Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

Air Transportation

Follow the evolution of air transportation of people, mail, and cargo in this exhibit of early aircraft.

July 1, 1976 – January 9, 2006

Air and Space Museum

Tool Chests: Symbol and Servant

A selection of tool chests tells us much about workers and workplaces.

August 16, 1991 – December 9, 2005

American History Museum

Extreme Textiles: Designing for High Performance

Visit the first exhibition devoted to the subject of technical textiles, featuring highly engineered materials designed for ultimate performance.

April 8, 2005 – October 30, 2005

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Chasing Venus: Observing the Transits of Venus, 1631-2004

Through books, manuscripts, and period scientific instruments, this exhibition examines the 'transit of Venus', the scientific and debates of the day.

March 24, 2004 – September 5, 2005

American History Museum

The Aurora Butterfly of Peace

See 240 natural colored diamonds -- one of the most comprehensive collections of natural colored diamonds in the world -- loosely arranged to form the shape of a butterfly.

November 23, 2004 – July 25, 2005

Natural History Museum

On Their Own: Selected Works by Self-Taught African American Artists

The wit and daring of self-taught artists take center stage in an exhibition showcasing the works of Chris Clark, Simon Jackson, “The Dot Man” (Sam McMillan), Mary L. Proctor, “Mr. Imagination” (Gregory Warmack), and Ruby Williams.

January 31, 2005 – June 12, 2005

Anacostia Community Museum

Smithsonian Institution Libraries in the Service of Science

See a life-size, color illustration of a green-backed golden pheasant, found in the library-bound A Monograph of the Phasianidae or Family of the Pheasants (1872).

November 22, 2002 – June 3, 2005

Natural History Museum

Aircraft Models

In several cases, see a selection of several hobby model airplanes, ranging from balsa wood to expensive models that require hours of meticulous work.

January 27, 2000 – May 24, 2005

Air and Space Museum

El Nino

This case explores the El Nino weather phenomenon and discusses how it affects life around the world. An interactive computer provides information from NASA.

October 1, 2004 – May 9, 2005

Natural History Museum

In Search of Giant Squid

Two preserved giant squids are on view. The rare Taningia danae is often referred to as the world's largest flasher because of its ability to flash brilliant blue-green light in the ocean depths. Architeuthis dux, displayed in the museum since 1983, is the world's largest invertebrate.

April 1, 2000 – May 6, 2005

Natural History Museum

Miracles Under the Waves: Photographic Art of Akiyoshi Ito

See the vibrant colors and diverse forms of life in coral reefs around the world revealed in 34 photographs by Japanese photographer and artist Akiyoshi Ito.

March 2, 2005 – May 1, 2005

Ripley Center

The Orchid Express

Discover the transformation of these beautiful plants from the wild to how they were transported, cultivated, hybridized, propagated, and finally mass marketed to delighted plant lovers.

December 4, 2004 – May 1, 2005

Natural History Museum

American Prairie

Learn about the prairie's story from biological, environmental, and cultural perspectives on the Prairie Plant Discovery Trail.

July 8, 1999 – April 26, 2005

National Zoo

Nature's Best 2004 Photography Awards

Visit approximately 20-30 winning photographs from the 2004 Nature's Best International Photography Awards. The awards honor the best amateur and professional photographers from around the world.

January 6, 2005 – April 24, 2005

Natural History Museum

DigiLab

This exhibition explains the purpose and goals of the museum's Digital Image Laboratory and demonstrates the process of digitizing its holdings.

November 10, 1999 – January 2, 2005

American History Museum

The Mighty Marlin

See a model of the world-record black marlin (1,560-lb, 14 1/2-ft), caught in 1953 by Alfred Glassell, and a video about marlin research that explores the life cycle of these billfish.

February 7, 1997 – November 1, 2004

Natural History Museum

American Bison

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the National Zoo again has an exhibition of American plains bison - two 1,500-pound females, aged 13 and 18 years.

December 1, 1984 – October 31, 2004

National Zoo

Solos: FutureShack

See a possible solution to low-cost, mobile housing for individuals displaced by man-made and natural disasters in FutureShack -- a prototype constructed from a recycled shipping container and outfitted with a minimum of industrial materials.

May 14, 2004 – October 10, 2004

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Forces of Change: Global Links: El Nino's Powerful Reach

This exhibition uses the El Nino weather phenomenon to demonstrate the dynamic interrelations among the Earth's 4 components.

September 29, 2003 – September 15, 2004

Natural History Museum

Ancient Microworlds

View fossil photographs by Dr. Giraud Foster.

May 15, 2004 – September 15, 2004

Natural History Museum

Case: Science in the News: Treetop Opera

Take a look at the periodical cicada emergence this spring and features a tray of specimens, a model of a cicada to show what parts make all the noise, a jar of nymphs, and 7 photos showing the cicada's life cycle.

April 30, 2004 – July 28, 2004

Natural History Museum

Picture Puzzles: Red Cloud and His Uncle's Shirt

This exhibit case documents and reveals the extensive amount of research that goes into the reproduction of a single photograph for a publication, as well as the use of this information to identify an important artifact in the collection.

December 13, 2002 – July 2, 2004

Natural History Museum

History in the News: Three Mile Island: The Inside Story

On display is a model of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, to mark the 25th anniversary of the accident that took place there in March 1979.

March 24, 2004 – June 29, 2004

American History Museum

A Magic Web: The Tropical Forest of Barro Colorado Island

See 40 photographs taken by ecologist Christian Ziegler at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Panama's Barro Colorado Island.

November 3, 2003 – June 6, 2004

National Zoo

Science in the News: Mammals Hall Taxidermy

This case features the work of Mammals Hall taxidermists and features specimens, parts used in the taxidermy process, and photographs of taxidermists at work.

November 19, 2003 – April 29, 2004

Natural History Museum