Barbara Faust, Smithsonian Gardens, 1977-present, became director in 2014. It was under Faust’s leadership as associate director that Smithsonian Gardens achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. #Groundbreaker

Learn how we’re creating a better record of women in science at the Smithsonian.

An intern’s experience following a thread to learn more about an exceptional Smithsonian employee, Mildred Glover.

Dr. Melissa Chiu, Director, Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 2014–present, oversees a staff of 50 and a collection of 12,000 objects. Within the first year of her tenure, Chiu doubled the number of museum board members, and, in 2017, the Hirshhorn Museum met a milestone of one million visitors. #Groundbreaker

An exciting new accession sheds light on James Smithson’s family history and fortune.

Sharon Reinckens, Deputy Director, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, has served as Acting Director, Senior Designer, and Supervisory Visual Information Specialist at the museum, 1980–present. Reinckens also produced award-winning documentaries about African American artists in Washington D.C for the museum. #Groundbreaker

2021 will mark the Smithsonian's 175th Anniversary. In honor of that, we're taking a look at what some of the design work went into making the Smithsonian's 150th Anniversary celebration happen.

Gretchen Gayle Ellsworth was a Fellow and later Co-Director, Office of Academic Programs, 1968–78; Director, Office of Fellowships and Grants, 1978–84; Deputy Director, Directorate of International Activities, 1985–88; and Associate Director, National Zoological Park, 1988–93. Ellsworth was also instrumental in advocating for better childcare at the Smithsonian. #Groundbreaker

In July 2019, the Hungerfords, descendants of James Smithson’s mother’s family visited the Smithsonian and got to see a new Hungerford document.

Kimberly Camp, Founding Director, Smithsonian Experimental Gallery, 1989-94, managed the opening of eighteen exhibitions focused on experimentation in presentation, design, and interpretation in the Arts and Industries Building. Camp is also a professional artist. #Groundbreaker