Smithsonian Lost and Found

Thank you first and foremost for visiting the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Every day, hundreds of items are lost by the visiting public in one of our 19 museums and research facilities. If you have lost something that is important and treasured to you, this guide will assist us in helping you.

In order to match lost property to the owner, we need specific information such as date the item was lost, the museums visited, description, make, model, etc. Please complete the “Lost Property Report Form” to provide this information. Please DO NOT include sensitive data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, driver's license numbers etc., unless otherwise requested. We will do our very best to locate your lost item, and will reach out to you if we find it. 

Due to the volume of lost items, we are only able to retain lost items for approximately 30 days. We dispose of any unclaimed items after 30 days.