United States

How 60 Million Bison Became 1,000 in a Century

In the late 1700s, more than 60 million bison roamed the Great Plains. Over the years, demand for fur and meat drove their numbers down

The 29 Can't-Miss Summer Festivals of 2016

Get out and enjoy the summer sun—we've compiled a list of the best ways to enjoy the summer splendor across North America

"Lux Noctis" is a series of photographs depicting landscapes of North America within the framework of traditional landscape photography, influenced by ideas of planetary exploration,19th-century Romantic painting and science fiction | Bisti Badlands, New Mexico

Photo Contest Featured Photographer

These Drone-Lit Photos of the American West Are Straight Out of a Science Fiction Novel

Photographer Reuben Wu casts new light on a familiar world

What the Oregon Trail Looks Like Today From Above

One of America's greatest highways is barely visible from the ground. It's only from the air that you can pick out the remains of the Oregon Trail

Smithsonian Best Small Towns 2016

The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2016

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, our top picks this year are all towns close to America’s natural splendors

The steep walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge dwarf a climber after a long day on the cliffs.

How Do You Create the World's Biggest Ice Climbing Park?

With nearly 200 different routes and 17,000 vertical feet of terrain, Ouray Ice Park is a haven for ice climbers and the "ice farmers" who bring it to life

Bison sculpture by Emily White, Big Timber Lodge

How to Maintain Your Garden Zen at the Philadelphia Flower Show

A Smithsonian gardener with a long history of touring the show gives tips

2015 Champion and People's Choice

Family Travel

Learn the Secrets of the World's Best Snow Sculptors

On the shores of Wisconsin's Lake Geneva, teams of snow carvers turn chilly columns into masterpieces

George Washington seems to be crying as he stares at FDR.

American South

How 43 Giant, Crumbling Presidential Heads Ended Up in a Virginia Field

After an ambitious monument went bust, big dreams—and big heads—remain

A thick wetsuit is mandatory garb for surfers braving the ice-cold ocean.

For New England's Snow Surfers, Surf's Up Even When Temps Are Down

Catch a very cold wave at the New England Mid-Winter Surfing Championships

North Dakota poet Bill Lowman

Open Range Meets Open Mic at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Every year, the world's best cowboy poets gather in Elko, Nevada

A group enjoys an igloo hot tub at Iglu-dorf.

Immerse Yourself in the World's Most Breathtaking Baths

From ice-encrusted hot tubs to baths made of beer, don't miss these six spectacular soaks

Glacier National Park is located in Montana and is part of the National Park Service, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Visit These Ten Sites Celebrating Major Anniversaries in 2016

From Winnie the Pooh's 90th birthday to the National Park Service's centennial, you won't want to miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime events

Lorcan Ortway turned his lifelong obsession with organized crime into a museum in New York.

This Mobster Museum Was Once One of New York City's Most Notorious Speakeasies

See shell casings from Bonnie and Clyde's final shoot out and John Dillinger's death mask in the Museum of the American Gangster's unusual collection

Artist Sidney Mobell created this gold and jewel-encrusted Monopoly set in 1988. Following strict guidelines put forth from Parker Brothers, the game's manufacturer, he used 24-karat gold and 165 precious stones to create the set, which is valued at about $2 million.

From Teeth to Toilets, This Dazzling Exhibit of Gold Artifacts Has the Midas Touch

An exhibit at New York City's Museum of American Finance tracks the allure of gold through the centuries

Jon Lovitch stands in front of the 2013 incarnation of GingerBread Lane. The village becomes larger and more elaborate each year.

Behold: The World's Largest (Three-Ton) Gingerbread Village

Experience the glory of GingerBread Lane

A Stormtrooper Mask

Austria

These Are the "Star Wars" Exhibitions You Are Looking For

Grab your light saber and celebrate the art of the movie series at museums around the world

The 14-foot holiday tree at The Corning Museum of Glass contains 2,000 glass ornaments made by a team of glassmakers.

This One-of-a-Kind Christmas Tree Is Made of 2,000 Handmade Glass Ornaments

The Corning Museum in New York has a glittering holiday tradition of its own

Dawe says he loved having to work with the Renwick building’s 19th-century architectural details as a backdrop.

The Renwick Reopens

Artist Gabriel Dawe Made a Rainbow Out of 60 Miles of Thread

The artwork is an optical illusion that delights the senses; as if the artist embroidered the air

Opuntia cacti grow in the desert near Twentynine Palms, California. The area is home to plenty of dry plants and weeds—perfect for the city's annual Weed Show.

At This Unique Flower Show, Weeds Are the Stars

The women of this small desert town have found beauty in getting in the weeds

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