. A bronze sculpture of the sisters, who were eventually freed, marks this historic site. Along the way, visit sites connected to early African American spirituality such as Shiloh Baptist Church, one of Alexandria’s original African American churches, and the Alexandria National Cemetery, Detail of the Edmonson Shiloh Baptist Church formerly known as the Soldiers’ Cemetery, where more than 250 Sisters Memorial members of the United States Colored Troops are buried. THREE OPTIONS: Fri., Sept. 25 (CODE 1CW-A11); Sat., Sept. 26 (CODE 1CW-B11); Sun., Sept. 27 (CODE 1CW-C11); 10 a.m.–12 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $50; Nonmembers $70
Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
HISTORY
Bus Tour
CULTURE
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS
A Day at SERC
The 2,650-acre campus of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland, encompasses forests, farmland, wetlands, and shoreline. Spend the day with SERC’s expert staff as you explore this environmental research hub and learn about its cutting-edge ecological studies. At the Woodlawn History Center, built in 1735, uncover stories of the area’s rich history—from Native American settlement to the present day—through artifacts found by volunteer scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Archaeology Lab. Discover the in- Woodlawn History Center tersection of environmental science and archaeology as researchers explain the ways human activity has shaped the land and its ecosystems over time. Take a morning walk along a waterfront trail that winds through lush landscapes, stopping along the way to discuss SERC research and explore the types of ecosystems that the center works to protect. Back on campus, hear about SERC’s river otter research. After lunch, visit the South Campus for a look at the BiodiversiTREE research project, where scientists are studying how tree diversity can shape the health of a forest and the life within it. Wrap up your day at the Global Change Research Wetland. Here, researchers run futuristic experiments to simulate how climate change could affect wetlands over the next century. INSIDE SCIENCE
MICHAEL BARNES, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
HISTORY
Fri., Sept. 25, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD018; Members $115; Nonmembers $175
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Walking Tour
Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn
COURTESY OF HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN \ PHOTO: BY RICK COULBY
In 1791, Pierre L’Enfant envisioned the National Mall as a grand “public walk,” a sweeping promenade at the heart of the capital. But by 1900, his ambitious plan had been largely overlooked and altered. That changed with the influential McMillan Plan of 1902, which reimagined the ceremonial core of Washington, D.C., shaping much of what visitors see on the Mall today. Discover the stories behind the once-planned museum park and the now-vanished railroad station and the curious reason why the Mall doesn’t align with the compass. Marvel at a rich tapestry of architectural styles represented by the Smithsonian buildings. 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 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. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
THREE OPTIONS: Sat., Oct. 3 (CODE 1CW-A09); Fri., Oct. 9 (CODE 1CW-B09); Sun., Oct. 18 (CODE 1CW-C09); 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
2-Day Tour
Sacred Stones: Two Iconic New York Cemeteries
They’re peaceful, they’re reverent, they combine history and biography with nature and stillness: Discover the rich history and autumn beauty of two of New York City’s well-known cemeteries on a two-day tour. Traveling from Washington, D.C., begin with a visit to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, founded in 1838 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its role in American history and landscape design. Stroll through winding paths and see a variety of interesting monuments and sculptures and learn about the lives of notable figures buried there, including artists, inventors, and veterans. Enjoy an evening program at the Morbid Anatomy Library, dine at a local restaurant, and spend the night at the Nu Hotel in Brooklyn. On day two, travel to Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, established in 1863 as one of the largest rural Green-Wood Cemetery cemeteries in the country. Walk among elegant mausoleums and elaborate memorials that tell the stories of jazz legends, industrial titans, and literary giants. This serene setting is the final resting place of many historical figures, and guide Allison C. Meier shares stories that bring their legacies to life. The tour offers a thoughtful way to explore New York’s cultural heritage while enjoying time outdoors. Meier is the author of Grave and a licensed tour guide whose work explores urban history, cemeteries, and the cultural meaning of burial. Sun., Oct. 4, 8 a.m.–Tues., Oct. 5, 9 p.m.; by bus; detailed information on website; CODE 1NN-CEM; Members $746; Nonmembers $980
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4-Day Tour
CULTURE
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS
St. Louis: Gateway to the West
Step into the heart of America, where history echoes through classic landmarks from the soaring Gateway Arch to neighborhoods shaped by immigration, innovation, and art. This 4-day journey explores St. Louis’s pivotal role in westward expansion, global ambition, and social change—set within a region long home to Indigenous communities—from the Mississippi River and the legacy of the 1904 World’s Fair to the communities that continue to define it. Through notable sites and local stories, discover how St. Louis became both gateway to the West and mirror of the American experience. Tami Goldman, director of tourism and visitor experience at the Missouri Historical Society, is the guide.
DANIEL SCHWEN / CC BY-SA 2.5
HISTORY
Highlights include Gateway Arch National Park
Missouri Botanical Garden
The stainless steel arch rises above the Mississippi as a symbol of national expansion. From the top, enjoy sweeping views of the riverfront city that launched the Corps of Discovery in 1804. St. Louis stood as the final major outpost before Lewis and Clark traveled west.
Founded in 1859, this internationally renowned institution is a leader in plant science and global conservation. Its historic landscapes and the Climatron, the first geodesic dome greenhouse, reflect St. Louis’ longstanding commitment to scientific inquiry.
Missouri History Museum (Forest Park) Located on the former grounds of the 1904 World’s Fair, the museum features exhibitions on the fair and the evolution of Forest Park. A special behind-the-scenes experience provides rare access to collections and curatorial insights.
planning and a once-thriving, sophisticated society. Enjoy a private guided tour of the site.
National Museum of Transportation Home to one of the nation’s largest collections of period locomotives and railcars, the museum highlights the rail networks that helped open the American West.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Across the river from St. Louis, Cahokia preserves the largest and most influential pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, built by the Mississippian culture between about 1050 and 1350. Its monumental earthworks offer a powerful glimpse into early Indigenous urban
Foundry Hall (City Foundry) A vibrant food hall featuring independent chefs and flavors that reflect the city’s immigrant roots and contemporary creativity.
Sat., Sept. 26, 6 p.m.–Tues., Sept. 29, 4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NN-STL; Members $1,491; Nonmembers $1,988 NOTE: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to St. Louis. COST INCLUDES: 3 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 8 meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees.
TIM1965 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Bus Tour
Historic Washington Cemeteries
Cemeteries are more than places of burial: They are landscapes of memory that reveal how cities grow, communities endure, and histories are preserved. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads an exploration of four historic Washington-area cemeteries and traces their stories across more than three centuries. Begin at Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown, founded in 1849 by philanthropist William Corcoran. After the city banned new cemeteries within its limits in 1852, Oak Hill became part of a new generation of pastoral burial grounds on the urban edge. Hear stories of architect Cloethiel Woodard Smith, a force behind Southwest urban renewal and the National Building Museum, and learn how Oak Hill briefly became the resting place of Abraham Lincoln’s beloved son Willie. At Mount Zion Cemetery and the adjacent Female Union Band Society Cemetery, explore the oldest Black cemeteries in Washington, established in 1842 for free and enslaved Black residents. Among the 8,000 to 10,000 burials, discover the legacy of Mary Turner and the Female Union Band Society, the meaning behind seashell-covered graves, and the site’s connections to the Underground Railroad. Continue to Rock Creek Cemetery, D.C.’s oldest cemetery, founded in 1719 by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Notable burials include author Upton Sinclair and Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a prominent figure in Washington society. Conclude at Glenwood Cemetery, one of Washington’s earliest secular cemeteries, where stories of exclusion, rediscovery, and political scandal emerge through the graves. Burials include Capitol artist Constantino Brumidi, whose long-lost gravesite was rediscovered in 1952, and Emmanual Leutze, the artist who painted Washington Crossing the Delaware. Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
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Fri., Oct. 16, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-019; Members $175; Nonmembers $235
SmithsonianAssociates.org
HISTORY
Bus Tour
CULTURE
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS
Historic Arlington County
Originally part of the 100-square-mile area surveyed in 1791 and 1792 for the nation’s capital, Arlington County is a tapestry of history woven from colonial farmsteads, Civil War fortifications, African American villages, and the people who have defined the county for more than two centuries. Travel journalist Barbara Noe Kennedy leads a day-long exploration of sites that reveal how Arlington evolved from a rural Virginia community into a modern urban county. Begin with a short lecture by your study leader before exploring the Arlington Historical Museum to learn how the stage was set for the county’s early development and changing communities. Continue to the remains of the 18th-century Abingdon Plantation, tucked Ball-Sellers House, Arlington, Virginia 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
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.
Bus Tour
A Day at Blackwater Falls State Park
NICOLAS RAYMOND / CC BY-SA 2.0
Spend a beautiful fall day wrapped in the wild color and rugged beauty of Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, West Virginia—where every winding road and forest trail feels painted in copper, crimson, and gold. In autumn, the park’s famous canyon glows beneath towering red spruce and hardwood forests while the dark, tea-colored waters of the Blackwater River plunge over sandstone ledges at the falls. Led by naturalist and birding expert Matt Felperin, begin the day in the wetlands outside the park followed by a stop at the Harold S. Walters Nature Center, where a ranger introduces the park to participants. Throughout the day explore the landscape in depth with multiple opportunities to adventure out on foot, with each consisting of short trails of less than 1 mile. Keep an eye out for red-spotted newts, red-breasted nuthatches, pileated woodpeckers, ravens riding the thermals, and the occasional hawk drifting above the gorge. The landscape tells an ancient story carved through Appalachian rock over millions of years, with dramatic cliffs, boulder fields, and sweeping overlooks revealing the raw Blackwater Falls State Park geology of the Allegheny Mountains. As the afternoon fades, follow the ridgeline toward Lindy Point for one of the most unforgettable sunset views in the region. The canyon stretches endlessly into layered blue mountains, and when the sun drops low, the cliffs and forests ignite in bands of amber and violet light. It’s the perfect ending to a mountain escape. A picnic box lunch and a box supper for the ride back to Washington are included. To enhance the experience, the tour is co-led by naturalist Susannah Parker and has a maximum capacity of 38. Sat., Oct. 17, 7 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-004; Members $245; Nonmembers $305 Lindy Point
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Walking Tour
CULTURE
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS APK / CC BY-SA 4
HISTORY
A Stroll Through Georgetown
Established 50 years before Washington, D.C., Georgetown got its start as a gritty port city on the banks of the Potomac River. Despite its modest beginnings, Georgetown eventually came to have some of the most expensive and desirable property in the District. Explore the highlights and secrets of one of D.C.’s most exclusive neighborhoods, home to palatial mansions, elegant cemeteries, stately churches, and a world-class university. Join Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, for a walk through the neighborhood. THREE OPTIONS: Thurs., Oct. 22 (CODE 1CW-A12); Fri., Oct. 23 (CODE 1CW-B12); Sat., Oct. 24 (CODE 1CW-C12); 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $60; Nonmembers $80
FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY / CC BY-SA 4
On-Site Tour
St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown
Inside the Folger Shakespeare Library
Go behind the scenes at the Folger Shakespeare Library for a day of rare books, scintillating conversation, and live theater centered on one of Shakespeare’s most provocative plays. Blending politics, morality, comedy, and disguise, Measure for Measure is considered one of Shakespeare’s most complex “problem plays.” The day begins with a guided introduction to the Folger and its renowned collections— which include 82 First Folios—along with a tour of the recently renovated building. Visit the Shakespeare Exhibition Hall and galleries for an up-close look at highlights from the Folger’s extraordinary holdings, current exhibitions, and rare materials, accompanied by a gallery talk from Folger staff. West entrance to the Adams Pavilion Before the matinee, enjoy a special session unpacking the plot, characters, and major themes of Measure for Measure, offering insights into the play’s twists, ethical dilemmas, and dark humor. After lunch from the Quill & Crumb, settle into the Folger’s intimate Elizabethan-styled theater for the performance. Join in a private post-show discussion to hear from Folger production staff and share your thoughts about the play. Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-021; Members $244; Nonmembers $305
2-Day Tour
Staunton, Shakespeare, and Steam
Fall in the Shenandoah Valley Nestled in the heart of scenic Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, Virginia, is alive with history, culture—and a little steam. Washington, D.C., area guide Lynn O’Connell leads a weekend getaway that offers a sampling of Staunton’s best sights plus a train excursion. Upon arriving in Staunton, visit Blackfriars Playhouse, the only replica of Shakespeare’s indoor theater. Delve into the world of theater with a backstage tour during which guides take you around the playhouse, share secrets and anecdotes, and offer insights into the playhouse’s inner workings. After lunch, go back in time to the night that Mary Shelley was inspired to write Frankenstein as you watch Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a play that cleverly combines the backstory and storyline of the Gothic novel. Dinner is on your own in downtown Staunton. On Sunday, hit the streets for a tour of Staunton led by local guides before boarding the Virginia Scenic Railway for a 3-hour train journey on the Alleghany Special. As the train ventures westward, you go through the beautiful farmland of the Shenandoah Valley bound for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with views of the Allegheny Mountains along the way. The train begins its return journey in the hamlet of Goshen in Rockbridge County. Lunch on board is included. The day concludes back in Staunton with a visit to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Blackfriars Playhouse Library & Museum. A guided tour through the historic home offers insights into President Wilson’s life, leadership, and impact on American history. Sat., Nov. 7, 7:30 a.m.–Sun., Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-SSO; Members $677; Nonmembers $903
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HISTORY
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS
All Eyes on Pittsburgh
DADEROT / WIKIPEDIA / CC0 1.0
The Duquesne Incline overlooking downtown Pittsburgh
Exhibition space, Andy Warhol Museum COURTESY OF THE PRIORY HOTEL
The centerpiece of this art-filled three-day visit to Pittsburgh—a city of smokestacks and steel reborn as a vibrant cultural capital—is the 59th Carnegie International, North America’s longest-running survey of international contemporary art. Presented at the Carnegie Museum of Art and held every three to five years, this exhibition showcases the work of more than 60 artists, from emerging voices to globally celebrated figures. In addition, the tour led by arts journalist Richard Selden offers a deep dive into Pittsburgh’s distinctive art and history. At the Mattress Factory, guests encounter room-sized, site-specific installations that blur the boundary between viewer and artwork. The Andy Warhol Museum, the largest museum in North America devoted to a single artist, provides an immersive look at the life and work of Pittsburgh’s most famous creative son, from iconic silkscreens to films and archives. The itinerary also connects art to the city’s broader historical narrative at the Senator John Heinz History Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum and Pennsylvania’s largest history museum. Here you explore Pittsburgh’s transformation from frontier settlement to industrial powerhouse and, ultimately, to a modern center of innovation and culture. A highlight beyond the visual arts is the National Aviary, one of the nation’s premier bird conservation centers. Enjoy an up-close encounter with species from around the globe, This is not a composition, it’s a place culminating in a demonstration where free-flying birds soar where things are, as on a table by R.J. Messineo, 2025, is part of the just overhead. 59th Carnegie International The rich ethnic and industrial history of “the ’Burgh” is woven into the tour. A walking and tasting tour of the Strip District reveals a vibrant neighborhood shaped by waves of immigration, where old-world food traditions meet contemporary culinary innovation. The tour would not be complete without a ride on the historic Duquesne Incline, a cable car dating to 1877 that offers sweeping views of the city’s skyline and the confluence of the Allegheny River, Monongahela River, and Ohio River. Even the accommodations reflect Pittsburgh history: The Priory Hotel, a restored former Benedictine monastery dating to 1888, features Romanesque architecture, soaring spaces, and preserved historic details.
COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND CANADA
3-Day Tour
CULTURE
The Priory Hotel
Sun., Nov. 8, 8 a.m.–Tues., Nov. 10, 10 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-PIT; Members $1,187; Nonmembers $1,585
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. If the joy of learning enriches your life, 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
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HISTORY
CULTURE
Walking Tour
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS
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
COURTESY OF THE BRANDYWINE MUSEUM OF ART
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, 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. Model train display at the Brandywine Museum of Art
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SmithsonianAssociates.org
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
HISTORY
5-Day Tour
CULTURE
SCIENCE
ART
STUDIO ARTS
TOURS TOURS
Florida: History, Design, and Architecture
IMAGE COURTESY OF VAGABOND HOTEL MIAMI
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
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.
INFROGMATION / CC BY-SA 2.0
Vintage neon sign at the Vagabond Hotel Miami
DAY 1: Welcome
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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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)
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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
CHAMPION–$100
EXPLORER–$60
Smithsonian Associates Membership Levels and Benefits
INTRODUCTORY LEVELS
HELPFUL INFORMATION Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •) Courses, Performances, and Lectures—Multi-Session Thurs., Sept. 3-24 The History of Flight ......................................................................................................6 Thurs., Sept. 10 and 17 The World of Gustav Mahler and His Early Symphonies ..................................21 Fri., Sept. 11–Oct. 2 Russian Art: From Icons to the Avant-Garde ......................................................37 Mon., Sept. 14–Nov. 23 Smithsonian Chorus.....................................................................................................22 Tues., Sept. 15–29 Jazz: America’s Signature Musical Art...................................................................22 Wed., Sept. 16–Oct. 7 Georgia O’Keeffe: The Mother of American Modernism ..................................37 Thurs., Sept. 17, Oct. 15, and Nov. 12 Visions of a Brighter Tomorrow: World’s Fairs of the 1930s .............................7 Thurs., Sept. 24, Oct. 22, and Nov. 19 The American Revolution..............................................................................................5 Tues., Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 Paris: A Virtual Adventure ..........................................................................................24
Thurs., Oct. 1–22 Jazzing the Classics................................................................................................22 Thurs., Oct. 1–Nov. 19 Introduction to Music Theory ...............................................................................25 Wed., Oct. 7–28 Judgment Days: Famous Trials in American History.......................................9 Wed., Oct. 14–Nov. 4 Artists’ Travels to North Africa: From Delacroix to Paul Klee......................41 Fri., Oct. 16 and 23 Masterpieces of the Uffizi.....................................................................................39 Thurs., Oct. 29–Nov. 19 A History of the Movie Musical............................................................................29 Mon., Nov. 2–23 Jamestown: The First 100 Years ..........................................................................13 Tues., Nov. 3, 10, and 17 Write Into Art: Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art.................................40 Tues., Nov. 3–24 Chinese Art: From the Bronze Age to the People’s Republic......................43 Mon., Nov. 9–30 Great Composer-Pianists......................................................................................30
Lectures and Seminars—Single Session Tues., Sept. 1 Wed., Sept. 2 Tues., Sept. 8
Wed., Sept. 9
Thurs., Sept. 10
Fri., Sept. 11 Mon., Sept. 14
Tues., Sept. 15 Wed., Sept. 16
Thurs., Sept. 17
Fri., Sept. 18 Sat., Sept. 19 Tues., Sept. 22 Wed., Sept. 23
Thurs., Sept. 24
Antonio Vivaldi............................................................................20 The Hudson Theatre..................................................................20 History and Beauty of Mount Desert Island .........................5 John Trumbull’s Surrender of Lord Cornwallis ..................36 The Little Ice Age of the 17th Century ...................................6 The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art ..................................................6 Much Ado About Nothing ........................................................20 White House Memories...............................................................6 Anacostia: Architecture East of the River ...........................21 The Bayeux Tapestry.................................................................36 Ringing ........................................................................................3 Shakespeare’s Sonnets.............................................................20 The Life and Plight of Koalas..................................................33 Contemporary Women Artists................................................36 Le Corbusier: Architect of the Modern World ....................37 Allied Strategy and Operation Overlord .................................7 Cahokia............................................................................................7 Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena ...............................................38 Loyalists in the American Revolution .....................................5 Rediscovering Sammy Davis Jr. .............................................22 Samarra and the Abbasid Caliphate ......................................4 Dressing the Story.....................................................................23 The Ecology of Dinosaurs........................................................33 How Spain Supported the American Revolution .............3 “And Away We Go:” Early Television Comedy .....................23 Classical English Rhetoric .......................................................23 Amazing Australia ......................................................................24 The Spirit of Artemisia .............................................................39 The Plantagenet Dynasty...........................................................8 Katherine Parr: More than the “Survivor”..............................8 History by a Hair...........................................................................8 Invasive Species.........................................................................33 Prairie Dogs .................................................................................33 The Battle of Salamis..................................................................9 So Young, So Bad .......................................................................24 The Hudson River School.........................................................37
Sat., Sept. 26 Mon., Sept. 28 Wed., Sept. 30
Fri., Oct. 2 Mon., Oct. 5
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Tues., Oct. 6 Wed., Oct. 7 Thurs., Oct. 8 Fri., Oct. 9 Sat., Oct. 10
Tues., Oct. 13
Wed., Oct. 14 Fri., Oct. 16 Sat., Oct. 17 Mon., Oct. 19
Tues., Oct. 20
Wed., Oct. 21 Thurs., Oct. 22 Fri., Oct. 23 Sat., Oct. 24
Revenge, Ambition, and Betrayal ...........................................21 Iconic American Architecture Across Time........................39 Notre-Dame in Color.................................................................40 James Wilson: The Lost Founding Father .............................9 Bach's Mass in B Minor............................................................25 Apples of Uncommon Character ...........................................25 A Horse’s World ..........................................................................34 Studio Ghibli: Miyazaki, Takahata, and Beyond..................25 Antiques in the Garden ............................................................26 New York City in the Gilded Age............................................26 Understanding Time .................................................................34 Iconography: Keepers of Secrets ..........................................41 The History of Washington’s Cemeteries ..............................9 An Appalachian Journey ..........................................................34 The Film Music of Ennio Morricone......................................26 The Ashcan School of Painting...............................................41 Backyard Birding ........................................................................34 Jancis Robinson: The Newest World Atlas of Wine ..............26 The Art of Surviving: Belle Isle and Beyond........................10 The Civil War................................................................................10 Our Weird and Wild Universe..................................................34 Autumn’s Harvest.......................................................................40 Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil ...................................4 Crafting Witches.........................................................................10 The Knights Templar..................................................................10 Medieval History Through Artists’ Eyes...............................42 The Man Behind the Musketeers ..........................................27 German Art After WWI ............................................................42 Luis Barragán and Mexican Modernism ..............................42 The Sack of Rome ......................................................................11 The Port Royal Experiment.......................................................11 Paranoia on Screen....................................................................27 Art In the Post–World War II Era ...........................................42 Mussolini ......................................................................................11 Stirred by the Ages ................................................................27 Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects ....................27 Death and Beyond .....................................................................28
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SEPTEMBER 2026 SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES
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HELPFUL INFORMATION Program Planner (New listings in red); (In-person programs •) Mon., Oct. 26
Tues., Oct. 27
Wed., Oct. 28
Thurs., Oct. 29
Fri., Oct. 30 Mon., Nov. 2
Tues., Nov. 3 Wed., Nov. 4
Thurs., Nov. 5 Fri., Nov. 6 Mon., Nov. 9 Tues., Nov. 10
Thurs., Nov. 12 Fri., Nov. 13
Churchill and the Crown............................................................11 Before Baker Street ...................................................................28 The Geology of Yellowstone....................................................35 Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna .........................................38 Science Without Borders ........................................................3 The Great Harry Houdini ...........................................................12 How to Read a Film....................................................................28 The Language of 1776 ...............................................................28 Heresy ............................................................................................12 Wings of Change .........................................................................12 Ethel Kennedy ..............................................................................12 Holy Terrors: Medieval Gargoyles...........................................43 The American Colonies in the Age of Sail............................13 Terrors in America: 1830s Cholera Pandemic .....................13 Henri Matisse: An Enduring Fascination..............................43 Fortified Wine .............................................................................29 The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story.......................13 Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Rise of Fascism .................14 Orchids: Rooted in History.......................................................35 Magna Graecia: Early Greek Culture in Italy........................14 Virunga National Park .................................................................4 By Illegitimate Means ................................................................14 A History of Gibraltar.................................................................14 San Francisco: Then and Now .................................................15 The American Table ...................................................................29 Joseph Smith ...............................................................................15 J.M.W. Turner and John Constable ........................................43 Art and Beauty in Siena............................................................44 The Art of Historic Preservation .............................................15 Take a Seat! ..................................................................................44 The Russian Revolution From Within.....................................16 Excommunication in Medieval England ................................16 Historic New York Restaurants ...............................................16 Step into the World of M.C. Escher .......................................44 Becoming Frank Lloyd Wright ................................................45 Threads of the Viking World .....................................................17 The Artists of Renaissance Venice ........................................45
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Mon., Nov. 16
Tues., Nov. 17
Wed., Nov. 18 Thurs., Nov. 19 Fri., Nov. 20 Sat., Nov. 21 Mon., Nov. 30 Tues., Dec. 1
Wed., Dec. 2
Thurs., Dec. 3 Fri., Dec. 4 Sat., Dec. 5 Mon., Dec. 7
Tues., Dec. 8
Wed., Dec. 9
Fri., Dec. 11 Fri., Jan. 22
The Last Invasion of England...................................................17 When and How Leaders Matter ...............................................17 Palazzo Barberini ........................................................................38 250 Years of American Silversmithing .................................45 Voice ............................................................................................3 America’s Sweet Tooth..............................................................30 The Sierra Nevada......................................................................35 The Art of Chagall ......................................................................45 Treasures of Warsaw .................................................................17 From Hell to Texas .....................................................................30 AI and the Humanities ...............................................................31 Michelangelo's Painted World.................................................39 “What Fools These Mortals Be” ...............................................21 Masada: The Untold Story ........................................................18 The Panama Canal ......................................................................18 The Cuban Missile Crisis...........................................................18 Winter’s Wisdom: A Reflective Writing Workshop .............40 The Mosaics of Ravenna ..........................................................46 The Roots of Religious Freedom...............................................8 How to Listen to Jazz ................................................................23 The Irrepressible Rosa Bonheur .............................................46 Justice on Trial: The Dreyfus Affair ......................................18 The Fairies of Winter..................................................................31 Brewed Brilliance ........................................................................29 The Grapes of Wrath .................................................................30 Slavery and the American Revolution ...................................19 Dickens Without the Humbug ................................................31 Palatine Chapel ...........................................................................38 Nazis in South America .............................................................19 Nathaniel Hawthorne.................................................................32 Carving the Grand Canyon ......................................................35 Venice’s Artistic Revolution .....................................................46 The Forbidden City ......................................................................4 A Tudor Christmas......................................................................19 The History of the Game Show...............................................32 This Is Rob Reiner ......................................................................32 Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age ...............................46 Seek and You Shall Find............................................................41
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Tours—Single and Multi-Session• Sun., Sept. 13 Fri., Sept. 18 Fri., Sept. 25 Sat., Sept. 26 Sun., Sept. 27 Sat., Oct. 3 Sun., Oct. 4 Fri., Oct. 9 Sat., Oct. 10 Fri., Oct. 16
Revolutionary Boston ...............................................................53 New Deal Walking Tour, Part 1 ...............................................53 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...........................................................54 Old Town’s African American History ..................................54 A Day at SERC............................................................................55 Old Town’s African American History ..................................54 St. Louis: Gateway to the West .............................................56 Old Town’s African American History ..................................54 Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn............................55 Two Iconic New York Cemeteries..........................................55 Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn............................55 Historic Arlington County .......................................................57 Historic Washington Cemeteries ..........................................56
Sat., Oct. 17 Sun., Oct. 18 Thurs., Oct. 22 Fri., Oct. 23 Sat., Oct. 24 Sat., Nov. 7 Sun., Nov. 8 Tue., Nov. 10 Wed., Nov. 11 Fri., Nov. 20 Sun., Dec. 6 Sat., Jan. 23
A Day at Blackwater Falls State Park ...................................57 Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn.............................55 A Stroll Through Georgetown..................................................58 A Stroll Through Georgetown..................................................58 A Stroll Through Georgetown..................................................58 Inside the Folger Shakespeare Library.................................58 Staunton, Shakespeare, and Steam ......................................58 All Eyes on Pittsburgh ..............................................................59 A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island ..........................60 A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island ..........................60 War and Memory on the National Mall.................................60 Holidays in the Brandywine Valley ........................................60 Florida: History, Design, and Architecture..............................6 1
Studio Arts Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Fiber Arts, Sculpture, Calligraphy, Other Media, Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47-52
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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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