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Lunar Sample Exhibit, A&I, 1970
Latest Blog Post

Link Love: 1/27/2012

January 27, 2012 by Catherine Shteynberg

Latest Forum Topic

How do I preserve my newspaper?

2 weeks 1 day 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

South Facade, Smithsonian Institution Building

January 28, 1847

The Board of Regents passes a resolution accepting the Norman plan and design of New York architect James Renwick, Jr., for the Smithsonian Institution Building, known as the Castle. The Board also decides that the western range and western wing of the building are to be reserved for a gallery of art.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