Exhibitions

Celebrate the vast and varied insect world through the pages of early illustrated natural history books! Through works spanning from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, Dazzling Diversity provides a glimpse into the wealth of recorded scientific knowledge in their pages and highlights the continuing relevance of historical science to contemporary biodiversity research. On display in the National Museum of Natural History through December 16, 2025.

Eleven objects – books, videos, and more – significant to the African American story are featured in this exhibition of highlights from the National Museum of African American History and Culture Library, part of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. They span over a hundred years and a variety of formats – from an 1886 biography of Harriet Tubman to a 2009 artists’ book celebrating the inauguration of President Barack Obama. On display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Explore early handmade books through the myriad natural materials—animal, vegetable, and mineral—that went into their making. Nature of the Book shows what the use of these varied and sometimes surprising resources can tell us about the book, touching on questions of use, process, global trade, and economy. On display Online.

Women’s leadership in music and social change is central to the American story. Music HerStory explores these contributions through unique collections from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, the Center for Folklife and Culture Heritage, and more. Through March 24, 2025 at the National Museum of American History.

The Smithsonian Institution is celebrating 175 years of the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Join us as we re-examine our history. What can we learn from looking back? How might the stories of the past put our present in a new light?