Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly

During an initiation ceremony for the Afro-Cuban secret society called Abakuá in the Havana district of Regla, a young aspirant depicts Aberisún, an ireme, or spirit messenger.

Venture Inside Cuba's Secret Societies

From Masons to Santería priests, photographer Nicola Lo Calzo offers a glimpse into the island's many subcultures

A wave splashes over the Malecón in Havana.

Homage to Havana

A Smithsonian director ponders the allure of Cuba's capital city

A bartender mixes a drink at O'Reilly 304.

The New Nightspots Transforming Havana's Social Scene

Chic is rapidly replacing gritty in many of Havana's newly imagined gathering spots

Chock-full of smoked meats and native vegetables like corn, plantains, and squash, ajiaco is a mainstay of Cuban cooking.

Ajiaco, Cuba in a Cauldron

With origins in the island’s oldest culture, <i>ajiaco</i> is a stew that adapts to the times

Discover Cuba's Unspoiled Shores

Thanks in part to government conservation efforts, Cuba's 3,500 miles of coastline are a wealth of beauty and history

Traveling to Cuba? Here's What You Need to Know

While travel between Cuba and the U.S. is now possible, restrictions remain in place

A rehearsal takes place at Teatro América, on Galiano Street in Havana. From the outside, the theater is nothing special, concealed behind a dull screen of gray polygon concrete. But step inside and you’ve entered the museum that is Cuban architecture.

Havana's Hidden Architectural Gems

The city's eclectic architecture is both extraordinary and imperiled

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Cuba

Explore the deepest corners of Cuba's culture and history, and discover the startling transformations happening now

Iditarod racer Debbie Moderow enjoys a moment with Crouton, one of 28 Alaskan husky sled dogs she currently trains at the Salty Dog Kennels.

How a Two-Time Iditarod Racer Fell in Love With Dogsledding

Lesson one in mushing class: Don’t let go!

Life Aboard a Renovated World War II Tugboat

With help from friends, a transplanted Philadelphian embarks on a voyage of discovery through Alaska's waters

Inside the Church of Saint Nicholas, Father Nikolai Yakunin blesses parishioners during Pascha (Russian Easter), which begins at midnight and ends at dawn. The smoke of the incense is said to lift prayers to heaven.

In a Remote Alaskan Town, a Centuries-Old Russian Faith Thrives

Residents of Nikolaevsk remain true to the traditions of their ancestors, who fled religious persecution in the 17th-century

Charlie Chaplin eats his shoe in The Gold Rush (1925).

Charlie Chaplin's Gold Rush

Two decades after the Klondike Gold Rush, Chaplin recast the hardships of prospectors as comedy

Indigenous cultures of Alaska have enjoyed the frozen treat known as akutuq for many centuries. An Inupiaq word meaning “to stir,” akutuq traditionally consists of animal fat mixed with seal oil, whipped together with handfuls of berries and freshly fallen snow to make a frothy, frozen concoction.

What Is Eskimo Ice Cream?

Answer: Not your typical summer dessert

The Hurricane Turn pulls out of the station at Talkeetna.

For a Truly Authentic Alaskan Experience, Hop Aboard America's Last Flag-Stop Train

Reaching off-the-grid homesteads and cabins, the Hurricane Turn train stops for anyone who flags it down

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Eskimo Yo-Yos, Muskox Knitting Yarn and Other Unique Gifts to Buy in Alaska

Inspiration comes not only from nature but also from the instinct to use what’s close at hand

Sunday services let out at the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa.

The Most Diverse Neighborhood in the U.S. May Surprise You

Abundant housing and job opportunities have brought people from all over the world to Mountain View, Alaska

Russian Orthodox crosses in the time-and-weather-worn cemetery of Ninilchik’s Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Chapel are a testament to the heritage of the village.

Tracing Alaska's Russian Heritage

From onion domes to tsarist-era Russian dialects, evidence of the Russian colonialism remains

Secretary Sally Jewell

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell Explains Why Preserving Alaska's Wildness Is Essential

A former petroleum engineer, Jewell recognizes that balance is key to preserving Alaska for future generations

George Schaller

Longtime Conservationist George Schaller Is Still Fighting to Preserve the Last Frontier

Now is the time to protect Alaska's coastal plain, he urges

National Geographic Veteran Chris Johns on the Importance of National Parks and Documenting Climate Change in Alaska

Wild places heal both individuals and nations, he says

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