Description: How photos from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens help preserve the memory of gardens (such as the Middlegate Japanese Gardens pictured above) that are now gone. The Museum of the Future has a great roundup of videos and blogs about museums, technology, and media. An update on earthquake damage at the Smithsonian, and hear Smithsonian Secretary (and earthquake
Description: [caption id="" align="alignright" width="147" caption="Walt Whitman, 1875, by Thomas Wilmer Dewing, Chalk on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Robert Tyler Davis Memorial Fund, 1980.73."][/caption] Fascinating interview with poet Robert Roper, who dug into the National Archives to examine the moving letters poet Walt Whitman wrote to family
Description: [caption id="" align="alignright" width="186" caption="Waistcoat, France, 1790, Silk embroidery on silk plain weave, linen back, 60 x 50 cm (23 5/8 x 19 11/16 in.), Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma Greenleaf, Photo: Steve Tague, Courtesy of the Cooper-Hewitt
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="Owney Embarks on his Makeover, photo courtesy of National Postal Museum, Pushing the Envelope blog."][/caption] Owney the Railway Mail Service dog is about to undergo conservation to improve his appearance and will be tweeting about the whole process on his very entertaining Twitter feed. You all know about our passion
Description: Note: This blog post borrows heavily from the article, “Shooting Fireworks: Capture the Spectacle,” from former Smithsonian employee, Jim Wallace (originally published on the Smithsonian staff photographer’s website in 1995), with valuable additions from Ken Rahaim. The 4th of July is coming up next week, promising picnics, gatherings, and of course, fireworks. You may have