the smithsonian virtual tour

Take a virtual tour of exhibitions at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

These virtual tours are made possible through the generous support of Eric Byunn and Alyssa Rieder.

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Virtual Tours

Welcome to the verdant beds of Smithsonian Gardens, splashed with color and buzzing with activity. Morning walks along shady garden paths are calling. We would like to offer you virtual tours through our gardens, exhibits, and greenhouses.

Tour Our Gardens on the National Mall

Get acquainted with iconic sights from our fourteen display gardens on the Mall.

Tour the 2022 Orchid Exhibition

See the many blooms of “ Orchids: Hidden Stories of Groundbreaking Women .”

Tour of the Flight Garden at the National Air & Space Museum

Take a walk through the Flight Garden, part of Smithsonian Gardens’ Habitat exhibit, designed to attract birds and butterflies.

Tour of the Poinsettias at the Greenhouse

Take a tour of the poinsettias grown at the Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouse.

Site Navigation

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Using digital technologies, the Smithsonian can reach a much larger audience than the limited number of people who will ever visit its museums, archives, libraries, and other facilities in person. The Institution aims to reach one billion people worldwide with a “digital first” strategy and an "open access" policy for its collections, research, and education resources. 

Website Visitors Open Access Social Media Engagement

Website Visitors

Two important measures of the Smithsonian’s online impact are the number of visitors to its approximately 170 public websites, and visitors' satisfaction with their online experience. The Smithsonian measures the latter with randomly-posted surveys of its website visitors. The same survey questionnaire is used by over 125 government agencies, non-profits, and educational organizations, allowing the Smithsonian to benchmark its performance against peer organizations

Open Access

Smithsonian Open Access allows anyone to download, share, and reuse over four million digital media assets (two- and three-dimensional images) from the Smithsonian’s collections. These assets may be used for any purpose, without concern about copyright infringement. They include images from across the Smithsonian's 21 museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, gardens, and National Zoo. For more information, visit the Open Access FAQ page . 

Social Media Engagement

The Smithsonian's social media accounts bring the breadth of the Institution to the world through the lenses of art, history, and science. Smithsonian media managers give digital audiences the opportunity to explore the vast resources of the Institution, with Smithsonian educators, curators, and researchers serving as interpretive guides. The central Smithsonian social media presence and the Institution’s individual museums, research centers, and education programs maintain hundreds of official social media accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, most of which are linked to the Smithsonian's social media management system.

ODT Smithsonian Organization and Audience Research/OCIO

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour

Virtual Tours

Schedule a free virtual tour for your group of ten or more adults. These live, interactive tours feature high-resolution images of artworks and provide online visitors an opportunity to engage in conversation with the museum’s docents. The tours are thematic explorations of both the museum’s permanent collections and special exhibitions. Using the online meeting platform Zoom, participants have the opportunity to examine and respond to exceptional artworks. These tours for adults are approximately one hour long and can also accommodate children. To schedule your adult group, please use the virtual reservation form . All virtual tours must be scheduled at least four weeks in advance. the request form .-->

Virtual tours for adults are offered in the following languages by request: English, Cantonese, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin.

Request a tour

Tour topics

New anyang: china’s ancient city of kings.

A Splendid Land: Paintings from Royal Udaipur

Art Across Cultures

Arts of the Islamic World

Cherry Blossom Tour

Chinese Brush Painting

Chinese Ceramic Art

Eat and Celebrate

Explore Buddhist Art

Freer in Egypt

Korean Ceramic Art

This docent-led online tour will feature works of art from the museum’s collections of Korean art. The tour will provide participants with the opportunity to take a close look at and gain an appreciation of the beauty of these artworks, including Korean celadon—one of the world’s best-known types of ceramics—while also learning about the history of Korean art and listening to interesting stories of how these works were acquired.

Nature in the Arts of Asia

The Peacock Room and American Art

Past Exhibitions

If you missed the exhibition when it was on view, you can still request a virtual tour.

Fashioning an Empire

One of our docents will share the art and culture of Safavid Iran (1501–1722), including textiles with sumptuous surfaces, original designs, and technical sophistication. These luxury textiles played a critical role in the social, cultural, religious, and economic life of Safavid Iran. Used for clothing, furnishing, and movable architecture, fabrics also functioned as important symbols of power and as ubiquitous forms of artistic expression.

The tour begins on March 1 to coincide with Nowruz, the celebration of the Persian New Year.

Hokusai and the Art of Japan

My Iran: Six Women Photographers

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There are many ways to visit SAAM and the Renwick Gallery and they’re all free!

• Gallery tours for all ages: registered groups, walk-ins, or self-guided; 
• Access programs for people with disabilities and their care partners; 
• School tours aligned with standards; 
• Virtual programs for school groups and learners of all ages. 

Gallery Tours for All Ages

Group tours.

Group tours are available by request for adult groups of eight or more. Choose from a variety of themes, including current special exhibitions.  

Request 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Request a group tour: https://americanart.si.edu/visit/tours/request

Walk-in Tours

Walk-in tours are sometimes available. Check with the Information Desk when you arrive. If a walk-in tour is scheduled for that day: 

• SAAM walk-in tours start at 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. every day of the week and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.  
• Renwick walk-in tours start at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. every day except Sunday. There are no tours on Sundays. 

Audio Guides

Experience the museum your way.

Smartify's free personalized tours are tailored to your interests and the time you have available. Simply answer a couple of quick questions and we'll hand pick a collection of unmissable objects and captivating stories just for you.

Art a la Cart

We have pop-up art carts at SAAM and the Renwick Gallery. Our carts provide hands-on experiences for all ages. Please check with the Information Desk to see if any carts are out.   

Free tours are available online and in our galleries at SAAM or the Renwick Gallery: 

• in American Sign Language (ASL) 
• for people with low vision 
• for people with dementia and their care partners 

There is no minimum group size for Access tours. For more information, visit https://americanart.si.edu/visit/accessibility .

Access program questions? Email [email protected] . 

School Tours

We welcome learners of all abilities and from all settings.  

School tours at SAAM and the Renwick Gallery are: 

• Free; 
• For kindergarten through college; 
• Aligned with national curriculum standards; 
• Interactive and interdisciplinary. 

School tours last 60 minutes. Want more time in the galleries? Ask about additional activities. 

Request 4 to 6 weeks in advance. For more information or to place a request, visit https://americanart.si.edu/education/k-12/field-trips . 

School tour questions? Email SAAM education staff at [email protected] . 

Virtual Programs

Online school tours.

Online school tours are:

• For 3rd grade through 12th grade; 
• 40 to 60 minute long; 
• Interactive and interdisciplinary

Request 4 to 6 weeks in advance. For more information or to place a request, visit https://americanart.si.edu/education/k-12/videoconferences .   

Online Adult Tours

Online adult tours are: 

• Available by request; 
• 45 to 60 minutes long; 
• Focus on a variety of themes, including highlights and special exhibitions; 
• Interactive and conversational. 

The Zoo is free to visit, but entry passes are required for all guests, including infants.

Today's hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.)

Elephant Cam

See the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Asian elephants — Spike, Bozie, Kamala, Swarna and Maharani — both inside the Elephant Community Center and outside in their yards.

Now more than ever, we need your support. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today!

Become a Member

Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more.

Education Calendar

Find and register for free programs and webinars.

About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

See elephants, lions and naked mole-rats on animal cams streaming live, 24/7 from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Download  Animal Cam Bingo Cards (link opens in new window) . These activities are designed to engage learners of all ages in looking closely and thinking deeply about animal behavior and habitats. Welcome to the wild side of learning!

Panda Moments (formerly Giant Panda Cam)

Naked Mole-rat Cam

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Smithsonian Introduces New Augmented Reality Experiences

Use technology to view nebulae, learn more about the American Art Museum, and see a 3D version of The Last Supper.

By Maggie Roth April 22, 2024

A series of new augmented reality experiences at the Smithsonian allows viewers to experience science and history innovatively.  

Augmented reality technology lets users view virtual objects in real-world contexts through a smartphone camera. With these filters, you’ll look through your smartphone camera and see virtual images projected onto the space as if they were in front of you, allowing you to see the item from all angles in 3D.  

The Smithsonian has several artifacts available to be viewed through augmented reality , and there are some significant new additions. Recently, the museum debuted three new programs. These include an Instagram filter that shows off celestial objects, an augmented reality tour of the American Art Museum, and a digitized version of the statue The Last Supper by Akili Ron Anderson.  

The Temple of Invention Augmented Reality Experience  

At the Smithsonian Art Museum, a new augmented reality experience gives you the chance to learn about the building’s history as the home to thousands of patent models. Viewers meet historic figures and experience moments from the museum’s past, such as Clara Barton tending to Civil War soldiers and a fire in 1877. Participants will also collect virtual cogs throughout the museum to help “restore the heart of the temple” in the AR game.  

This experience is recommended for families and elementary school–age children. It is available until May 16. The experience is free, but registration is recommended . Participants should begin the experience at the information center in the art museum’s Luce Center to check out an AR device.  

Celestial Objects  

Users can use Instagram to view 3D models of nebulae and exploded stars right through their phones. The Smithsonian used data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the world’s most powerful X-ray telescope, to create models of objects such as IC 443, a supernova remnant 5,000 light years from Earth. The models are supplemented with text to explain each item. 

They can be viewed on the Smithsonian’s Instagram account and online .  

The Last Supper  

The Last Supper , a 1982 statue by Akili Ron Anderson, is now available to be viewed anywhere through augmented reality. This 3D model is part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s online exhibition Jesus’ Hair Like Wool , which “explores contemporary and historical depictions of Black Messiahs within American religion and popular culture.” 

Feature image of The Temple of Invention Augmented Reality Experience by Albert Ting

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The First Ladies

The First Ladies  explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The exhibition features more than two dozen gowns from the Smithsonian’s almost 100-year old First Ladies Collection, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. A section titled “Changing Times, Changing First Ladies” highlights the roles played by Dolley Madison, Mary Lincoln, Edith Roosevelt, and Lady Bird Johnson and their contributions to their husband’s administrations.  The First Ladies  encourages visitors to consider the changing role played by the first lady and American women over the past 200 years.

For a more visual experience of the current First Ladies gallery, try this interactive feature .

Martha Washington's gown on display in the First Ladies gallery

White House china displayed beneath First Ladies portraits

This exhibition is made possible by generous support from Lifetime Television and The Elizabeth Carolyn Lux Foundation.

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Juneteenth Digital Toolkit

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free.

This day came to be known as Juneteenth , now officially a federal holiday. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate, gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future.

Enjoy the Tastes, Sounds and Experiences of Juneteenth

Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement, while aiding in the preservation of those historical narratives that promoted racial and personal advancement since Freedom Day. Join the museum’s Juneteenth celebration – spanning the entire month of June – and embrace the rich history of Freedom Day each week. 

Juneteenth and the Color Red

The Juneteenth 2023 Red List Notebook is among Juneteenth commemorative collection available in the museum store. 

Each year when my family celebrates Juneteenth, our flyers boldly request that each quest bring something "Red." We then add examples, like red soda pop, watermelon, apples, or even red beans. Folks bring these items without much thinking about their origin. In fact, the roots of the symbolic efficacy of the color red can be traced to West Africa, where it has been associated with strength, spirituality, life, and death. Furthermore, culinary historians, trace the color to certain foods that traveled to the Americas along with the Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, such as hibiscus and the kola nut. 

So, this year at Juneteenth, as you take a long swallow from a cool drink of hibiscus iced tea, or red punch, remember the ancestors who sacrificed, remember the blood shed in the struggle, remember the collective strength of people of the African diaspora, and finally remember the spirituality and transcendent joy that enabled us to overcome. ~  Kelly Navies, museum specialist and oral historian

Share on Social  

Educate your followers, friends and family by sharing our graphics along with one of these suggested captions:

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. This day came to be known as #Juneteenth, now officially a federal holiday. Celebrate with @NMAAHC: nmaach.si.edu/Juneteenth

Do you know the story of #Juneteenth? Learn more and join in the celebration with @NMAAHC: nmaahc.si.edu/Juneteenth

Shareable Graphics

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Children & Youth Resources

Discover Juneteenth resources to share with young children.

Crossword Puzzle

Listen on Tidal

Listen on YouTube Music

Join Our Programs

Juneteenth: A Time of Celebration, Reflection

Join us in-person and online for our Juneteenth programming highlighting community, culture and freedom.  

Discover Educational Resources

Press Play on History: Juneteenth

Connect songs to themes of the historical experience of African Americans and Juneteenth and create a playlist through this Learning Lab activity.

Juneteenth: Connecting the Historic to the Now

Scholars discuss the historical and current political significance of the holiday.

Explore More

As you celebrate Juneteenth this year, the museum offers additional resources to help you embrace the rich history of Freedom Day.

Juneteenth: Cause for Celebration

This 1925 film, recorded by the Rev. Solomon Sir Jones, captures a Juneteenth celebration in Beaumont, Texas. Learn more about Reconstruction, rights and retaliation by visiting our Searchable Museum.

Embrace a Rich History 

Watch museum videos that celebrate culture, family and freedom. 

We use the video player Able Player to provide captions and audio descriptions. Able Player performs best using web browsers Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. If you are using Safari as your browser, use the play button to continue the video after each audio description. We apologize for the inconvenience.

NMAAHC Oral History Specialist Kelly Navies talks about the history of Juneteenth.

Rochelle Rice sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

What is Juneteenth, and why is it important? - Karlos K. Hill and Soraya Field Fiorio

Juneteenth Reading List

Check out our museum's top picks and explore the books on our expert's must-read list — curated just for you. 

Titles for Younger Readers

A IS FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE A JOYFUL ABC BOOK

A IS FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE: A JOYFUL ABC BOOK Anna Forgerson Hindley and the National Museum of African American History and Culture This alphabet board book celebrates what makes us unique as individuals and connects us as humans. This lively and colorful book introduces young readers to 26 key traits they can explore and cultivate as they grow. The book supports understanding and development of each child’s healthy racial identity, the joy in human diversity and inclusion, a sense of justice, and children’s capacity to act for their own and others’ fair treatment.

Our Skin A First Conversation About Race

OUR SKIN: A FIRST CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli The premiere book in the First Conversations board book series, Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race, offers children and adults in their lives supportive examples for holding honest conversations about race and racism told in a read-aloud format. Backed by research in early childhood development, this vibrantly illustrated picture book equips readers with clear language, and historical context to learn about skin color, race, and racism and gives examples of ways young children can use their unique voices to stand for fairness.

Get Up Stand Up

GET UP, STAND UP Bob Marley and Cedella Marley This children’s book adaptation of the empowering Bob Marley lyrics, Get Up, Stand Up, encourages young readers to use their voices to stand up for themselves and others. Through the perspective of a young girl’s day at school, this lyrical story showcases how injustice can appear in children’s everyday lives and each child’s unique and collective power to fight against it.

Our Children Can Soar

OUR CHILDREN CAN SOAR Michelle Cook Our fight for racial justice is one that has been carried on by people for generations. Through beautiful illustrations, this rhythmically told picture book celebrates the diverse pursuits and accomplishments of Black leaders throughout history and showcases how each generation's work enables the following to reach new heights.

Freedom, We Sing

JUNETEENTH FOR MAZIE Floyd Cooper Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history. The day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth.

Juneteenth for Mazie

Ruth and the Green Book

RUTH AND THE GREEN BOOK Calvin Alexander Ramsey with Gwen Strauss Ruth and the Green Book is the story of one Black family’s trip from Chicago to Alabama by car in the late 1940s. Along the way they encounter prejudice, but they also discover The Green Book, a real guide to accommodations which was published for decades to aid African American travelers as they faced prejudice on the roads across the country.

TAR BEACH Faith Ringgold Cassie Louise Lightfoot has a dream: to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on “tar beach,” the rooftop of her family’s Harlem apartment building, her dreams come true. The stars lift her up, and she flies over the city, claiming the buildings and the city as her own.

Love Twelve Miles Long

LOVE TWELVE MILES LONG Glenda Armand This story, inspired by the life of Fredrick Douglas, imagines a poignant bedtime conversation between a young Fredrick Douglas and his mother about her twelve-mile journey to see him. Through the book, readers follow the life of a family separated by slavery and explore questions about resilience, the injustice of slavery, and the hope and promise of freedom.  

ABCs of Black History

ABCs OF BLACK HISTORY Rio Cortez Letter by letter, celebrate a story of big ideas––P is for Power, S is for Science and Soul -- of significant moments––G is for Great Migration-- and of iconic figures––H is for Zora Neale Hurston, X is for Malcom X. In addition to rhyming text, the book includes back matter with information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Mae Jemison to W. E. B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer to Sam Cooke, and the Little Rock Nine to DJ Kool Herc.

Harriet Tubman Conductor on the Underground Railroad

HARRIET TUBMAN: CONDUCTOR ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Ann Petry Harriet Tubman was born a slave and dreamed of being free. She was willing to risk everything–including her own life–to see that dream come true. After her daring escape, Harriet became a conductor on the secret Underground Railroad, helping others make the dangerous journey to freedom.

Stamped (for kids_ Racism, Antiracism, and You

STAMPED (FOR KIDS): RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU. Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi Adapted from the groundbreaking bestseller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.

Brown Girl Dreaming

BROWN GIRL DREAMING Jaqueline Woodson A memoir in verse about what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s living with the remnants of Jim Crow and a growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.

Gallery Modal

Facts about juneteenth.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s curator of women’s history Angela Tate and museum specialist and oral historian Kelly Navies provide history and insight on Juneteenth.

The Historical Background of Juneteenth:

​​​​​​​ Kelly Navies, museum specialist and oral historian: “Throughout the war, Texas remained largely free of the presence of Union troops. A year after General Granger’s announcement, Texans celebrated the first Juneteenth. However, African Americans had to overcome many challenges in the years after learning of their ‘freedom.’ Many states, including Texas, passed stringent laws curtailing the movement and actions of the newly freed men and women. Those in power also attempted to thwart the observance of Juneteenth by denying large groups of African Americans access to land on which to celebrate. In response to this strategy, in 1872, Black Houstonians, under the leadership of Rev. Jack Yates, a formerly enslaved man, formed the Colored People and Emancipation Park Association to purchase a plot of land that could be used for Juneteenth celebrations. This plot of land became known as Emancipation Park and throughout the era of segregation it was the only public park open to African Americans in Houston, Texas. In other towns throughout the South, similar strategies were used to secure safe spaces for Juneteenth observance."

The Meaning of Juneteenth Through Social Justice Movements

Juneteenth gained popularity during the Civil Rights Movement with the increased emphasis on Black history and empowerment. At the end of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign, held on the National Mall, there was a ‘Solidarity Day,’ held on Juneteenth. Many who attended had never heard of Juneteenth and subsequently took their new knowledge to their hometowns across the United States. The significance of Juneteenth is part of a continuum of moments where African Americans have advocated for their full participation in American citizenship and commanded the maintenance of the memory of our history and culture in the face of resistance and racism.

What is the significance of Juneteenth?

Angela Tate, museum curator of women’s history : “The holiday did not exist when Frederick Douglass delivered his stirring speech about Independence Day. By the turn of the twentieth century, Black leaders such as W.E.B. Du Bois focused efforts on commemorating anniversaries of Emancipation Day (1913, 1933). Black History Month grew out of Negro History Week, which Carter G. Woodson founded February 7, 1926, to commemorate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Martin Luther King’s birthday was not made a federal holiday until 1983. The significance of Juneteenth is, thus, part of a continuum of moments where African Americans have advocated for their full participation in American citizenship and commanded the maintenance of the memory of our history and culture in the face of resistance and racism.”

How is Juneteenth celebrated?

Kelly Navies, museum specialist and oral historian : “Juneteenth is celebrated in a variety of ways throughout the United States and world, but consistent themes are an emphasis on family, freedom, activism, and resilience. Most communities celebrate with a feast centered around a barbeque. Often there are historic-themed performances and poetry readings. You might also see African drumming and dancing. The color red is an important symbol of the sacrifices made in the past, and many people wear red and bring red side dishes to the feast, like red beans, watermelon, and red soda pop.”

Why is the day called Juneteenth?

Kelly Navies, museum specialist and oral historian : “The holiday’s name Juneteenth is a combination of the month of June and the 19th day, representing the date in 1865 General Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with a force of almost 2000 troops to inform the enslaved African Americans in Texas that they were now “free.” June + 19 = Juneteenth.”

How has the holiday evolved over the years?

Angela Tate, museum curator of women’s history : “As with many things involving African American history and culture, Juneteenth is not without its own debates and detractors. Recent efforts to generate support for making it a national holiday have been met with resistance. Several Black Texans have been critical of how the state and Southern culture have been excised from the conversations and commemorations. Chaédria LaBouvier, the first Black curator at the Guggenheim Museum, tweeted in late 2020 about the lack of specificity when discussing Juneteenth and the Southern roots of African American culture: 

‘Histories, practices, etc that traceably originate or were developed as we currently iterate them in places that we are not living descendants of said history or ppl — we are doing the toxic, colonial thing to each other that has been done to us.’

“This sharp reminder of Juneteenth’s cultural roots is echoed in a letter to the editor sent to the Atlanta Daily World in 1983, when Texas State Representative Al Edwards reminded Atlanta readers that ‘Juneteenth celebrations originated here in Texas...In 1979 the 66th Legislature passed and the Governor signed my H.B. 1016 which going into effect next year made Emancipation Day an official state holiday.’ When digging even further into Black newspapers, the evidence of Texas being at the heart of Juneteenth is clear: newspaper articles from the first half of the twentieth century characterize it as a strictly Texas holiday, whereas in the second half of twentieth century, it has flourished in a variety of cities, with Los Angeles being the most prevalent city of celebration.

“This is no coincidence: California was the destination for African Americans from Texas and Louisiana in the 1940s-70s, undoubtedly drawn by the continuous sunshine and the similar ethnic populations (it was split amongst black, white, and brown, as opposed to the black and white binary in the rest of the South). However, even Black newspapers from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento reveal how often Juneteenth was merely an excuse to gather over food, drinks, and music. At one celebration held in 1988, the usual red soda and funk was swapped out for finger foods as guests listened to classical music! Later, in the early 2000s, Black leaders saw in Juneteenth a piece of the overall push for reparations and federal acknowledgement and redress for the harms of slavery and Jim Crow.”

What is the significance of the color red and Juneteenth?

Kelly Navies, museum specialist and oral historian : Each year when my family celebrates Juneteenth, our flyers boldly request that each quest bring something “Red.” We then add examples, like red soda pop, watermelon, apples, or even red beans. Folks bring these items without much thinking about their origin. In fact, the roots of thesymbolic efficacy of the color Red can be traced to West Africa, where it has been associated with strength, spirituality, life, and death. Furthermore, culinary historians, trace the color to certain foods that traveled to the Americas along with the Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, such as hibiscus and the Kola nut. So, this year at Juneteenth, as you take a long swallow from a cool drink of hibiscus iced tea, or red punch, remember the ancestors who sacrificed, remember the blood shed in the struggle, remember the collective strength of people of the African diaspora, and finally remember the spirituality and transcendent joy that enabled us to overcome.

Test Your Knowledge: Crossword Answer Key

Savor the Flavors of Juneteenth

Louis armstrong's red beans and rice, hibiscus and ginger sweet tea, commemorative merchandise.

Help Represent Juneteenth

Shop this limited-edition collection that honors Juneteenth as celebrated for over 150 years. Purchases support the museum’s artistic, community and education programs.

Transcribe Freedmen's Bureau Records

Learn about the post-Civil War transition of enslaved people by volunteering to transcribe the records of the Freedmen's Bureau, which is accessible online, through the Smithsonian Transcription Center.

Subtitle here for the credits modal.

Years in the making, the NPM Archives

By Mitch Toda , Head Archivist

National Postal Museum Archives Mission Statement

NPM Archives collects materials that strengthen and support the Museum's goal to be a global leader and advocate for the research, study, and exhibition of postal operations history, philately, and the mail. To this end the Archives appraises, acquires, describes, preserves, and makes accessible archival collections that document postal operations history, philately, the mail, and their roles in the United States and internationally.

The archival collection aims to represent the diversity of the lived American experience and be inclusive of its scope in terms of creators, collectors, subject matter, geography, time periods and media.

In the fall of 2023, I found myself embarking on a new journey at the National Postal Museum (NPM) to start their Archives! In this new role as the Founding Archivist, I was presented with the wonderful opportunity and privilege to build an Archives from the very beginning. It was to my great benefit that others had laid the important groundwork to call for and justify having an archive at the Museum.

While the Museum has held archival materials in its collections since its beginnings as the National Philatelic Collection at the National Museum of American History , the first proposal for the establishment of a NPM Archives was written on June 16, 2008 by Diane DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris who were at the time members of the Museum Advisory Council. Also in 2008, a supporting archives assessment report was written by Nicole Osier, under the supervision of NPM Curator Daniel Piazza, as part of a practicum project for a graduate course on the Administration of Archives and Manuscripts at George Mason University.

From there a decade would pass until a 2018 grant application by Susan Smith, Winton M. Blount Research Chair, secured funding from the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee for a survey and analysis of archival materials. The work for this was carried out by Allison Marsh, PhD, from 2020 to 2021 and provided the survey and narrative description, as well as a framework and recommendations for the creation of the archive at the Museum. Additional support for an archives came from the 2019 Smithsonian Organization and Audience Research report conducted at the request of Elliot Gruber, Director, "Collections and Preservation Department at the National Postal Museum: Assessment of Its Operations and Structure Benchmarked with Other Organizations" which specifically recommended that the Museum hire an archivist to manage its archival materials.

One of my first activities to start the NPM Archives was to determine how its collections and what it collects complements the Museum's existing collections. Marsh's survey and report provided great background information about the archival material at the Museum and was extremely helpful in beginning the work of creating a Collections Stewardship Plan for the Archives. The Plan provides a framework for what the Archives is, what it collects, and how it functions within the Museum. Elements of the Archives' Plan include identifying the types of programs supported by the collections, determining its audience, ascertaining the Museum collection strengths and weaknesses, ascertaining the subject areas collected, developing the collecting scope of the Archives, formulating the acquisitions process, explaining how collections may be accessed by public, outlining the deaccessioning process of collection materials, and laying out an implementation strategy.

The work to write the Collections Stewardship Plan was very much a collaborative effort between myself and the staff of the Curatorial and Collections Departments. It was also very much informed through meetings with various archival colleagues within the Smithsonian at the Anacostia Community Museum, the Archives of American Gardens, the National Museum of African Art, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Asian Art, and the National Museum of the American Indian. What I learned from my colleagues' experiences, their workflows, and their best practices influenced my formulation of the Archives Collections Stewardship Plan. After many months of edits, comments, and feedback the Archives Collections Stewardship Plan was approved in February 2024. With the plan in place, it was now time to start the process of implementing the plan.

When opening the storage cabinets in my space for the first time, lo and behold there were already archival collections waiting for me to work on! The materials are a legacy of past transfers of records from the Post Office Department to the Smithsonian. In learning more about the collections at the Museum and how the Museum functions, it was clear to me that the primary avenues of growth of collections in the Archives will come through a survey and appraisal of existing "archival" items as identified in the Museum's collections management system as well as through the ongoing offers of donations of items from folks to the Museum.

As with the majority of the archives at the Smithsonian I chose to manage and process the Archives' collections in the archival information management application, ArchivesSpace. With the application I can manage provenance and administrative collection information, collection locations, create finding aids, and can link to digital objects.

Currently there are three finding aids to collections available in the Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives and the Smithsonian Collections Search Center . The NPM Archives webpage went live in April and we are ready to begin welcoming people to come do research with us!

About the Author Mitch Toda joined the National Postal Museum in the Fall of 2023. He graduated with a Master's in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archival Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and received his B.A. in Art History from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to working at the museum, Mitch held positions at the Smithsonian Institution Archives, The Huntington Library, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He has the privilege of starting the Archives at the Museum and works to acquire, catalog, preserve, and make accessible archival collections that document postal operations history, philately, and the mail.

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Virtual Travel

A Smithsonian magazine special report

Take a Free Virtual Tour of Five Egyptian Heritage Sites

The sites include the 5,000-year-old tomb of Meresankh III, the Red Monastery and the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq

Theresa Machemer

Correspondent

Earlier this month, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the release of five new virtual tours of historic sites, adding to the range of online adventures that you can now embark on from home.

The tours explore the tomb of Meresankh III , the tomb of Menna , the Ben Ezra Synagogue , the Red Monastery and the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq . Each virtual experience features detailed 3-D imagery through which users can “walk” by clicking hotspots along the structures’ floors.

As James Stewart reports for the Guardian , the tours boast “beefed up” 3-D modeling made by experts with Harvard University’s Giza Project . Unlike their real counterparts, most of which charge a small entry fee, the virtual renderings are free to all.

“The virtual tours target both [international] tourists and Egyptians, a ministry spokesperson tells Al-Monitor ’s Amira Sayed Ahmed. “They serve the double purpose of promoting Egyptian tourism nationwide and increasing Egyptians' awareness of their own civilization.”

Two of the tours—the tombs of Meresankh III and elite Egyptian official Menna —include background information accessible by clicking circles overlaid atop specific features. The former’s tomb, dated to some 5,000 years ago, is the oldest of the Egyptian sites available as a virtual walkthrough. Meresankh, a queen wed to King Khafre, was the daughter of Prince Kawab and Hetepheres II of the fourth dynasty, and the granddaughter of Great Pyramid builder Cheops, also known as Khufu.

Harvard archaeologist George Andrew Reisner discovered the queen’s tomb in 1927. He later stated that “None of us had ever seen anything like it.” Today, the burial place’s paintings and carvings remain well-preserved, showcasing hunters catching water birds, bakers making triangular loaves of bread and servants holding offerings.

In the northern chamber, along the wall furthest from the virtual tour’s starting point, ten statues of women stand shoulder to shoulder—an unusual sight among Gaza tombs. The statues “serve to emphasize Meresankh’s position among her queenly relatives,” the tour explains. Along the path to the 16-foot-deep burial shaft, users pass a pair of statues depicting Meresankh and her mother, Hetepheres II, with their arms around each other.

The path leads down a spiraling staircase into the burial shaft, where Meresankh’s black granite sarcophagus—originally created for her mother but re-engraved upon the queen’s death in 2532 B.C., according to the History Blog —was originally found. The tour includes a reconstructed image of the chamber with the sarcophagus in place, but the actual coffin is now kept at the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo.

The tomb of Menna, dated to the 18th dynasty (about 1549 B.C to 1292 B.C.), is “one of the most visited and best preserved” from the era, the ministry writes in a statement quoted by Live Science ’s Laura Geggel. The tomb’s decorations suggest the elite official was a scribe in charge of the pharaoh’s fields and the temple of sun god Amun-Re.

Menna’s tomb also includes informational blurbs highlighting such features as paintings of the scribe’s family, including his wife Henuttawy and their five children. Curiously, all of the paintings of Menna have been defaced.

“The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul of a person inhabited paintings of them and destroying the face would ‘deactivate’ the image,” the tour notes. “Why would someone want to destroy the memory of Menna?”

The tomb also served as a point of communication with the dead. It once featured life-size statues of Menna and Henuttawy that family members could make offerings to, ask for favors or visit during festivals.

The other three tours do not offer information blurbs at this time, but they still have plenty of detailed 3-D imagery for virtual visitors to explore. The Red Monastery , a Coptic church in Upper Egypt, features ornate frescoes, while the 14th-century Mosque-Madrassa is known for its immense size and innovative architecture. The Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo is alleged to be the site where baby Moses was found.

“Experience Egypt from home,” says the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Facebook . “Stay home. Stay safe.”

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Theresa Machemer | READ MORE

Theresa Machemer is a freelance writer based in Washington DC. Her work has also appeared in National Geographic and SciShow. Website: tkmach.com

Open seven days a week.

10:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m., including holidays with the exception of December 25th when we are closed to the public.

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20560

Visitors may enter from the National Mall on Madison Drive or Constitution Ave.

Admission is FREE.

Tickets are not required

Guidelines for Visiting

The Smithsonian is implementing COVID-19 safety measures based on guidance from the CDC and local governments. The latest guidelines are available at si.edu/visit/tips .

When is the museum open? The National Museum of Natural History is seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except December 25.

Are masks still required? As of March 11, masks are not required to visit Smithsonian museums or the National Zoo. While it will not be required, all visitors who feel more comfortable wearing a face mask during their visit are encouraged to do so.

Are passes necessary to enter the museum? No, free timed-entry passes are no longer needed to enter the museum.

Will there be security screening?  For everyone’s safety, all visitors are required to go through screening during the security process. One of our security personnel will conduct a thorough but hand-check of all bags, briefcases, purses, strollers, and containers. Please visit the Smithsonian’s security information page for more information on prohibited items. 

All visitors are required to walk through a metal detector. Those unable to go through the metal detector will be hand-screened with an electronic wand by security personnel.

Protective safety shields have been installed at bag-check screening stations and register. We encourage visitors to limit the number of personal belongings and bags brought into the museum as they will be subject to a thorough search. Limiting the items brought will increase your speed through security checkpoints and help us all maintain a safe social distance. Please note that we do not offer coat, bag, or locker storage at this time.

Is a COVID-19 vaccine required? Visitors are not required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the museum. 

Will everything be open at NMNH? We will open as much as we determine it is safe to open, but some spaces will remain closed for now. Visitors should check the website for complete information about programs, learning venues, cafes, retail, and high-touch, interactive exhibits.   The restrooms will be open. Limited locker storage is available for small bags and items.

Will the museum cafés and retail shops be open?

The Atrium Café is open from 11:30am-3:30pm and the Ocean Terrace Café is open 11:30am-4:00pm. The Family Store, Gallery Store, and Gems and Minerals Store are open from 10am-5:30pm.

Will guided tours, demonstrations, and events resume? Some in-person events have resumed.

Is there a coat or bag check at the museum? We have limited locker storage available for small bags and items. Visitors are encouraged to travel as lightly as possible and refrain from bringing large bags and packs for the best museum experience.

Are there family-friendly restrooms? A restroom designated for family use is located on the 1st floor of the museum, off of the Sant Ocean Hall. 

Can I bring my stroller, scooter, walker, wheelchair or any type of mobility device? The museum is accessible to visitors using strollers, scooters, walkers, wheelchairs, and mobility devices. There are elevators available to visitors on every floor of the museum.

Are wheelchairs available? A very limited number of manual wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for use while visiting the museum. You are encouraged to bring a wheelchair with you due to limited availability.

How do I contact the museum with questions? For more information about visiting the museum, please email [email protected] .

Masks are not currently required to visit. While not required, all visitors who feel more comfortable wearing a face mask during their visit are encouraged to do so.

Our current health and safety measures are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local governments. These measures may change in response to changing CDC COVID-19 Community Levels, so we encourage visitors to regularly check our website before their visit for the latest guidelines.

Museum Address The museum is located on Madison Dr. NW, between 9th St NW and 12 St NW ( Google Map ). Visitors may enter on Madison Ave. or at 10th St. NW & Constitution Ave. NW. 

Metro The closest Metro stations to the museum are the Federal Triangle Metro station, located on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines; the Archives/Navy Memorial station on the Green and Yellow lines; and the Metro Center station on the Red line. View a map of the closest Metro stations .

Parking There are no Smithsonian Institution public parking facilities on the National Mall. There are a number of nearby commercial lots and garages  which may have available parking. If you must drive, please see parking options . For additional information on bus parking, contact the National Park Service Mall Operations Office at 202-426-6841 .

For More: Visit our Getting Here and Parking Page .

The National Museum of Natural History is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all audiences. Please contact 202-633-3611 or send an email [email protected] for access services. For more information visit the Accessibility Information page .

Entrance All museum entrances and exits are accessible. 

Parking The Smithsonian does not provide parking, but there are designated accessible spaces around the National Mall.

Service Animals Service dogs specially trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome in the museum.

Information for Visitors in a Wheelchair

• All of the museum's exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair, and all public floors of the museum can be reached by elevator.
• All theaters include wheelchair locations and companion seats.
• All food service areas are accessible by wheelchair with no steps, turnstiles, or other potential obstructions
• All museum restrooms are accessible to those with mobility disabilities or in wheelchairs. Family/companion care restrooms are located on the First Floor off the Rotunda via the Sant Ocean Hall.

Information for Visitors Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

• Video presentations within exhibitions are open captioned. 
• Induction loops are installed at the Rotunda Visitor Information Desk and the Worldwide Theater in the Hall of Human Origins.
• Assisted Listening Devices are available upon request for programs in Baird Auditorium and Q?rius Theater.
• Sign language interpretation or real-time captioning (CART) are available for public programs with a two week advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail [email protected] .

Information for Visitors Who Are Blind or Partially Sighted

• Tactile objects are provided for all visitors at designated points throughout the museum. A full list of tactile objects can be found at the Information Desks in large print and braille.
• Verbally-described tours with tactile elements designed for visitors with visual disabilities are available with a two-week advanced notice. Subject to volunteer availability. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail [email protected] .
• Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deep-time-audio-description/id1465972882?ls=1
• Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.si.natualhistory.deeptime

Information for Visitors with Developmental, Learning & Sensory Disabilities

Calendar of Events This calendar of events highlights some of the programs and activities that will be happening at the museum.

For More: Visit Our Accessibility Information Page

We are committed to visitor safety and have security measures in place to keep you and Museum objects protected. When you arrive at the Museum you can expect a full security screening similar to what you might experience at the airport, except you can keep your shoes and belts on.

Items Not Permitted in the Museum

• Firearms / ammunition
• Knives (including pen, pocket or "Swiss Army"-style knives)
• Aerosol cans (including pepper spray and Mace)
• Tools (screwdrivers, awls, etc.)
• Placards, signs, or banners
• Pets (except service animals)
• Wagons (collapsible and fixed wheel)

Items You Are Prohibited from Using Inside the Museum

• Selfie sticks
• E-cigarettes
• Skateboards / scooters

Items Permitted in the Museum

• Mobility aids (canes, walkers, etc.)
• Service animals (not emotional support animals)
• Bottled water

Check the Smithsonian's security policy for the most up-to-date information. 

The museum's Security Office is located on the Ground Floor in the north (Constitution Avenue) lobby next to the elevators.

Ocean Terrace Café Open 11:30am – 2:00pm Location: First Floor Make-your-own Grain Bowls at the Ocean Terrace Café with fresh greens and nutritious toppings. In addition, we feature fresh sandwiches, desserts, snacks, and beverages.

Atrium Café Open 11:00am – 3:00pm Location: Ground Floor National Museum of Natural History: Featuring butcher craft burgers, grill items, a chef’s market table featuring seasonal menus, made-in-house Focaccia hot melts, desserts, and beverages.   

Shopping Selected merchandise items in our shops are now available for purchase online at the Smithsonian Store .

For inquiries about our museum stores, please contact the NMNH Store Management Team at 202.633.2060.

Gem and Mineral Store Location: Second Floor Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Gallery Store Location: Ground Floor, Evans Gallery Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Family Store Location: Ground Floor, Evans Gallery Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Dinos and More Store Location: First Floor, near the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals Open hours vary

Natural History Express Kiosk Location: Second Floor, near Cellphone: Unseen Connections Open hours vary

Bag Lunches Seating for bagged lunches is not currently available. Bagged lunches must be stowed away at all times while visiting the museum and must be eaten outside of the museum. The museum has no refrigerated storage for lunches.

Nursing Station The museum now has a dedicated public nursing room. Located in the Constitution Avenue Lobby, the public nursing room allows our visitors to nurse in private and is close to the restrooms and health unit.

Pets Pets (except service animals) are not permitted in the museum. Emotional support animals are not permitted in the museum.

Photography The Smithsonian permits still and video photography for noncommercial use only in its museums and exhibitions, unless otherwise posted. For the safety of our visitors and collections, the use of tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks is not permitted at any time. Working members of the media who need to use a tripod or monopod must obtain permission from the museum’s Press Office and must be escorted by a museum staff member while in the building.

Notice: Visitors may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by the Smithsonian for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on the Smithsonian’s and other public websites.

Wi-Fi The museum provides free Wi-Fi access; choose the "si-visitor" network on your device. No password necessary. This is a public, unsecured network.

Smoking Smoking is prohibited in all Smithsonian facilities. This includes e-cigarettes.

Please see the "Prepare for Security" section above for items that are not permitted inside the museum.

Must-do Experiences

Butterfly Pavilion

Today at the Museum

Visit the Museum from Home

Additional resources.

Download Museum Map

Navigate your way around all three floors of the museum.

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