Smithsonian Institution

Welcome to the National Mall, the sweeping, monumental core of Washington D.C. As we stand here, surrounded by grand neoclassical architecture, we must address a common, yet fundamental misconception. …

We commence our tour at the literal and historical heart of the institution: The Smithsonian Institution Building, universally known as 'The Castle.' Completed in eighteen fifty five, this striking, red sandstone, Norman-style…

We now cross the Mall to engage with a true behemoth of public education: The National Museum of Natural History. This institution is an absolute titan of global engagement, attracting an astonishing four point four million…

Our scholarly pursuit now brings us to the National Museum of American History. This institution takes on the monumental task of curating the foundational ideals, the industrial triumphs, and the complex cultural evolution of the…

We now direct our focus to one of the most popular and awe-inspiring institutions on the planet: The National Air and Space Museum. This building is a colossal homage to one of the defining achievements of the twentieth century. …

We arrive now at an institution whose striking, curvilinear architecture instantly sets it apart from the rigid neoclassicism of the surrounding Mall: The National Museum of the American Indian. This structural fluidity, designed…

For our final specific museum exploration, we approach the breathtaking bronze lattice of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This visually stunning structure is the newest major addition to the…

As we conclude our intensive exploration and return to the shadow of the Castle, take a moment to survey the sweeping expanse of the National Mall. You have just engaged with a fraction of the Smithsonian Institution's vast…