CURRENT ISSUE

July/August 2021

Features

Dramatic new discoveries in the ancient Egytptian burial ground. A special report produced with Smithsonian Channel

Jo Marchant; Photographs by Roger Anis

Chronicling the historic struggles and the strange beauty of a Florida farming community

Photographs by Sofia Valiente; Text by Terence Monmaney

An 18th-century French botanist supported by Thomas Jefferson faced a historic decision. He chose betrayal

With the games set for Japan, karate is finally recognized as worthy of the Olympics

Tony Perrottet; Photographs by Jun Tsuboike

Making art out of disaster, a couple of photographers salvage their affectionate portraits of life in New Orleans

Photographs by Chandra McCormick and Keith Calhoun; Text by Amy Crawford

The world’s greatest record store is run by a lovable grouch obsessed with the magic of American sidewalk harmony

Richard Grant; Photographs by Jason Varney

Learning to love the hardscrabble life on Lanzarote, a sunblasted island formed by volcanoes

Photographs by Daniel Rolider; Text by Jennie Rothenberg Gritz

As Smithsonian celebrates its 175th year, we reflect on a vibrant history—and look ahead to the next two museums

Prologue

It was once the Smithsonian’s most forward-looking museum. Soon it will be again

Angela Serratore; Photographs by Richard Barnes

Prologue

The golden spike made the newspapers. But another railroad made an even bigger difference to the nation

John Sedgwick

Prologue

A new understanding of what it meant to be a member of the inner circle

Prologue

Bird specimens gathered during an illustrious expedition nearly two centuries ago only grow more valuable to science

Scott Weidensaul; Photographs by Kate Sayers

Prologue

The famed social reformer’s role in a sensational turn-of-the-century murder case prefigures today’s exonerations

You've got questions. We've got experts