Every Collection has a StoryThe history of the Smithsonian is a vital part of the history of American experience, scientific exploration, and international cultural understanding. Explore the records of the Archives that document the Smithsonian’s people, events, buildings, and research.

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Lunar Sample Exhibit, A&I, 1970
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Link Love: 1/27/2012

January 27, 2012 by Catherine Shteynberg

Latest Forum Topic

How do I preserve my newspaper?

2 weeks 19 hours ago – lockshinn in Collections Care Guidelines & Resources

Even in this time of changing news distribution, we wrote up a Note for our Facebook page when President Obama was elected because so many people bought out city and national newspapers to preserve that historic front page banner headline. But like newspapers, we're not sure that Note will be around in future (I'm having a hard time finding it now!), so we are republishing it here. More

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Today in Smithsonian History

Opening of Renwick Gallery

January 27, 1972

The Renwick Gallery, designed by 19th century architect James Renwick, Jr.,  opens in the former Corcoran Gallery of Art Building next to Blair House. The gallery is devoted to American creativity in crafts, design, and decorative arts and is a curatorial branch of the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum.More

Featured Exhibit

National Museum Building Committee, 1880

Spencer F. Baird's Vision for a National Museum

The Smithsonian’s Second Secretary Spencer Fullerton Baird dedicated his career to creating a great national museum at the Smithsonian, the U.S. National Museum that opened in 1881. Learn about Baird and the fulfillment of his dreams.More