Current Exhibitions

My Visit

Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China

Many of the powerful emperors of China’s last dynasties—the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912)—were patrons, collectors, and casual practitioners of the arts. They used art to legitimize and glorify their rule. It served many functions: for state rituals, for expressing piety, to dazzle palace visitors, to build diplomatic relations, and for personal pleasure.

October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely

Asian Art Museum, West Building
My Visit

Engaging the Senses: Arts of the Islamic World

Every region, province, and even city developed its own artistic language with rich sensory resonances, many of which are explored in these galleries.

October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely

Asian Art Museum, West Building
My Visit

Center of the World: China and the Silk Road

This wealthy, worldly hub offered a ready market for exotic imports that local artisans translated into a Chinese style.

October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely

Asian Art Museum, West Building
My Visit

Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent

This exhibition explores concepts and aesthetics of the body. The theme of the body provides a portal for appreciating how India’s extraordinary culture is woven from distinctive but interrelated traditions.

October 14, 2017 – Indefinitely

Asian Art Museum, West Building
My Visit

Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran

View highly sophisticated ancient Iranian metalwork ranging from deep bowls to elaborate drinking vessels to objects in gold and silver.

October 14, 2017 – Permanent

Asian Art Museum, East Building
My Visit

America's Presidents

The nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House tells the American story through the individuals who have shaped it.

September 22, 2017 – Permanent

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

Common Ground: Our American Garden

This exhibition shares the stories of plants and how they are important to Americans.

June 28, 2017 – Permanent

Smithsonian Gardens
My Visit

Wallace H. Coulter Unity Square

Wallace H. Coulter Unity Square is where history will inspire you to participate—in the museum and in civic life.

June 28, 2017 – Permanent

American History Museum
My Visit

Many Voices, One Nation

Explore the 500-year journey of how many distinct peoples and cultures shaped and negotiated the culture of the U.S.

June 28, 2017 – Permanent

American History Museum
My Visit

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith

Presents national treasures that represent American democracy—based on the bold American experiment to create a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

June 28, 2017 – Permanent

American History Museum
My Visit

Greensboro Lunch Counter

The sit-in of four African American college students at this Woolworth counter helped ignite a youth-led movement to challenge inequality throughout the South.

June 28, 2017 – Indefinitely

American History Museum
My Visit

Explore! with the National Portrait Gallery

Explore! is a space where kids (ages 18 months to 8 years old accompanied by an adult) can experiment with portraiture hands-on. Hours are subject to change.

January 28, 2017 – Indefinitely

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

Added to My Visit Removed from My Visit

Clouds in a Bag: The Evelyn Way Kendall Ballooning and Early Aviation Collection Added

~~Clouds in a Bag: The Evelyn Way Kendall Ballooning and Early Aviation Collection~~ Removed

View My Visit

Clouds in a Bag: The Evelyn Way Kendall Ballooning and Early Aviation Collection

The treasures in this collection provide a sense of the wonder and excitement experienced by those who witnessed the birth of flight over two centuries ago.

January 28, 2017 – Indefinitely

Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
My Visit

Giving in America

Giving in America looks at the history of philanthropy in United States, commemorating the movements and people who made and continue to make a difference.

November 29, 2016 – Permanent

American History Museum
My Visit

Folk and Self-Taught Art

These galleries serve as a reminder that not all artists are formally trained and that the making of art is as much an act of passion as of intellect.

October 21, 2016 – Ongoing

American Art Museum
My Visit

Always Ready: Firefighting in the 19th Century

Explores how the role of citizens in fighting fire changed dramatically over the 19th century along with the technology.

September 16, 2016 – November 2025

American History Museum
My Visit

Currents: Water in African Art

The objects in Currents span the continent of Africa to explore the importance of water for both practical and artistic purposes.

July 15, 2016 – Indefintely

African Art Museum
My Visit

Our Voices in Saving Species

A gallery of photos and stories from Smithsonian staff spearheading research programs here and across the globe.

January 1, 2016 – Permanent

National Zoo
My Visit

Wegmans Wonderplace

Wegmans Wonderplace welcomes curious kids ages 0–6 and their grownups. Please also note that children may not visit Wegmans Wonderplace without an adult. Please check our events calendar for the latest hours.

December 9, 2015 – Indefinitely

American History Museum
My Visit

African Elephant

Our iconic 12-ton, 14-foot-tall African Elephant has undergone a remake! The new setting explores the evolution of elephants from their earliest predecessors to the three modern-day species.

September 4, 2015 – Permanent

Natural History Museum
My Visit

Inventing in America

This exhibition focuses on inventions and innovators of the past and present, including Samuel Morse, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison.

July 1, 2015 – Indefinitely

American History Museum
My Visit

Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project

In Object Project, visitors consider the impact of innovative things on everyday life in the past.

July 1, 2015 – Permanent

American History Museum
My Visit

Spark!Lab

Open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spark!Lab reveals the real story behind inventors’ work through hands-on activities that help kids and families learn about the history and process of invention. Hours are subject to change.

July 1, 2015 – Indefinitely

American History Museum
My Visit

American Enterprise

Learn how business and innovation helped the United States develop from a small dependent agricultural nation to one of the world's largest economies.

July 1, 2015 – Permanent

American History Museum
My Visit

The Value of Money

The Value of Money examines global histories of exchange, cultural interaction, political change, and innovation.

July 1, 2015 – Indefinitely

American History Museum

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