Every Collection has a Story. The Archives holds records that document the Smithsonian’s people, events, buildings, and research. The history of the Smithsonian is a vital part of the history of American experience, scientific exploration, and international cultural understanding.
Home
The Smithsonian Institution Archives Reading Room is open to the public by appointment Tuesday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Please contact OSIAREF@si.edu to schedule an appointment.
Appointment times are currently filling up 3-4 weeks in advance. For more information about Smithsonian Libraries and Archives locations, see Library Locations and Smithsonian Institution Archives Reference. To requests an appointment at another location, use Contact Us.
Appointment times are currently filling up 3-4 weeks in advance. For more information about Smithsonian Libraries and Archives locations, see Library Locations and Smithsonian Institution Archives Reference. To requests an appointment at another location, use Contact Us.
Explore all 58,418 records that document the Smithsonian's people, events, buildings, exhibits, and research:
Or scroll down to explore
Capturing, preserving, and sharing the history of the Smithsonian Institution
Explore the history of the Smithsonian Institution:
June 26, 1967
The Underwater Exploration section of the Hall of Armed Forces History opens in the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History. The exhibition explores the study of historic underwater sites and trade routes in the Western Hemisphere, Spanish-American treasure, the history of diving, modern methods of diving and of locating wrecks, and surveying, measuring, and recovery techniques. Display objects come from sites dating as early as 1595. The use of diving techniques in various disciplines and new deep-diving research are presented in photographs and models.
