Smithsonian Open Access

Create. Imagine. Discover.

Welcome to Smithsonian Open Access, where you can download, share, and reuse millions of the Smithsonian’s images—right now, without asking. With new platforms and tools, you have easier access to more than 5.1 million 2D and 3D digital items from our collections—with many more to come. This includes images and data from across the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo.

What will you create?

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About Open Access

Minerva Asking Jupiter for the Happiness of Ulysses or Minerva Questions Jupiter on the Destiny of Ithaca

FAQ

Values

Atkinson Counting Register U.S. Patent Office Model.

Usage Statistics

Updates

Featured Platforms

Developer Tools

Tap into nearly two centuries of data using the Smithsonian API and GitHub repository.

3D Voyager

View, interact, and download Smithsonian 3D content.

Line drawing of person at desk looking at a computer.

Smithsonian Learning Lab

Build lesson plans and projects with open access resources.

Color Rocks North East and South of Lander Sol 14.

Smithsonian Figshare

Discover research datasets from Smithsonian researchers in a variety of disciplines.

Explore Remixes with Smithsonian Open Access Content

Collage with James Smithsonian and monuments and the Smithsonian Building

Download an Illustrated Book Designed by AstroNuts

black line art doodles on white album cover

Listen to Music Recorded by Teens and Chris Funk

golden 3D-printed skeleton of triceratops with white reflection

Explore Artworks by Amy Karle Using 3D Data

Remixes by: Access Smithsonian, Amazon Web Services-Sumerian, Amy Karle, An Open Book Foundation, AstroNuts, Autodesk Tinkercad, Cesium, Chris Funk & N M Bodecker Foundation, Creative Commons, Duke University-MorphoSource, Georgetown University Maker Hub in Lauinger Library, Google Arts & Culture, The Khronos Group, MHz Foundation, Michael Joo, Matthew Putman, and James J. Williams III, Sketchfab, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access, Smithsonian Data Science Lab, Smithsonian Libraries & Museum in a Box, Wikimedia DC

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The Smithsonian Open Access launch event is presented in partnership with: