Description: [edan-image:id=siris_sic_9592,size=200,left]Did you know the Smithsonian was an early adopter of the telephone? In June of 1878, a system of electronic bells and telephones was installed throughout the Smithsonian Castle. The system connected several workrooms and offices to provide instant communications within the building. At that time, there were only 187 telephone lines
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="303" caption="Photographer holding large folding camera, by unidentified photographer, c. 1935, National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center, Archives Center."][/caption] Recently photography has said goodbye to two industry icons. Polaroid stopped production of its instant film, and Kodak announced that it is
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="403" caption="Untitled, 2001, by Susan Watts, Digital photograph, National Museum of American History, Behring Center, Division of Information Technology and Communications, Courtesy of Susan Watts/New York Daily News, Image No. watts012."][/caption] Given how quickly photographs are spread by the news and social media, we’ve come to
Description: In November of 1996, the electric guitar, its history and its makers, were the focus of attention at the National Museum of American History.
Description: [caption id="attachment_7461" align="aligncenter" width="369" caption="Construction of the National Museum of the American Indian, July 2003, digital photograph, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 06-012, Box 24, Folder NMAI Construction-July 2003, Folder CD_1, # U.jpg."] [/caption] At the Archives, we’ve recently begun working with some digital files of architectural
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="237" caption="This is America...Keep it Free!, Dorothea Lange, 1942, National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center, Archives Center."][/caption] More cameras in more places. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the installation of red light cameras and the controversy surrounding their use that’s continuing to spread