History

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux

World-class wine, medieval villages, museums, and markets: The historic Bordeaux region of France is truly a feast for all five senses. From the quaint wine hills of Saint-Emilion along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela to La Cité du Vin, a museum spotlighting the history of winemaking from 6000 B.C. to today, PBS television host Darley Newman shares the best of France’s renowned wine region.

She spotlights the area’s archaeological marvels, historic landmarks, cultural treasures, multiple wine tastings, and outstanding local boulangeries —all amid UNESCO World Heritage sites and generous helpings of history. Wed., Feb. 1, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-236; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

While the early days of Jamestown were marred with struggle, conflict, and tragedy, the settlement would survive as the first permanent English colony in North America, from which the seeds of the United States grew.

Unearth the tumultuous first century of Jamestown with Mark Summers, the public historian for the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological project. FEB 6 Inevitable Uprising: 1622–1646 FEB 13 Bacon’s Rebellion: 1675–1699

Individual sessions: Mon., Feb. 6 (CODE 1CV-C07); Mon., Feb. 13 (CODE 1CVD07; 12–1:30 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, saving Captain John Smith’s life

Slave pen of Price, Birch, & Co., Alexandria, Virginia ca. 1860–1865

In the years between the American Revolution and the Civil War, an American slave trade rose to become more than twice the size of the first Middle Passage. More than one million enslaved African Americans from places like Maryland were forcibly sold to planters to work on cotton plantations in the Deep South.

Historian Richard Bell tracks the domestic slave trade and its impact on slavery’s expansion. He also discusses the unrelenting and often subversive resistance Black families mounted against enslavers’ attempts to divide them. Tues., Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-241; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

The Chinese Question by Thomas Nast for Harper’s Weekly, 1871

Gold Rushes and Global Politics of Exclusion

Goldmining between 1848 and 1899 created wealth for many. But friction between Chinese and white settlers on the goldfields of California, Australia, and South Africa created the “Chinese Question”: would the United States and the British Empire outlaw Chinese immigration?

Historian and author Mae Ngai tells the story of Chinese people who left their homeland in pursuit of gold, the laws that excluded them from immigration and citizenship, and the consequences that still persist.

Ngai’s book The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics (W.W. Norton & Company) is available for purchase. Tues., Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-008; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Some 5,000 years ago, a Neolithic civilization in southern England began to erect the world’s most famous prehistoric standing-stone monument. Its builders left no written records, so why and how Stonehenge was constructed remains a mystery.

Modern scientists are slowly unlocking Stonehenge’s secrets, from the source of the smaller pillars (central Wales) to its purpose (a daily calendar or eclipse calculator). Whatever its true purpose, the stone circle remains a uniquely iconic enigma visited by 800,000 people each year.

Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, discusses these new developments and the enduring mystery of Stonehenge. Wed., Feb. 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1L0-504; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

PBS television host Darley Newman shares great places to discover in Türkiye (the now-official name for Turkey) whether you’re visiting bustling bazaars in Istanbul or venturing off the beaten path. In Istanbul, marvel at the dazzling Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Galata Hot-air balloons at sunset, Tower. In Şanlıurfa, walk Cappadocia, Türkiye through Göbeklitepe, an archaeological site older than Stonehenge. In Izmir and Urla along Türkiye’s Aegean coast, visit the oldest known olive oil workshop in Anatolia and view UNESCO World Heritage sites like Ephesus and Pergamum. Newman’s travel insights provide a guide to discovering the diversity and wonders of historic and contemporary Türkiye. Thurs., Feb. 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-237; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

A History of Supreme Court Nominations

In 1789, President George Washington nominated the first five justices to the Supreme Court, a result of the 1789 Judiciary Act. Of the 165 nominations since then, there have been a total of just 126 nominations confirmed and only 116 justices who sat on the country’s highest court. While the Senate has generally deferred to the president’s choices, nominations have often come under scrutiny, and the process has sometimes been a tumultuous affair. Historian Christopher Brooks surveys the Supreme Court’s history and nominations process and how politics have shaped today’s Court. Thurs., Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-009; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

There are 1,154 UNESCO World Heritage sites throughout the world. Each of them offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of complex civilizations, empires, and religions. Historian Justin M. Jacobs offers an in-depth overview of five of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites from around the world, from Iraq to Brazil.

Each lavishly illustrated program goes far beyond the typical tourist experience by incorporating the insights of the latest scholarship and research. FEB 15 Samarra and the Abbasid Caliphate FEB 22 Angkor Wat MAR 1 Philippine Rice Terraces of Ifugao MAR 8 Sacred Sites of Tibet MAR 15 Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil 5 sessions: Wed., Feb. 15, Feb. 22; March 1, March 8, March 15, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-242; Members $100; Nonmembers $125 Individual sessions: Wed., Feb. 15 (CODE 1J0-242A); Wed., Feb. 22 (CODE 1J0-242B); Wed., March 1 (CODE 1J0-242C); Wed., March 8 (CODE 1J0-242D); Wed., March 15 (CODE 1J0-242E); 6:45 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

MAHMOUD BENDAKIR Angkor, Cambodia

MARTIN GRAY MAHMOUD BENDAKIR

Samarra Archaeological City, Iraq

ADI.SIMIONOV

RODRIGO DE ALMEIDA MARFAN Philippine rice terraces, Ifugao

The Potala Palace, Tibet

Catedral Metropolitana, Brasilia

Capital from the Visigothic church of San Pedro de la Nave, province of Zamora, Spain

Gothic Kingdoms

The Fall of Rome and the Birth of Europe

In August 410, the imperial city of Rome was sacked by the army led by Alaric the Goth. It was an event that came to symbolize the decline and fall of the western Roman empire, and after Alaric’s death his followers established the first Germanic state inside the old imperial frontiers: the Visigothic kingdom of Aquitaine.

In this wide-ranging talk, historian David Gwynn explores the dramatic histories of Gothic kingdoms through the surviving art and monuments and the writings of those who lived under Gothic dominion. Wed., Feb. 15, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-234; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Medical historian Howard Markel traces the careers of two brilliant young doctors— Sigmund Freud, neurologist, and William Halsted, surgeon—showing how their powerful addictions to cocaine shaped their enormous contributions to psychology and medicine.

Markel examines the physical and emotional damage caused by the then-heralded wonder drug and how each man ultimately changed the world in spite of it—or because of it. One became the father of psychoanalysis; the other, of modern surgery.

Markel is the author of An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted, Sigmund Freud and the Miracle Drug Cocaine. INSIDE SCIENCE Wed., Feb. 22, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-235; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

William Halsted

Frederick Douglass, 1840

In 1845, the great civil rights leader Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) published his bestselling Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. It made his reputation and remains his most widely read work. But Douglass would continue to tell his life story over the next five decades.

Join Douglass scholar Robert S. Levine as he considers the significant changes and additions Douglass made to his later autobiographies and how, for Douglas, autobiography was personal and political, and arguably his most powerful way of making claims for Blacks’ civil rights. Thurs., Feb. 23, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-346; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Join journalist Mark Whitaker for an exploration of the momentous year of 1966, in which a new sense of Black identity expressed in the slogan “Black Power” challenged the nonviolent civil rights philosophy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis.

Whitaker offers portraits of the movement’s major characters and new details and insights from key players and journalists who covered the story. He also explains why the lessons of 1966 still resonate today.

Whitaker’s book Saying It Loud: 1966—The Year Black Power Challenged the Civil Rights Movement (Simon & Schuster) is available for purchase. Tues., Feb. 28, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-348; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Mark Whitaker

Edinburgh Castle

Scotland is the only part of the island of Britain never to have been conquered by England. Yet Scotland has always had to reckon with its powerful southern neighbor, and the current campaign for Scottish independence demonstrates that the question of Scottish sovereignty is far from settled.

Historian Jennifer Paxton explores the remarkable story of the struggle to define Scottish identity over the past thousand years, as the country went from proudly independent kingdom to junior partner within Great Britain. Recent political events, including the Brexit vote, have caused some Scots to reevaluate the position of their country within the United Kingdom. 9:30 a.m. The Making of Scotland 11 a.m. The Wars of Independence and the Rise of the Stuarts 12:15 p.m. Break 1:15 p.m. The Union with England and the Jacobite Threat 2:45 p.m. The Making (and Unmaking?) of the British Sat., Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-237; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Anatolia’s colorful history has left a windfall of riches—ancient ruins, ornate Byzantine churches, elegant mosques, and splendid Ottoman palaces. Serif Yenen, a Turkish-born tour guide and author, highlights the heritage and splendor of ancient Turkey through an examination of some of its cultural gems, from Neolithic settlements and giant Roman temples to Christian rock-cut churches and the early Ottoman Empire’s stunning Great Mosque. MAR 1 Neolithic and Bronze Ages MAR 8 Iron-Age, Hellenistic, and Roman Periods MAR 15 Christianity in Anatolia Facade of the Library of Celsus at MAR 22 The Turkish Period’s Capitals Ulu Cami mosque in Bursa, completed ca. 1399 Ephesus, completed ca. 117 4 sessions: Wed., March 1–22, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-239; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

A Virtual Tour of the Region’s History, Culture, and Sights

Everyone from ancient Romans to Post-Impressionist artists to movie stars has been lured to the enchanting South of France. Its abundance of lavender-laced valleys, glittering seashores, medieval hill towns, and lively cities, all bathed in translucent light, are downright seductive. Journey with travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy in a virtual exploration of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, including the region’s most intriguing sights, historical aspects, food and wine, and art. Among the locales are the formerly gritty city of Marseille, the Gothic palaces of Avignon, the sunny beaches of the French Riviera, and the gorges known as Europe’s Grand Canyon. MAR 2 Marseille and Aix-en-Provence MAR 30 Avignon and the Vrai Provence MAY 4 Côte d’Azur JUN 1 Off the Beaten Path 4 sessions: Thurs., March 2, March 30, May 4, and June 1, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-SFR; Members $80; Nonmembers $90 Individual sessions: Thurs., March 2 (CODE 1CV-A10); Thurs., March 30 (CODE 1CV-B10); Thurs., May 4 (CODE 1CV-C10); Thurs., June 1 (CODE 1CV-D10); 7 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Marseille Avignon Côte d’Azur Verdon Gorge

Alice Pike Barney Studio House, 1933

The Studio House

A Setting for an Ambassador for the Arts With reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia

The distinctive Studio House on Washington, D.C.’s, Sheridan Circle was built in 1903 for Alice Pike Barney, an artist, playwright, civic leader, and philanthropist. Barney held regular salons in the Studio House, where she brought together artists, writers, politicians, diplomats, and other prominent guests.

In 1960, Barney’s daughters donated the house to the Smithsonian, and eventually it became the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia. Join independent researcher Mona Khademi for an evening at the Studio House as she shares stories about Barney; traces the house’s Smithsonian connections; and looks at its life as an embassy. Afterward, enjoy a light reception—and imagine yourself as a guest at one of Alice Pike Barney’s salons. Thurs., March 2, 6:45 p.m.; The Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, CODE 1L0-506; Members $65; Nonmembers $80

Perspectives on a Century

The 19th Amendment enfranchising 26 million white and Black women became law on August 26, 1920. However, it did not enfranchise all women or even protect the rights of those women who could vote. Today, women are still grappling with how to use the vote and their political power to expand everything from civil rights to reproductive rights. Drawing on her new book, Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality: 1920–2020, author Elisabeth Griffith discusses how the diversity of the women’s movement mirrors America. Thurs., March 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-244; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

More than 20 years ago, scholar Damián Fernández posited that Cuban history moves in cycles of “desire and disenchantment.” From the Cuban wars for independence through the Cuban Revolution and beyond, Cubans have often felt on the verge of fulfilling their nation’s destiny, only to find their hopes were misplaced or betrayed.

Historian Michael J. Bustamante charts these ups and downs from 19th-century Cuba to the present. He also reflects on the dramatic pivot from the hope inspired by the normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations between 2014 and 2016 to the disillusionment that followed. Thurs., March 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-761; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

African American Union soldier with family, 1863

During the Civil War, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was the site of fierce conflicts, both on and off the battlefield. Historian Jonathan Noyalas examines how the region’s slaves faced their many challenges and how they supported the Union war effort by serving as scouts, spies, and laborers and by fleeing slavery to enlist in the United States Colored Troops.

Noyalas is the director of the McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University. His book Slavery and Freedom in the Shenandoah Valley During the Civil War Era (University Press of Florida) is available for purchase. Tues., March 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-012; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Troubled History of African American and Irish Relations

The individual histories of African Americans and Irish Americans have each been fraught with discrimination and hardship. Despite both groups having faced oppression and societal scorn as second-class citizens, they often found themselves at odds during the 19th century, with the competition for housing and jobs creating racial tensions.

Historian Christopher Brooks discusses the parallel histories of African Americans and Irish Americans, the unlikely kinship of abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell, and how natural allies became historical rivals. Wed., March 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-011; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

New York City draft riots, armed rioters clashing with Union Army soldiers, 1863

Rebecca B. Roberts

The First (Unelected) Female President

While this nation has yet to elect its first woman as president, just over a century ago a woman became the first unofficial acting president. In 1919, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson effectively acted as president when her husband, Woodrow Wilson, was incapacitated. Beautiful, brilliant, charismatic, catty, and calculating, she was a complicated figure who reshaped the position of first lady into one of political prominence.

Rebecca Boggs Roberts, a leading historian who focuses on women’s suffrage and power, takes an unflinching look at the woman whose ascent mirrors that of many powerful American women. Tues., March 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-343, Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Media expert Brian Rose examines the many ways the Internet has radically transformed the “old” media of newspapers, magazines, the recording industry, film, radio, and television. He traces how this digital revolution took place in such a short period of time and what lies ahead in the era of “new” media.

Rose explores questions such as whether there will be printed newspapers 10 years from now; if newsstands and bookstores will disappear as fast as record stores; if movie theaters will exist in their present form; and whether prime-time television will vanish. Thurs., March 16, 12-1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-247; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

On the night of October 16, 1859, John Brown and his followers attacked the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia—part of a plan to stir an enormous revolt that could destroy American slavery. But Brown and his accomplices were soon caught and Brown was hanged having failed to free a single enslaved person. Why do Brown’s failed actions still matter? Historian John Brown by Augustus Washington Richard Bell argues that Brown’s execution made him a martyr among Northerners and paved the way for Lincoln’s unprecedented election, the secession crisis, and the coming of the Civil War. Thurs., March 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-249; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

A Dynasty’s Imprint on History

There are few periods of British history that command greater curiosity and interest than the years associated with the Tudor dynasty (1485–1603). Although this significant ruling family spanned only three generations, it produced some of the most memorable monarchs of any age or place.

Historian Cheryl White examines four historical themes that were significant to the promoting of the indelible Tudor imprint upon history, inviting participants to engage with the intriguing but often dangerous court life of Henry VIII, witness the dramatic religious and social challenges wrought during the reigns of Edward VI and Portrait of Queen Mary I of England, by Antonis Mor, 1554Mary I, and experience the progressive but cautious Renaissance court of Elizabeth I, whose patronage of the arts gave her name to an entire age of world history. 9:30 a.m. Introduction: London Landscapes and Landmarks 11 a.m. Royal Fortresses, Castles, and Palaces 12:15 p.m. Break 1:15 p.m. The Dark Side of Tudor London: Prisons, Tortures, Execution Sites 2:45 p.m. The Tudor Religious Landscape of London Sat., March 18, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-248; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

The ceiling of the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace

Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Secretary of State Philander Knox, an unidentified man, and Secretary of Commerce Charles Nagel at Fort Myer, Va., July 1909

Alice Roosevelt Longworth, sitting in her Baker electric car, pours from a thermos. Three men look up at her expectantly: Secretary of State Philander Knox, an unidentified man, and Secretary of Commerce Charles Nagel. They’re all at Fort Myer, Virginia, for the Wright brothers’ Military Flyer trials in July 1909. The historic flights were a social calendar highlight of the year for the cream of Washington society.

In a richly illustrated presentation, master storyteller Paul Glenshaw speaks with historian Callan Shea as he peels back the fascinating layers in this deceptively simple image. Thurs., March 23, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-344; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

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The Magna Carta originated in 1215 as what was essentially a failed peace treaty between King John of England and his barons. Centuries later it transformed into a document held by the Founding Fathers as a foundational cornerstone of citizens’ rights in this country.

Thomas J. McSweeney, a law professor at William & Mary Law School, explores the document’s evolution beginning in the 13th century through its role in 17th- and 18th-century revolutions. He surveys some of the major historic debates about the Magna Carta and whether it is a good model for the guarantee of rights in a republic. Wed., March 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-760; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

King John signs the Magna Carta

A Sears house in Arlington

From 1908 to 1940, Sears, Roebuck & Co. sold more than 70,000 of its prefabricated Modern Homes kits, affordable dwellings assembled on site that offered all Americans the chance to own an up-to-date house. Arlington County, Virginia, which saw a boom in its growth during the 1920s, boasts a significant collection of these kit houses.

Historian Dakota Springston discusses the history of these, the rapidly growing communities in which they were built, and the agrarian communities they replaced. Sears homes highlighted range from the single-story “Sunlight” to the magnificent 10-room “Woodland” model. Afterward, Kathryn Holt Springston, a Sears Homes expert, takes part in a live Q&A session. Mon., March 27, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-028; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Florentine statesman Niccolò Machiavelli’s 1513 treatise, The Prince, was not long, but its perceived message has lost little potency 500 years later. After all, it advised leaders that the iron fist is far more effective in governing than the velvet glove—that is, fear trumps human kindness.

Author Ross King places Machiavelli in the context of his times and examines his more positive legacy and influence. Although an English cardinal had described him as an enemy of the human race, Machiavelli’s lessons on leadership, liberty, virtue, and good government are worth re-examining today. Wed., March 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-758; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Portrait of Machiavelli by Santi di Tito

Genius, Tragedy, Ethics, and the First Atomic Bomb

J. Robert Oppenheimer never really thought about the ethics of the atomic bomb until the successful test of a plutonium device at Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945. Then, he experienced an inrush of ethical anguish and spent the rest of his life trying to come to terms with what he, what America, and what humankind had done.

Hardened geopoliticians of the Cold War tried to destroy Oppenheimer, principally because he expressed his misgivings about the United States’ creation of the hydrogen fusion device. Historian Clay Jenkinson examines Oppenheimer’s ethical quandary about nuclear warfare—and the price he paid for it. Tues., April 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-350; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Moses Maimonides St. Thomas Aquinas

The Philosophies of Maimonides and Aquinas

Maimonides and St. Thomas Aquinas, the pre-eminent Jewish and Christian thinkers of the medieval period, shared a passion for applying the rationalist methods of Aristotle to questions of belief. Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed sought to guide the Jewish community in understanding God as they contended with the more populous and politically powerful Christian and Muslim majorities. Aquinas’ Summa Theologica addresses every conceivable issue that defined Christian thinking up to his time. Ori Z. Soltes, author and Georgetown University lecturer, considers how these gigantic thinkers differ, where they share common ground—and their relevance to our own world of thought and action. Wed., April 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-764; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Recent years have seen increasing controversy concerning the Supreme Court— contentious appointments, divisive opinions, and even leaks from inside. Some critics blame the philosophy of originalism, others claim individual justices are advancing political agendas or they fault the judicial body’s structural features and the nominating and confirmation processes.

Kermit Roosevelt, a constitutional law professor, former Supreme Court clerk, and member of President Biden’s Supreme Court Reform Commission, assesses the court and its place in our system of constitutional democracy. What role should the Supreme Court play? What forces are driving the recent controversies? And what, if anything, can we do to make things better? Mon., April 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-765; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

YouTube, Bingeing, Streaming, and Beyond

Watching television used to be a fairly simple enterprise: You turned on the set and selected one of 500 cable channels. Now, more and more viewers are watching online-only channels like Netflix or Disney+. Many younger viewers prefer devices such as their laptops or their phones. And tens of thousands of kids and teenagers have started their own TV networks on YouTube, bypassing regular programming altogether. Drawing on video clips to illustrate his talk, media expert Brian Rose explains why the old days of simply “watching TV” are fast disappearing. Thurs., April 13, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-250; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

How an Ancient Worldview Drives Today’s Foreign Policy

China scholar Robert Daly traces China’s 21st-century drive for wealth, power, and status to geographic influences, beliefs, and social and cultural practices rooted in its earliest dynasties. The country’s location, Taoism, social stability, and cultural cohesion all played a role. 10 a.m. Pangu’s Bones: How Geography Shaped Chinese Culture 11:30 a.m. The Struggle for Harmony: Qi and Chinese Attitudes Toward Nature 12:45 p.m. Break 1:15 p.m. Culture, Technology, Wealth, and Power 2:45 p.m. Three Ways To Look at China Sat., April 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-254; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Xi lake and bridge in Hangzhou, China

Jiaxiu Pavilion on the Nanming River, Guiyang, China

Grigori Rasputin

More than 100 years after his death, few figures in Russian history evoke as much fascination as Grigori Rasputin, often portrayed as the “Mad Monk” who became the political power behind Czar Nicholas II and his family.

The fact that he was neither mad, nor a monk, hasn’t stopped writers from repeating these and other bogus claims. Historians also debate the extent of Rasputin’s influence on the royal family. And many questions still swirl around his murder one December night at the Yusupov Palace.

Historian Ralph Nurnberger explores the mysteries surrounding the life and death of one of Russian history’s most intriguing characters. Tues., April 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-011; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Sack of Lyon by Calvinists, 1565

Reform and Conflict

In the second half of the 16th century, France teetered on the edge of an abyss. For three decades the kingdom was near anarchy, torn apart by the vicious cycles of violence between Catholics and Protestants.

Historian Alexander Mikaberidze discusses the complex origins of the Wars of Religion in France and provides concise analysis of the wars, their social and economic toll, and the lasting impact of political ideas that they generated. He also examines the effect they had on the French state, economy, culture, and society. Thurs., April 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-256; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

The Traditions and Ceremonies that Shape the British Monarchy

In September 2022, the world watched the pageantry of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral. For the first time, the coverage included the committal ceremony, during which the emblems of royalty were taken from her coffin and placed on the altar. This ritual symbolizes the ongoing nature of the monarchy, with the crown passing from one individual to the next.

From coronation to committal, ceremonies shape the monarchy. Tudor scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores the history and significance of these royal traditions and discusses why the ceremonies are important today. Sat., April 22, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-257; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton, 1953

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Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Guns, Ships, and Cows

The American Revolution was seen by King Carlos III and his ministers as an unprecedented opportunity to regain territory Spain had ceded to the British during the French and Indian War, argues University of Maryland historian Richard Bell.

For that reason, Spanish merchants in Bilbao and the Caribbean began secretly supplying the patriots with flintlocks, shot, blankets, and cows in 1774, well before their government’s declaration of war five years later. Bell draws connections between the American Revolution and the waves of independence movements that rippled across Spain’s Latin American colonies in the decades afterward. Mon., April 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-258; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

From Nickelodeons to Movie Palaces to IMAX to Streaming

Ever since the movie industry was born in the 1890s, audiences have been thrilled to watch stories come to life on the big screen. Actually, nickelodeon screens weren’t very big. But by the 1920s, extravagant movie palaces were a common venue. Then came suburban drive-ins, followed by shopping-mall multiplexes. Today, the movies offer mind-boggling experiences at 7story IMAX theaters.

Media expert Brian Rose looks at the fascinating history of movie theaters, examines how the experience of moviegoing has changed over the decades, and considers whether movie theaters will survive in the age of streaming services. Wed., May 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-260; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Fox Theater in Atlanta

Alcatraz is America’s most notorious island, and its most misunderstood. Beginning with its first sighting by Europeans in 1769 through its present standing as the top paid tourist attraction in San Francisco, its history is multi-layered. Former National Park ranger and historian John Martini uncovers both the island’s infamous past as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963 and its lesser-known roles as a Civil War fortress, political prison for Confederate sympathizers, and military prison for recalcitrant U.S. Army soldiers and Native American warriors. He also covers its evolution as a National Park site, the now-resurgent natural life, and the challenges of preserving its aging infrastructure. Wed., April 26, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-013; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Re-examining a Moment of Extreme Danger

The Cuban Missile Crisis is an event most Americans think they could probably recount in broad contours: In 1962, the Soviet Union tried to sneak nuclear missiles into Cuba, but the United States discovered them and forced the Soviets to back down. But is that what really happened, or is that just the myth Americans have told themselves in the years since? Allen Pietrobon, a global affairs professor at Trinity Washington University, reflects on how such a moment of extreme danger came to happen and whether the United States truly won the faceoff. Mon., May 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-261; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

A U.S. Navy P-2H Neptune flying over a Soviet cargo ship with crated Il-28s on deck during the Cuban Missile Crisis