Description: [caption id="attachment_3532" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Lorgnette Humaine, Scan from The English Mechanic, 1897 drawing of an invention using X-Rays to scan luggage, courtesy of Flickr user Mark Wahl, Creative Commons: Attribution 2.0."][/caption] A week or so ago, shoes off and stuck in the slow moving security check line at an airport, I became fixated as I
Description: The South Yard behind the Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle, is bordered on the east by the Arts and Industries Building and west by the Freer Gallery of Art. In the late 19th century, it was the site of small buildings for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Taxidermy Studio, National Zoological Park, and Aerodrome Studio. After World War I, a Quonset hut
Description: The Smithsonian Institution’s first building, the Castle, was designed by architect James Renwick. Until 1881, it housed all aspects of Smithsonian operations, including research, administration, lecture and exhibit halls, library, laboratories, collections storage, and living quarters for the Secretary. Today, the Castle houses administrative offices and the Smithsonian
Description: This coming weekend muggles from around the world will be participating in the International Quidditch Association’s World Cup; but did you know that this growing sport may have a Smithsonian connection?