Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

A Passion for Plants: Botanical Art from the Shirley Sherwood Collection

See 100 works by 67 artists from the collection of Dr. Shirley Sherwood, an independent scholar and collector of botanical watercolors and paintings.

March 28, 2003 – September 2, 2003

Natural History Museum

Sidney Mobell

See two cases of everyday objects created from precious metals and jewels by artist Sidney Mobell.

July 10, 2003 – August 10, 2003

Natural History Museum

Eliot Porter: The Color of Wildness

Take a first-ever comprehensive look at the artistic legacy of Eliot Porter (1901-1990), one of this country's most influential photographers.

May 3, 2003 – July 27, 2003

Natural History Museum

A Korean American Century

This comprehensive display of photographs focuses on the historic events affecting Korean immigration, and on the achievements of Korean Americans.

January 22, 2003 – June 8, 2003

Natural History Museum

Science in the News: America the Bountiful

Enjoy examples of indigenous holiday foods: wild turkey, corn, and squash, along with an explanation of how they evolved.

November 22, 2002 – March 30, 2003

Natural History Museum

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

Make use of the El Nino weather phenomenon to demonstrate the dynamic interrelations among the Earth's 4 components - the geosphere (land), atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (life).

July 19, 2002 – March 28, 2003

Natural History Museum

Mammals on the Move: Anteaters: Fast Food Specialists

Through photographs, objects, an interactive, and a video in this 8-foot kiosk, learn about 4 kinds of anteaters.

September 17, 2002 – January 14, 2003

Natural History Museum

Nature's Best 2002 Photography Awards

See approximately 20 winning photographs from the 2002 Nature's Best International Photography Awards.

October 22, 2002 – January 2, 2003

Natural History Museum

Modern Mongolia: Reclaiming Genghis Khan

Mongolian life from the beginning of the 20th century to today is reconstructed through 3 authentic gers (traditional Mongolian yurts or tents).

July 3, 2002 – December 8, 2002

Natural History Museum

Rock Gardens of Antarctica: Lichens

See a sandstone rock from Antarctica with lichens growing just beneath the crust.

May 1, 2001 – November 22, 2002

Natural History Museum

Science in the News: Snakeheads Invade Maryland

View several specimens of snakehead fish, photographs, and text used to explain the scientific response to the discovery of these agressive, non-native fish found in a pond in Crofton, Maryland, in the summer of 2002.

October 18, 2002 – November 22, 2002

Natural History Museum

Wonder Bound

See a selection of rare books from the 18th and 19th centuries, along with specimens, that document the peculiarities of early museum collecting practices and the origins of natural history museums.

May 24, 2002 – November 15, 2002

Natural History Museum

From Monastery to Marketplace: Tradition Inspires Modern Ethiopian Painting

See Ethiopian religious art, history painting, and scenes from daily life dating from the 18th to the 21st centuries.

February 8, 2002 – October 27, 2002

Natural History Museum

A Place Called Home: Bird Photographs by Keith Logan

This exhibition features 40 photographs of North American birds by Canadian artist and birder Keith Logan.

November 1, 2001 – October 14, 2002

Natural History Museum

Dinotopia

On view are paintings by James Gurney, author and creator of the Dinotopia book series that tells the story of an imaginary lost island where humans and dinosaurs coexist in peace and harmony.

April 24, 2002 – September 2, 2002

Natural History Museum

Peter Rabbit's Garden

Mark the 100th anniversary of the original publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit with this exhibition exploring the life of author Beatrix Potter.

February 9, 2002 – May 27, 2002

Natural History Museum

Meteorites on a Mission

This case addresses the NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission.

November 16, 2000 – May 10, 2002

Natural History Museum

Nature's Best: Nature Photography

See 19 winning photographs from the Nature's Best & CEMEX International Photography Awards.

November 2, 2001 – January 7, 2002

Natural History Museum

Masters of the Ocean Realm: Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

Explore the interactions of whales, dolphins, and porpoises with human cultures around the world and take a look at the future of whales and the issues of conservation and protection.

October 5, 2001 – January 2, 2002

Natural History Museum

Manifestations of the Spirit: Photographs of Afro-Brazilian Religion by Phyllis Galembo

These 16 photographs show the immediacy and vitality of practitioners of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomble, as well as the visual continuity of practices, symbols, and ideas between Africa and Brazil.

February 2, 2001 – January 1, 2002

Natural History Museum

Caves: A Fragile Wilderness

Forty color photographs of caves offer a window into the beauty, life, and character of the fragile wilderness they portray.

April 17, 2001 – October 21, 2001

Natural History Museum

Tigers!

Two large cases and a diorama explores the competition between Bengal tigers and humans over habitat in India -- a significant cause of the endangerment of tigers.

November 13, 1998 – October 3, 2001

Natural History Museum

From Sea to Shining Sea

This large painting by Robert Lyn Nelson represents the diversity of America's oceans and the beauty they hold.

April 1, 2001 – September 27, 2001

Natural History Museum

Whatchamacallit: Natural Art

On view is an environmental sculpture of entwined maple saplings -- approximately 8-1/2 feet high -- created on site by North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty.

January 12, 2000 – August 15, 2001

Natural History Museum

Voyages of Discovery

Explore the human drama of key British scientific voyages by Sir Hans Sloane, Captain James Cook, and Charles Darwin during the Age of Sail. This exhibition presents the places, animals, plants, and people they encountered.

April 19, 2001 – July 22, 2001

Natural History Museum