Smithsonian Associates

10/20/2026

Discover the fascinating world of orchid diplomacy and learn how these striking blooms have helped strengthen relationships between nations. 🌸

Marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Singapore in 2026, a special free, in-person program at the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore on Nov. 13 highlights Singapore’s practice of orchid diplomacy and the Smithsonian’s leadership in orchid research, conservation, and cultivation.

Marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Singapore in 2026, this special program highlights Singapore’s practice of orchid diplomacy and the Smithsonian’s leadership in orchid research, conservation, and cultivation. Hear from a panel of experts including Sm...

10/17/2026

Join us at the National Museum of American History's Warner Bros. Theater for a free performance and conversation exploring the most human of instruments—the voice.

As the fourth program in a dynamic 5-part series on sound and music in American religious traditions, this event 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.

10/16/2026

Will it be Dolly, Pyra or Dolpa? Vote to name this red panda cub by Saturday, Oct. 17!

10/15/2026

🌋 Discover the geology of ! Volcanologist Kirt Kempter joins us on Oct. 26 for a fascinating exploration of the geological forces that shaped America’s first national park, founded in 1872.

From the massive eruption that formed the Yellowstone Caldera some 630,000 years ago to the park’s remarkable hot springs, geysers, and other hydrothermal features, discover what makes Yellowstone truly one of a kind.

10/14/2026

Dale Chihuly's "Basket Drawing" (1996) transforms one of the artist's signature forms into a striking composition of soft neutrals, iridescent blues and greens, and intricate sterling-silver swirls. Commissioned by the Smithsonian in 1996, this signed lithograph is available through the Smithsonian Art Collectors Program.

10/08/2026

Go Behind the Muppet Magic with Smithsonian Associates!

Discover the creative genius of Jim Henson on Friday, October 23, at the National Museum of American History. The Jim Henson Company Archives Director Karen Falk and biographer Brian Jay Jones, in conversation with curator Ryan Lintelman, explore six extraordinary objects donated by Henson’s family to the museum.

Ranging from early experiments to iconic creations, these artifacts reveal how Henson blended artistry, technology, and storytelling to reshape modern entertainment. The evening concludes with a special viewing of objects from the museum’s collection not currently on public display.

📷: The Jim Henson Company (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith, Characters ©Disney, ©Sesame Workshop, ©Henson)

10/06/2026

Enjoy the weather this Saturday on a tour exploring historic Arlington County! Travel journalist Barbara Noe Kennedy will lead a day-long exploration of sites that reveal how Arlington evolved from a rural Virginia community into a modern urban county transformed by war, migration, segregation, and redevelopment.

📷: Ball-Sellers House, Arlington, Virginia

10/01/2026

Our October Program Guide is here!

Register now for inspiring lectures, seminars, performances, studio arts classes, and study tours: https://s.si.edu/October2026

Launched in 1797 and still afloat, the U.S.S. Constitution featured on our cover invites us to reflect on the many forces that transformed colonial America into a new nation.

It was among the first fighting ships of the American Navy, providing essential protection to mariners in the colonial era and, in the wake of the Revolution, when Barbary corsairs threatened Mediterranean trade. The ship later served in the First Barbary War, helping assert American interests abroad. A pair of programs brings that turbulent period to life (p. 9), and another examines the often-forgotten conflict itself (p. 19).

Explore all of Our Shared Future 250th programs here: smithsonianassociates.org/250

09/30/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Jancis Robinson back to the Smithsonian! Robinson, who has been writing about w**e since 1975 and is described by Decanter magazine as "the most respected w**e critic and journalist in the world,” will be in conversation with Dave McIntyre, formerly the Washington Post’s w**e columnist.

She’ll share her expertise and insights on what’s new in the world of w**e. The event also includes a w**e tasting and book signing. 🍷

📷: Chris Terry

09/29/2026

Backyard birding offers a simple, rewarding way to connect with nature—no travel required. Naturalist Matt Felperin joins us Oct. 9 to share how a window, balcony, or small outdoor space can become your front-row seat to to observing birds, seasonal changes, migration patterns, and local ecosystems.

📷: American kestrel by Matt Felperin