Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

Go Well, My Child: Photographs by Constance Stuart Larrabee in Collaboration with Alan Paton

View 80 black-and-white prints by Constance Stuart Larrabee, an American photographer born in South Africa, with captions from the classic novel Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton.

November 26, 1985 – January 5, 1986

African Art Museum

Drawn from the Sea: Art in the Service of Ichthyology

See some 200 illustrations of fish dating from 1838 to 1980.

September 13, 1985 – January 5, 1986

Natural History Museum

Christmas Tree Decorated by Associates in 1985

See holiday decorations in the Great Hall including the Christmas tree decorated with handcrafted ornaments made locally, and collected from the U.S. and abroad.

December 7, 1985 – January 2, 1986

Smithsonian Castle

Bird Carvings by Ma Hai Feng

See nearly 20 beautifully painted woodcarvings of birds by Ma Hai Feng, an artist born in China.

November 1, 1985 – December 30, 1985

Natural History Museum

John Safer: Sculptor

See 13 sleek, contemporary, minimalist sculptures by Washington, D.C., artist John Safer, known for his non- representational works in Lucite, brass, bronze, and granite.

September 12, 1985 – December 11, 1985

Air and Space Museum

Paris Recorded: The Therese Bonney Collection

View 141 photographs by an innovative American photo-journalist who worked in Paris in the 1920s.

September 17, 1985 – December 8, 1985

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Recent Acquisitions: Prints, Drawings and Watercolors

Discover 49 works on paper that illustrate the range and depth of recent additions to the NMAA collection.

May 17, 1985 – December 8, 1985

American Art Museum

Benjamin Franklin and the Colonial Posts

See 13 examples documenting Benjamin Franklin's career as Postmaster General of Philadelphia, and later as Deputy Postmaster of North America, and his influences in improving mail schedules and mail service.

July 1, 1985 – December 3, 1985

American History Museum

The Arts of South Asia

See some 70 objects, ranging in date from the 2nd century B.C. through the 18th century, that offer a complete survey of the Freer's painting, sculpture, and decorative art from the Indian subcontinent.

May 15, 1985 – December 1, 1985

Asian Art Museum, West Building

History as Seen from the National Museum of American History

View some 55 photographs that capture current events near the Museum in 1984 and early 1985.

August 9, 1985 – December 1, 1985

American History Museum

Prints and Drawings of the Sixties

See some 35 works, many of them reflecting movements of the 60s, including Pop Art.

July 24, 1985 – November 30, 1985

Hirshhorn Museum

Space Tools

Visit a small exhibition featuring tools used in space missions.

June 21, 1985 – November 30, 1985

Air and Space Museum

Rainbow 'round My Shoulder: Al Jolson Centennial

Over 35 objects, including photos, books, record albums, and music sheets, are on view in honor of the 100th anniversary of Al Jolson's birth.

May 1, 1985 – November 13, 1985

American History Museum

U.S. Grant: The Man and the Image

This small commemorative exhibition traces Grant's rise to world-wide fame as a Civil War general and President of the U.S.

July 23, 1985 – November 11, 1985

Portrait Gallery

Building the Bomb: Forty Years After Hiroshima (Case of the Month)

Study some 45 photographs, drawings, documents, and artifacts that illustrate the development of the atomic bomb under the Manhattan Project, the decision to use it in the war, and the destructive effects on Japan.

August 6, 1985 – November 7, 1985

American History Museum

Japanese Calligraphy

Visit 14 hanging and hand scrolls and album leaves that feature traditional styles of Japanese writing and cursive styles developed during the 8th through the 12th centuries.

December 21, 1984 – November 3, 1985

Asian Art Museum, West Building

Nature's Forms, Nature's Forces: The Art of Alexander Hogue

The 35 paintings and works on paper examine Hogue's central theme -- the relationship of nature and natural processes to man.

August 16, 1985 – November 3, 1985

American Art Museum

The Happy Frog

Say hello to a 200-pound bronze sculptured frog who welcomes visitors from his pedestle in front of the Reptile House.

November 1, 1975 – November 1, 1985

National Zoo

Trough (Friedl Dzubas Painting)

On view for the 20th anniversary of the Resident Associate Program is Trough, a painting by Friedl Dzubas, a gift from RAP to the HMSG collection.

September 1, 1985 – October 31, 1985

Hirshhorn Museum

American Anthem: An Exhibition of Songs and Symbols of American History

Follow American history from the Revolutionary period through the 1940s with artifacts and music.

March 30, 1985 – October 31, 1985

American History Museum

Images of India: Photographs by Raja Lala Deen Dayal

Visit some 20 late-19th-century photographs of the British Raj by the Indian photographer Lala Deen Dayal, portraying architecture and people of the period.

June 4, 1985 – October 31, 1985

Natural History Museum

Preview of Permanent Invertebrate Exhibition

Visit 7 displays, each featuring a different type of creature.

May 23, 1985 – October 30, 1985

National Zoo

Zhandra Rhodes Gown

In conjunction with RAP's 20th anniversary is a chiffon evening gown created by British designer Zhandra Rhodes.

October 1, 1985 – October 28, 1985

American History Museum

Sightseeing: A Space Panorama

Admire NASA photographs, taken in space, compiled by Peter Riva during a summer workshop in Arles, France.

September 6, 1985 – October 25, 1985

Air and Space Museum

Our Cup of Tea: Contemporary Crafted Teapots, Cups and Spoons

Admire and purchase works by 30 potters from across the country -- some decorative rather than functional, and in styles ranging from traditional to funky.

August 29, 1985 – October 20, 1985

Renwick Gallery