After attending my first lecture at Smithsonian Associates, I was hooked. I'm proud to help ensure Associates can thrive for decades to come in a way that makes sense for my family and finances as a Legacy Society member.
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Join the Associates Legacy Society
In the 1830s, a gift from a single benefactor led to the birth of the Smithsonian. Today, you can share the same visionary spirit and generosity embodied by James Smithson by becoming a founding member of the Associates Legacy Society.
Smithson saw the new institution as a place uniquely dedicated to learning. And from its founding 60 years ago, Smithsonian Associates has been committed to the same goal: creating opportunities for learning for people of all ages.
Your own legacy gift—of any size—will ensure that we are able to continue that vital work for current and future generations. And at the same time, you’ll be able to take advantage of income and tax benefits for yourself and your heirs.
The Benefits of Planned Giving
By joining the Associates Legacy Society you can:
• Specifically designate your gift to support Smithsonian Associates.
• Retain control of your assets during your lifetime.
• Change your beneficiaries at any time.
• Provide for the people in your life.
• Make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one.
Members also receive invitations to special programs and Smithsonian Associates learning experiences.
Begin the Conversation
We invite you to connect with us and learn more about how planned giving through the Associates Legacy Society can play a significant role in your future—and ours.
Please contact Elizabeth Moloney, Director of Advancement, at (202) 633-8697 or DonorServices@si.edu.
Dear Friends and Members,
As fall approaches, home cooks are retiring the barbecue and reclaiming the kitchen. In this month’s guide, Smithsonian Associates invites several culinary experts into our kitchen, offering a menu of programs that tell both personal and cultural stories.
Food historian Francine Segan offers a flavorful journey through Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, connecting some of its most distinctive locations with gourmet experiences (p. 3). The past century has seen the American diet go from a relatively wholesome one to today’s overabundance of fats, sugar, and ultra-processed unhealthy foods. A historian traces that transformation (p. 16). One of America’s most trusted and influential cooks is 104 years old—and isn’t an actual person. Learn how the Betty Crocker brand was built and why it endures (p. 23).
Baker Dorie Greenspan and chef Carla Hall mark the release of Greenspan’s newest cookbook by sharing stories, baking wisdom, and their love for the emotional power of baked goods (p. 27).
Chef Pyet DeSpain’s heritage blends Native American and Mexican influences. Her cookbook features fusion recipes that honor the food traditions of both (p. 28).
Even if spending time in the kitchen isn’t to your taste, you’ll find programs to savor throughout our fall offerings. The sinuous stonework on the cover reflects the spirit of Art Nouveau. Explore one of its early showcases, the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle (p. 10), and survey how the movement was interpreted in France, Britain, and America (p. 46). Examine the role of women in the Revolutionary era through the lives of an influential political wife, an enslaved poet, and a satirical playwright (p. 14). And despite its culinary-sounding name, Operation Mincemeat was no recipe for dessert—it was a daring British espionage scheme that served up deception to Nazi forces during World War II (p. 10).
Consider this your invitation to join us and dig in!
Frederica R. Adelman, Director adelmanf@si.edu
September 2025
facebook.com/smithsonianassociates instagram.com/smithsonianassociates issuu.com/smithsonianassociatesprograms
Dorie Greenspan Carla Hall
LIFELONG LEARNING
Anniversary Celebration Weekend
A Toast to Smithsonian Associates
After 60 years of informing, entertaining, and inspiring, it’s time for Smithsonian Associates to celebrate. And that’s what is happening the weekend of Friday, October 17, through Sunday, October 19.
The evening of activities on Friday sparkles—literally and figuratively—with both online and in-person events. They include a presentation on three of the Smithsonian’s most scintillating exhibits (see details below); the opportunity to enjoy a special 1960s-themed cocktail mixed by Philip Greene, co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail; a chance to exercise your artistic muscles by creating miniature paintings on glass and collage/mixed media; a cool photo op; a viewing of an illustrated timeline of Smithsonian Associates through the decades; and a light reception.
The first presentation of this celebratory weekend, How the Smithsonian Sparkles, highlights a studio model of the “Star Trek” starship Enterprise, rare colored diamonds, and ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz
One of the most famous fictional voyages into space is that of the Enterprise, and the 11-foot-long model that starred in the original TV series now resides at the National Air and Space Museum. Space History department chair Margaret A. Weitekamp shares stories about how the museum recreated some of the starship’s Hollywood sparkle.
Fancy red diamonds, which are pure red, are among the rarest gems on Earth, and the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) recently opened an exhibit focused on just such a sparkler: the Winston Red Diamond. Gabriela Farfan, NMNH curator of gems and minerals, delves into that diamond and its dazzling companions in the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection.
Several pairs of ruby slippers were made for Judy Garland to wear in The Wizard of Oz. A pair was donated to the National Museum of American History (NMAH) in 1979 and has been one of the most asked-about artifacts at the Smithsonian ever since. NMAH conservator Dawn Wallace illuminates the magic of these glittering slippers.
In Person: Celebration and presentation, Fri., Oct. 17, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-032; Ripley Center; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Online: Presentation, Fri., Oct. 17, 6:30–7:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-032; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
NOTE: After Saturday lectures with some of members’ favorite presenters and teachers, studio arts classes, and a Sunday-afternoon walking tour, the weekend closes that evening with an online lecture from travel expert Rick Steves, who shares stories from his journey along the legendary “Hippie Trail” from Istanbul to Kathmandu during the 1970s (see p. 4 for details).
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/celebration for additional program details, information on special pricing packages, and extended Encores viewing
and Online Program In Person
Anniversary Celebration Weekend Schedule
Friday, October 17–Sunday, October 19 | SmithsonianAssociates.org/celebration
All programs are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Friday, October 17
Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn Walking Tour | 3–5:30 p.m.
Leader: Bill Keene
SOLD OUT
Members $55; Nonmembers $70 CODE 1CW-A01
Saturday, October 18
Concourse Experiences
Ripley Center Concourse | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
A Toast to Smithsonian Associates | In-Person and Online 60th Anniversary Celebration Event
Join in a weekend-long toast to the diamond anniversary of Smithsonian Associates.
A Toast to Smithsonian Associates
With Presentation: How the Smithsonian Sparkles 6:30–8:30 p.m. | CODE 1T0-032
In Person: Celebration and Presentation, Ripley Center; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Online Presentation Only: 6:30–7:30 p.m.; Members $20; Nonmembers $30 (see p. 2 for a full program description)
Check in for programs and visit informational booths dedicated to all aspects of Smithsonian Associates. Light refreshments are available during the day.
Hour-long Lectures | In person and online
In–Person Celebration Activities | Ripley Center Concourse | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
• Light reception
• 1960s-themed signature cocktail with Philip Greene
• Drop-in Studio Arts: ` Miniature Paintings on Glass Collage and Mixed Media
• An illustrated timeline of Smithsonian Associates through the decades
• Step and repeat photo wall
• Meet Smithsonian Associates staff members
National Museum of the American Indian
The Visionary Genius of Frederick Douglass 10–11 a.m.
Presenter: Richard Bell
Members $20; Nonmembers $30; CODE 1M2-414
The Films of Alfred Hitchcock
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Brian Rose
Members $20; Nonmembers $30; CODE 1J0-496
Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza
A Guide To Understanding Modern Art
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Presenter: Nancy G. Heller
Members $20; Nonmembers $30; CODE 1M2-413
Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn Walking Tour | 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Leader: Bill Keene
Members $55; Nonmembers $70 CODE 1CW-B01
How To Live To Be 100
3–4 p.m.
Presenter: John Whyte
Members $20; Nonmembers $30; CODE 1K0-623
The Lincoln They Didn’t Teach You About in School
4:30–5:30 p.m.
Presenter: Robert Watson
Members $20; Nonmembers $30; CODE 1K0-624
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/celebration for additional program details and information on special pricing packages and extended Encores viewing
Discovering Emilia-Romagna
Sights, Food, and Wine
7–8:30 p.m.
Presenter: Francine Segan
In Person: Ripley Center (includes reception); Members $45; Nonmembers $55; CODE 1D0-117
Online: Members $20; Nonmembers $30; CODE 1D0-117 (only includes lecture from 7–8 p.m.)
Celebration Weekend Schedule continued on next page
JUDY DAVIS/HOACHLANDER DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Anniversary Celebration Weekend Schedule
Friday, October 17–Sunday, October 19 | SmithsonianAssociates.org/celebration
All programs are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Saturday, October 18 (cont.)
Studio Arts Classes
Mosaic Jewelry
10:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Instructor: Bonnie Fitzgerald
In Person: Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACV; Members $95; Nonmembers $110
On-Location Photography at the Smithsonian on the National Mall 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Instructor: Andargé Asfaw
In Person: Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AAK; Members $45; Nonmembers $60
Digital Drawing: Remixing the Collection
1–4 p.m.
Instructor: Mike O’Brien
In Person: Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-0ZJ; Members $45; Nonmembers $60
Luminous Landscapes in Watercolor 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Instructor: Lubna Zahid Online: CODE 1E0-ACZ; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Watercolor Workshop: Quick-Sketching 1–4 p.m.
Instructor: Cindy Briggs Online: CODE 1E0-0ZH; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Beautiful Florals in Watercolor 2–5 p.m.
Instructor: Lubna Zahid Online: CODE 1E0-ADA; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Sunday, October 19
Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn Walking Tour | 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Leader: Bill Keene CODE 1CW-C01, Members $55; Nonmembers $70
Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/celebration for additional program details and information on special pricing packages and extended Encores viewing
Rick Steves: On the Hippie Trail
In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied “Hippie Trail” from Istanbul to Kathmandu. A 23-year-old Rick Steves made the trek and, like a travel writer in training, documented everything along the way, from jumping off a moving train to making friends in Tehran to getting lost in Lahore. The experience ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world. Forty-seven years-later, Steves shares stories and the unforgettable moments of his life-changing 1978 experience. His new book, On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer, is available for purchase.
Online: Sun., Oct. 19, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-033; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
By Cindy Briggs
By Lubna Zahid
By Andargé Asfaw
By Lubna Zahid
By Mike O’Brien
By Bonnie Fitzgerald
Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
Building the Home Front
The U.S. Housing Crisis of World War II
Following the fall of France in 1940 during World War II, the United States rapidly ramped up production for the war effort, prompting massive conversions of existing factories and the construction of enormous new plants. With 20% of the U.S. population moving due to job demands and private home construction stifled by the war, a housing crisis of unprecedented scale emerged.
In response, the government launched programs to build housing swiftly, creating approximately 2 million housing units by the end of the war in 1945. Bill Keene, lecturer in urban studies and architecture, explores the development of the crisis, examining the wide range of housing solutions and assessing both the challenges these initiatives faced and their successes.
Thurs., Sept. 4, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-067; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Exploring Ancient Egypt
Culture, Commerce, and Daily Life
Discover the fascinating world of ancient Egypt in programs that explore the daily life, culture, and innovations of one of the world’s most influential civilizations. Scholar Shelby Justl of the Penn Museum in Philadelphia draws on the discoveries of ongoing archaeological explorations and experimental archaeology to bring to life the rich history of Egypt and its expanding role on the global stage.
SEPT 4 Eating and Drinking Like an Egyptian
SEPT 11 Ancient Egyptian Adornments
SEPT 18 The Fairer Sex: Women in Ancient Egypt
SEPT 25 Ships, Travel, and Trade on the “Great Green” Mediterranean 4-session series: Thurs., Sept. 4–25, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1NV-EGY; Members $80; Nonmembers $100
Individual sessions: Thurs., Sept. 4 (CODE 1NV-141); Thurs., Sept. 11 (CODE 1NV-142); Thurs., Sept. 18 (CODE 1NV-143); Thurs., Sept. 25 (CODE 1NV-144); 12 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Related program: Unearthing Egypt at The Met and the Brooklyn Museum, p. 61
September 26–28, 2025
New Location! Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building, Mall Entrance Smithsoniancraft2wear.org
Gold necklace with pendant of the goddess Sekhmet, 570–526 B.C.E.
PENN MUSEUM
Statuette of woman preparing beer, Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty
Debra Adelson
The Maginot Line
The Maginot Line—an array of defenses that France built along its border with Germany in the 1930s to prevent an invasion—was a marvel of engineering. Eight decades on, it is remembered as an expensively misguided response to obvious danger. Historian Kevin Passmore of Cardiff University reevaluates the massive undertaking by tracing the controversies surrounding its construction, the lives of the soldiers who manned the forts, the impact on German-speaking inhabitants of the frontier, and the fight against espionage from within.
Far from a backward step, Passmore argues, the Maginot Line was an ambitious project of modernization— one that was let down by strategic error and grow ing dissatisfaction with fortification. His new book, The Maginot Line: A New History (Yale University Press), is available for purchase.
Tues., Sept. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-604; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Operation Mincemeat
In the spring of 1943, on the eve of the Allied invasion of Sicily, British intelligence staged one of the most audacious deceptions of World War II. Hoping to convince Adolf Hitler and German military leadership that the target was the Balkans, the British created a fictitious character who would carry false invasion plans intended to fall into German hands.
The invention was “William Martin”—an officer in the Royal Marines—and a corpse carrying official papers, pictures of a “sweetheart,” and documents for a Balkan invasion was dumped off the coast of Spain. A fisherman recovered the body and turned it over to German intelligence. Hitler, believing that the Allies were planning to strike in Greece, moved reinforcements to the Balkans instead of Sicily. Historian Christopher Hamner examines this elaborate ruse by using original documents from 1943.
Wed., Sept. 10, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-146; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
The Blitz
How England Met Germany’s Air Assault
As Britain’s survival hung in the balance in 1940 and 1941 against Germany’s relentless Blitz air campaign in World War II, scrappy defenders on the ground forged a fragile network of radar, telephones, civil defense, and radio communications. It triumphed despite equipment delays, squabbling, and political interference.
Focusing on key moments during the German bombings, Marcus Jones, U.S. Naval Academy history professor, explores how a combination of the Chain Home radar network, centralized operations at Bentley Priory, and real-time telephone communications created what would now be recognized as the first command-and-control system. The Blitz was both an assault on cities and a test of Britain’s ability to organize knowledge, labor, and machines into an effective defense that foreshadowed the information age of warfare.
Wed., Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-884; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Read more about programs in this guide on the website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org
ID card created by British intelligence for "Major Martin"
Chain Home radar network receiver room, 1940
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
There are 1,248 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each one offering a glimpse into the evolution of complex civilizations, empires, and religions. In this monthly series, historian Justin M. Jacobs gives an in-depth overview of both well-known and lesser-known locations.
Programs on this page are part of Smithsonian Associates’ 60th Anniversary offerings
The Acropolis
Few ruins of the ancient world are more instantly recognizable than the majestic white columns of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. Jacobs provides a comprehensive historical overview of the many incarnations of the monuments on the Acropolis, including some that no longer exist. After revisiting the original function and appearance of the classical Acropolis, he explores how its monuments were altered over time to serve new rulers and new cultural contexts until reaching their current whitewashed form in the 20th century.
Wed., Sept. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-483; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Taj Mahal
The grief of a Muslim shah for his dead wife inspired the 17th-century construction of what would become the architectural jewel of the Mughal empire in India. The Taj Mahal, built as a tomb for the Persian wife of a male descendant of Genghis Khan, showcases the splendid craftsmanship of South Asian artisans, the motifs of Persian-inspired Muslim art and architecture, and the political influence of Central Asian conquerors in India. Jacobs simulates the experience of a visit to the Taj Mahal complex, highlighting historical themes and revealing architectural details along the way.
Wed., Oct. 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-492; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Persepolis
In the 6th and 5th centuries B.C.E., the ancient Persians forged a new empire that stretched from the Indus River in the East to the Danube in the West. Jacobs analyzes the architectural symbol of their unprecedented wealth and power: the palace complex at Persepolis. By examining the artistic motifs of surviving stone reliefs and the many mysteries of the ruins, he illustrates how the Persians laid the rhetorical foundations of so many other empires that followed in their historical wake.
Mon., Nov. 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-500; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Machu Picchu
The monuments of Machu Picchu are perhaps the most recognizable yet least understood of the world’s famous monuments. Jacobs explores the world of the Inca empire and analyzes Machu Picchu’s original function as a royal estate for successive Incan kings. He covers the innovative layout of the site, the type of structures that have survived, the reason for their abandonment, their rediscovery by American explorer Hiram Bingham in the early 20th century, and how the site became a magnet for tourists.
Wed., Dec. 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-506; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
LIFELONG LEARNING
The Parthenon on the Acropolis
Persepolis, "the Persian city"
Machu Picchu, Peru
The Taj Mahal
Walking Hadrian’s Wall
Life at the Edge of the Roman Empire
Running 73 miles from Britain’s Wallsend on the North Sea to Bowness-on-Solway on the Solway Firth, Hadrian’s Wall was a significant frontier of the Roman Empire. Constructed by Emperor Hadrian, who ruled between 117 and 138, the boundary marking the northern border of the province of Britannia consisted of curtain walls, forts, and watchtowers along with deep trenches.
While an impressive example of military fortification, the archaeological remains of this barrier offer insight into wider topics of Roman culture. Well-preserved examples of objects from daily life—birthday invitations, militar y equipment, and religious artifacts—paint a vivid picture of life at the edge of the Roman imperium. Art historian Christopher Gregg explores the history of Hadrian’s Wall and its associated ruins and shares anecdotes from his 2019 walk along the wall’s full length.
Thurs., Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-875; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Hudson’s Bay Company
Istanbul Unveiled
Istanbul is a city of wonders whose architectural treasures are enduring legacies of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule. Once a major stop along the Silk Road, Istanbul’s historic center is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are reminders around every corner of the city’s place in world history, from Hagia Sophia to Topkapi Palace to the Chora Church to the underground ruins of the Byzantine Great Palace.
Tour guide Serif Yenen delves into storied sites to visit, along with ones still waiting to be discovered by visitors.
Fri., Sept. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-484; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
From Fur Trading to a Political and Economic Powerhouse
Founded in 1670, Canada’s Hudson’s Bay Company was once the most important political and economic force in northern and western North America. Now, after a storied run of 355 years, Hudson’s Bay is shutting its doors.
Stephen R. Bown, author of The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire, examines how a smattering of foreign agents transformed into a culturally blended and self-sustaining domestic entity with territory once including much of the Pacific Northwest. He explores how tapping into pre-existing Indigenous commercial networks enabled its expansion. Along the way, the culture and economy of Indigenous peoples from Montreal to Oregon to Vancouver Island were reshaped—and the entire northern North American world was transformed. Tues., Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-876; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A
Hadrian's Wall near Birdoswald Fort
Hudson's Bay Company, British Columbia, 1890s
William Franklin: Divided Loyalty
William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin yet loyal servant of the British king during the American Revolution, lived a tumultuous life. His journey from familial devotion to political defiance offers a compelling study in divided loyalties as the colonies clamored for independence. Historian Richard Bell explores the stark contrast between Benjamin’s ideals of liberty and William’s unwavering belief in the stability of monarchy, creating a portrait of personal and political estrangement that underscores the sacrifices within families that often accompany great historical upheavals.
Wed., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-405; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Louis XIV: The Sun King and His Legacy
Louis XIV remains one of the most influential and fascinating figures in European history. His reign, spanning over 70 years from 1643 to 1715, defined an era of absolute monarchy, cultural splendor, and military ambition.
Historian Alexander Mikaberidze explores the life and legacy of Louis XIV, from his early years as a boy king under the guidance of Cardinal Mazarin to his transformation into the embodiment of royal authority—famously declaring “L’État, c’est moi” (“I am the state”) and crafting an image of unrivaled grandeur.
Louis XVI
The Tragic Monarch Reconsidered
Louis XVI, the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy in 1792, is a figure often flattened by caricature. In popular culture and historical fiction, he is typically portrayed as either a feeble puppet manipulated by his glamorous wife Marie Antoinette or a heartless tyrant whose downfall was richly deserved. Historian Alexander Mikaberidze of Louisiana State University offers a more nuanced reappraisal of a monarch whose life and reign were far more complex—and far more tragic.
Louis XIV’s model of power endured beyond his lifetime. His vision of centralized authority shaped modern governance and his courtly rituals influenced monarchies across Europe. Mikaberidze surveys his successes and failures and considers how his legacy continued to affect France and the world.
Thurs., Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-406; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Your programs...your time
Mikaberidze reveals a man of contrasts: deeply educated and intellectually engaged, yet politically indecisive; capable of insightful foreign policy strategy, yet paralyzed at moments of national crisis. He views Louis as neither a fool nor a villain but rather a monarch caught in the violent center of a world in transformation.
Thurs., Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-422; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Registered for a Smithsonian Associates online program but missed it because of a schedule conflict? Wish you could take a second look at a presentation you loved? Associates Encores offers the answer to these questions—and more.
Portrait of William Franklin
LIFELONG LEARNING
Portrait of Louis XIV (detail) by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1701–02
Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre (detail) by Antoine Callet, 1779
Mutiny on the Black Prince
In 1768, the British slave ship Black Prince departed England, bound for West Africa. But before reaching the African coast, the crew mutinied, murdering the captain and his officers. The mutineers renamed the ship Liberty and set out for Brazil. The ship eventually wrecked off the coast of Hispaniola, and the crew fled.
History professor James H. Sweet unravels the dramatic story of the events onboard the vessel and the owners’ efforts to capture the rebels. The owners mobilized the power of the British government to seek justice and restitution, Sweet says, foreshadowing forms of corporatestate capture that persist to this day.
His new book, Mutiny on the Black Prince: Slavery, Piracy, and the Limits of Liberty in the Revolutionary Atlantic World (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.
Thurs., Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0030; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Jews vs. Rome: Resilience and Resistance
One of the most momentous eras in human history was the 200 years of ancient Israel’s battles against Rome that reshaped Judaism and gave rise to Christianity. Historian Barry Strauss examines the courageous yet tragic uprisings, the geopolitical clash between the empires of Rome and Persia, internal conflicts among Jews, and the ethnic conflict between Jews and Gentiles in Judea.
He focuses on the Great Revolt of 66–70, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, culminating in the Siege of Masada, where defenders chose mass suicide over surrender; the Diaspora Revolt, ignited by humiliating taxes on Jews; and the Bar Kokhba Revolt, which flared up in response to the Roman decision to rebuild Jerusalem as a pagan city.
Strauss is the author of Jews vs. Rome (Simon & Schuster), which is available for purchase.
Thurs., Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-877; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
LIFELONG LEARNING
The Age of World’s Fairs
Paris, 1900: The Exposition Universelle
World’s fairs have long served as global showcases for innovation, culture, and progress. These international expositions brought together nations to display advancements in technology, industry, art, and science, reflecting the aspirations and challenges of their times.
The largest world’s fair held to date, the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle bridged the 19th and 20th centuries. Led by Alfred Picard, head of the fair’s governing commission, it attracted over 50 million visitors and introduced monumental architectural projects, including the Grand Palais, Petit Palais, and Pont Alexandre III, many of which continue to define Paris’s skyline. Art historian Jennie Hirsh delves into the lasting significance of these structures, the national pavilions of more than 40 countries, and key Art Nouveau works, showing how the fair reflected the past while embracing new technologies.
Mon., Sept. 29, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-104C; Members $25; Nonmembers $30; Related program: Art Nouveau: New Style for a New Century, p. 46
The Genius of Benjamin Franklin
Lessons from the Age of Invention
With his wild hair, tiny spectacles, and larger-than-life persona, Benjamin Franklin was the genius of his age— more famous than the moon, or so he liked to claim. But what can this master inventor, statesman, and self-made celebrity teach us about genius today? Caroline Winterer, a professor of history at Stanford University, leads a survey of Franklin’s most remarkable creations and groundbreaking ideas—from harnessing electricity and inventing bifocals to revolutionizing the postal system and crafting a musical instrument that inspired Mozart and Beethoven. And, of course, his greatest invention: himself. Discover how Franklin was very much a man of his own century, as well as how he continues to offer timeless lessons that help us explore our own possibilities for genius today.
Mon., Oct. 6, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-114; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Opening ceremony of the 1900 Paris World’s Fair
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky (detail) by Benjamin West, 1816
Spies, Leaks, and Secrets
True Stories from the National Security Beat
Scott Shane covered national security for The New York Times for 15 years and twice shared Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues. He tells stories of his career, including what happened when he told the Obama White House the Times had a quarter-million secret diplomatic cables; how he spent a summer in an oversized highsecurity closet at the Times, poring over 60,000 National Security Agency documents from Edward Snowden; and how he showed that Russian intelligence had created fake Americans and sprinkled them on Facebook to spout the Russian line. Along the way, he considers a paradox of American government: how secret agencies can operate in a democracy.
Tues., Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-031; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The History of the British Monarchy
From Royal Power to Pomp and Ceremony
The Domesday Book
In 1085, determined to understand just what he controlled after he became king of England, William the Conqueror ordered an inquest be made in every shire into the landed and fiscal resources of the realm so that he could know what he owned and what taxes were due him. The Domesday Book hasn’t been used as evidence in disputes since the 1960s, but local historians and genealogists continue to look to it for information about the early history of English villages and family lines.
Samuel Collins, professor of history at George Mason University, explores how and why this extraordinary document came to be and what it reveals about the governance and economy of late 11th-century England and the impact of the Norman Conquest.
Tues., Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-880; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom, stretching back to AngloSaxon England and Scotland, where smaller kingdoms were consolidated by the 10th century. Tudor and royal historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger traces the complicated history of the role of kings and queens through the centuries. Explore the way centralized rule of England was established in the 11th century and then challenged ever since.
Learn how the creation of Magna Carta, through all its iterations, marked a legal way of controlling the power of the monarch. Trace the growth of parliamentary power and examine how the monarchy’s role evolved from absolute ruler to “Head of Nation”—a symbol of unity, stability, and national pride.
5-session series: Wed., Oct. 15–Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-411; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
Illustration of the Domesday Book, 1900
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, coronation poster (detail), 1937
1968: The Extraordinary Events of a Memorable Year
The year 1968 encapsulates the narrative of the Sixties in America. Leonard Steinhorn, a professor of communication and affiliate professor of history at American University, offers a perspective on a year that transformed the nation.
Steinhorn views the America of 1968—marked by the Vietnam war, the assassinations of leaders, student unrest, and cultural and racial hostilities—as one that would have been unrecognizable just a few years prior.
To understand the Sixties and how the decade reshaped the nation, he says, it’s necessary to consider how the seminal year of 1968 influenced American history.
Mon., Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-882; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
America’s Main Street: Pennsylvania Avenue
America’s most famous avenue connects the White House and the United States Capitol, but it hasn’t always been a grand thoroughfare. Pennsylvania Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood has been renovated, re-imagined and revitalized repeatedly. From Murder Bay, a center of crime, gambling, and prostitution in the mid-19th century to the stately boulevard of presidential inaugurations, Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, unfolds a story of metamorphosis along what came to be known as America’s Main Street.
Sites highlighted include the White House; Eisenhower Executive Office Building; Blair House; Federal Triangle; the Willard Hotel; Old Post Office Tower; J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building; U.S. Navy Memorial; National Archives; and Temperance Fountain.
Wed., Oct. 22, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-151; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Legacy of the Ancient World
The Texts That Tell the Stories
In many instances, the source of contemporary knowledge about the ancient world is texts dating back two or three millennia, such as the works of Homer and the Bible. These and other texts in Hebrew and in Greek were copied and recopied by generations of scribes across the centuries. Hundreds of ancient and medieval manuscripts are preserved in museums and libraries, offering a window into this painstaking work and the civilizations it documented.
In other cases, knowledge of the ancient world derives from the archaeological discoveries of the 19th century in Egypt and in Mesopotamia, along with the attendant decryption of the hieroglyphic and cuneiform written languages. Biblical scholar Gary Rendsburg explores the stories behind these sources, which retain their narrative power into the 21st century.
Sat., Oct. 25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-417; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
The End of Communism and the Rise of Putin
Insights from a Reporter in 1990s Moscow
Russia’s transition from the collapse of Communism to the emergence of Vladimir Putin as its dominant leader is a complex story of political upheaval, economic chaos, and shifting social landscapes. Drawing on his experiences during the five years he spent as a journalist reporting for The Moscow Times and Reuters, Adam Tanner provides a window into the 1990s. Through storytelling and his own photographs captured across Russia during that transformative period, he traces how the country’s early years under its first democratically elected leader, Boris Yeltsin, set the stage for Putin’s rise. Tanner’s insights offer a deeper understanding of the historical, political, and cultural forces that formed modern Russia against the backdrop of the current global geopolitical landscape. Mon., Oct. 27, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-152; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, 1968
A scene from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, ca. 1250 B.C.E.
President Boris Yeltsin supporters converge near Red Square, 1993
China Camp
A Landscape of California History
Chinese immigrants faced significant discrimination in 19th-century California: racism, bans on property ownership and occupations, and oftentimes outright violence. Shrimp fishing was one of the few occupations open to them. China Camp in Marin County is a surviving shrimping village from this period, one of dozens that dotted the shores of San Francisco Bay.
Established in the 1870s, it survived into the 20th century as a sports fishing camp, undergoing changes as its uses—including serving as a backdrop for a 1950s John Wayne movie— evolved. John Martini, a former National Park ranger and historian, tracks its story and preservation as he covers the human and structural histories of China Camp over the last 150 years.
Wed., Nov. 5, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-155; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Art Spy: World War II Resistance Hero Rose Valland
Rose Valland was a curator at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris when the Nazis invaded France, occupied the museum, and began using it as a sorting center for thousands of pieces of stolen art from across Europe. Miraculously, she managed to keep meticulous secret records of the provenance and destination of the artwork. Her notes made possible the recovery of many stolen pieces after the war.
Journalist Michelle Young reveals how Valland passed crucial information to the Resistance network, put herself in harm’s way to protect the museum and her staff, and faced death during the last hours of the day Paris was liberated from the Nazis.
Young’s new book, The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland, is available for purchase.
Thurs., Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-039; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Raoul Wallenberg
The Man Who Rescued Thousands
Raoul Gustaf Wallenberg was a Swedish architect, businessman, and diplomat who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews from German Nazis and Hungarian fascists during one of the darkest chapters of World War II. As a special envoy stationed in Budapest in 1944, Wallenberg used his position, resourcefulness, and courage to issue protective passports and establish safe houses, defying the Nazi regime and its local collaborators.
After Soviet forces drove the Nazis out of Budapest in early 1945, Wallenberg was detained by the Red Army on suspicion of espionage. He disappeared into the Soviet prison system and was never seen again by anyone outside the Soviet Union. Historian Ralph Nurnberger examines the life and legacy of Raoul Wallenberg and the events surrounding his suspicious disappearance.
Mon., Nov. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-121; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
William T. Sherman and the Settling of the West
Gen. William T. Sherman is remembered for his service during the Civil War. He was the architect of some of its most daring campaigns and, by the war’s end, recognized as the second-most-powerful general in the U.S. Army. Yet Sherman’s military career, highlighted by his campaigns in the South, represented a single chapter of a career largely focused on the American West.
Historian Bennett Parten reframes Sherman’s overall legacy, looking west across the Plains. He discusses how the famous general played a pivotal role in the early history of California; the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad; and the U.S. government’s many wars against native peoples. Parten is the author of Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman’s March and the Story of America’s Largest Emancipation. Thurs., Nov. 13, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-633; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
China Camp in Marin County
JOHN MARTINI
Raoul Wallenberg
The American Revolution and the Fate of the World
A Global History of a Not-so-Local War
The American Revolution is often considered a parochial drama: 13 colonies squaring off against the British Crown in a spirited bid for independence. Historian and author Richard Bell reevaluates the Revolution as a world war that unleashed chaos, opportunity, and transformation across six continents. It was a seismic global event that redrew maps, toppled hierarchies, catalyzed migration, and accelerated new movements for liberty—and for empire.
Bell offers a new framework for understanding the Revolutionary War as a sprawling, complex, and high-stakes struggle fought on land and sea, shaped by commerce, diplomacy, propaganda, and contingency.
His book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World (Riverhead Books) is available for purchase.
Mon., Nov. 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-423; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
A Revolutionary Triumvirate
Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Mercy Otis Warren
With the impending 250th anniversary of American independence, much of the focus will be on the Founding Fathers. Women, however, were critical to the success of both the resistance movement against Great Britain and in winning the War for Independence.
Historian Rosemarie Zagarri of George Mason University examines the role of women in the American Revolution, including ordinary women who participated in boycotts against Great Britain as well as more educated women who supported the patriotic cause.
She focuses on Mercy Otis Warren, who wrote plays satirizing British tyranny; Phillis Wheatley, the enslaved poet who won her freedom during the Revolution; and Abigail Adams, who reminded her husband, politician John Adams, to “Remember the Ladies” when making laws for the new nation.
Thurs., Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0883 Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Venice and Water: A Hydrological History
Few cities in the world are as intertwined with water as Venice. Historian Dennis Romano explores how the aquatic environment of the Venetian lagoon has shaped nearly every aspect of life in the city. Over the course of its 1,600-year history, citizens have regarded the surrounding waters in remarkably varied ways: as a vital safeguard and source of sustenance; a complex engineering challenge; an obstacle to be overcome; and today, an existential threat.
Romano, author of Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City, examines the physical and hydrological characteristics of the lagoon and considers how shifting perceptions of water have influenced Venice’s development, resilience, and vulnerability. Through this lens, he offers a deeper understanding of the city’s past and the urgent questions it faces in the present.
Fri., Nov. 14, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-122; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
King James VI and I: Uniter of Kingdoms
Crowned in Scotland in 1567 when he was 1 year old and in England and Ireland in 1603, James VI and I has long been eclipsed in history and fame by his cousin and predecessor, Elizabeth I, and his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. Historian Clare Jackson reappraises his life and legacy, contextualizing the domestic drama of his youth and the renewed creativity of the Jacobean era, culminating in the commissioning of the King James Bible.
Along the way, Jackson reveals how the king’s keen interest in joining old and new worlds—the creation of colonies overseas and, closer to home, uniting Scotland, England, and Ireland—set the geopolitical stage for centuries to come. Her new book, The Mirror of Great Britain: A Life of King James VI and I (Liveright), is available for purchase.
Fri., Nov. 14, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-649; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Engraving of poet Phillis Wheatley, 1773
Romancing the Regency
Fantasies and Realities of 19th-century England
As fans celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday and await the next season of “Bridgerton,” the Regency era is more popular than ever. But much of what readers and viewers know about the period comes from historical fiction. Pride and Prejudice alone has inspired multiple film and TV versions—notably in the 1995 British miniseries with its now-iconic image of Colin Firth’s wet-shirted Mr. Darcy. What is it about this brief period that fuels fantasy, sells millions of romance novels, and lures tourists to London and Bath, eager to retrace the steps of their favorite fictional characters?
Historian Julie Taddeo explores the real world of Regency elites, known as the Ton, and the larger British culture of which they were part. She also examines how the Regency lives on through social media and mass marketing, adding romance and history to 21st-century lives.
Tues., Nov. 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-634; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Envisioning the Future
How the 19th Century Predicted Today
People of the late 19th century had great hopes that technological innovation 100 years into the future would change human life for the better. Artists of the era offered their visions of this new world in vivid, colorful illustrations for collector’s cards, postcards, and cartoons.
Some imagined a world of robot barbers and manicurists, jet-pack-propelled tennis, and hunting in the sky. Other dreams like a “correspondence cinema”—in which a person with enough wires and equipment at home could see and talk to someone in a remote location—have long been realized. More than a century has passed since this flourishing of popular art envisioning the future. Writer Adam Tanner looks at these depictions to reveal how some futurists were hilariously off-base, while others uncannily predicted the world of today.
Wed., Nov. 19, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-157; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Churchill the Writer
Beyond his political and military achievements, Sir Winston Churchill was a prolific and accomplished writer. Historian Katherine Carter explores the literary legacy of a man whose mastery of language was as formidable as his determination during his country’s darkest hour.
Churchill’s writing career spanned more than 60 years, producing a vast body of work that includes history, memoirs, speeches, and journalism. His vivid prose brought history to life, capturing the drama of world events with clarity and passion.
Carter examines how Churchill’s skillful storytelling helped shape public perception, bolstered morale during World War II and made him a worthy recipient of a Nobel Prize in Literature. She is a curator who has managed the house and collections at Chartwell, Churchill’s country house, for over a decade.
Fri., Nov. 21, 2 p.m.; CODE 1K0-638; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Read more about programs in this guide on the website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.
A French card from 1900 imagines education in the year 2000
C. E. Brock illustration for Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, 1895
Winston Churchill by Cecil Beaton, 1940
A History of American Dining
What Americans eat has changed drastically in the past 100 years. The nation transformed from having a relatively wholesome food system—in the early 1900s, wealthy Europeans traveled to the United States for vacation simply to enjoy the splendid cuisine—to having a food culture laden with fats, sugar, and ultra-processed unhealthy foods today. As a result, our healthcare system currently spends roughly $1 trillion annually to combat diet-related diseases, which account for the majority of American deaths. How did we get here?
Historian Allen Pietrobon answers that question as he leads a visual journey through the culinary history of the United States during the past century.
Mon., Dec. 1, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-505; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Dickens, Christmas, and Victorian Society
“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year”—so promises Ebenezer Scrooge at the close of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Apart from celebrating the holiday, its plot highlights the contrast in Victorian society between the wealthy and the impoverished and emphasizes the need for compassion and social reform.
Historian Julie Taddeo places Dickens and Christmas within the larger social dynamic of 19th-century Britain, examining if the author’s story was indeed a challenge to the class structure of the period; why Dickens is credited with the “invention” of Christmas; and how distinctly Victorian traditions influence how it is celebrated today. Taking a cue from the Ghost of Christmas Past, Taddeo returns to the age of workhouses, plum puddings, and an author whose holiday story has become timeless.
Wed., Dec. 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-639; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
The Amarna Letters Voices From the Bronze Age
In 1887, a cache of nearly 400 clay tablets inscribed in cuneiform was found in the ruins of the heretic king Akhenaten’s ancient capital, now known as Amarna. A correspondence between Egypt’s pharaohs and the great powers of the day, they offer a glimpse of a diplomatic world filled with royal marriages, elaborate negotiations, exchanges of luxury gifts, political maneuvering, and appeals from the vassal kings of Canaan.
Eric Cline, a professor of classics, history, and anthropology at George Washington University, traces the competition among antiquities dealers and museums to acquire the tablets, the scholarly race between British and German teams to decipher them, and the colonial-era context in which they were unearthed.
Cline’s book Love, War, and Diplomacy: The Discovery of the Amarna Letters and the Bronze Age World They Revealed (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase.
Wed., Dec. 10, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-127; Members $20; 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.
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
Letter from Ashur-uballit, king of Assyria, to the ruler of Egypt
Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
Paris Noir: Black Musicians in the City of Lights
When the 369th infantry regiment eventually known as the “Harlem Hellfighters” arrived in France in December 1917, none of them could have imagined that they would initiate a trend of African Americans moving to Paris, a migration that continues to this day, says Michele L. Simms-Burton, a former professor of African American studies.
The unit’s band helped Parisians chase away their wartime blues by introducing them to jazz. Simms-Burton explores how jazz took Paris by storm, the circumstances that made the city ripe for embracing this new musical form, and why Paris continues to be a place where African American musicians work, create, and live.
Wed., Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-482; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Smithsonian Chorus Legends of Song
Looking for a choral program that celebrates memorable music across the decades? This is the one for you. Choral conductor and music educator Ernest Johnson leads the ensemble in arrangements of the hits you know and love. Songs may include favorites from the stage and screen, classic standards from the American Songbook, and legendary hits by pop artists. Some selections will be from the 1960s, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Smithsonian Associates. (The final song list and musical arrangements are chosen to fit the specific vocal and musical abilities of the group.)
No audition is required. Rehearsals culminate in a free performance on Nov. 20 for invited guests. 11 sessions plus performance: Thurs., Sept. 4–Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m.; Thurs., Nov. 20 performance, 7:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1P0-882; Members $150; Nonmembers $165
Bob Dylan: Jewish Roots, American Soil
Bob Dylan arrived in New York City one winter morning in 1961. His music and spirit would go on to have a huge impact on popular music for decades. What hardly anyone knew then was that—like so many before him—Dylan was concealing his Jewish origins. He had been born Robert Allen Zimmerman to Jewish parents in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1941. Dylan’s instincts for escape and reinvention have helped shape his long career, says author Harry Freedman. Freedman traces the folk revival movement spearheaded by Dylan and the heady creativity of the 1960s. Freedman’s book Bob Dylan: Jewish Roots, American Soil (Bloomsbury) is available for purchase.
Thurs., Sept. 4, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-028; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
The Invention of Charlotte Brontë
Ever since the death of Charlotte Brontë in 1855, her tragic life story–entwined with those of her novelist sisters Emily and Anne–has been a cultural legend. Much of this legend originates in Elizabeth Gaskell’s controversial 1857 biography, The Life of Charlotte Brontë, which created a furor on publication. As a result, a censored edition was issued that remained the standard until the middle of the 20th century. The question of how much of it is true has persisted.
However, doubts about the biography’s integrity rely on a false confession Gaskell was forced to make to save her publisher from being sued, argues author Graham Watson. Watson discusses why he believes the findings from his research challenge many long-held assumptions about Brontë and her family.
His new book, The Invention of Charlotte Brontë (Pegasus), is available for sale.
Fri., Sept. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1CV-069; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
The “Harlem Hellfighters”
What “Downton Abbey” Teaches About British History
In addition to engaging drama, the popular TV series “Downton Abbey” offered a window into the social, political, and cultural life of a period that spans from the Edwardian era to the 1920s. Historian Julie Taddeo explores the show’s appeal—which goes deeper than its period fashions and lavish sets—to examine its historical accuracy and what it says about the 21st century, from the 2008 economic crash to Brexit to America’s fascination with British royalty.
In a discussion timed to coincide with the release of the third “Downton Abbey” movie, she considers the upcoming film as well as the preceding two. Taddeo also addresses Maggie Smith’s death in 2024 and why so many people connected with her as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham.
Mon., Sept. 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-607; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Yoga and Aging
A Path to Wisdom, Courage, and Connection
Hope and History: The Poetry of Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney (1939–2013) is the most celebrated poet of his generation, a Nobel Prize winner whose facility for language is matched by a readiness to question the place of art in a world of moral and political crisis. Born in Northern Ireland, Heaney left a body of work that transcends the specifics of its time and place yet also confronts the descent of the region into sectarian violence in thoughtprovoking ways.
Though his Irish identity is foundational to this work, Heaney is also a poet of the world, as influenced by Robert Frost as he is by W. B. Yeats. Lucy Collins, an associate professor at University College Dublin, explores Heaney’s evolution as a poet from early encounters with the natural world to later texts of political and philosophical inquiry.
Mon., Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-878; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Yoga therapist Linda Lang offers a unique exploration of aging—its challenges, potent discoveries, and unexpected opportunities. Through a blend of lecture, experiential practices, and yogic philosophy, Lang invites participants to examine the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of growing older.
Drawing on evidence-based practices and in-depth experience with older students, Lang shares tools to manage anxiety; cultivate emotional resilience; and approach life transitions with clarity, a sense of purpose, and deep appreciation for the process. Key topics include understanding the psychological impact of aging; yoga-based practices to support mental and emotional well-being; finding strength and meaning through shared human experience; and cultivating perspective through compassionate detachment and self-inquiry. The program is open to all—no prior yoga experience required.
Wed., Sept. 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-145; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
Elements of Fiction Writing
In this course for both beginning and seasoned writers, author Judy Pomeranz examines the basic elements of fiction such as plot, character, setting, and point of view and explores how these tools are deployed in effective storytelling. Discussions include finding story ideas; turning ideas into short stories and novels; creating compelling beginnings and endings; the logistics of writing; and the life of a writer. Optional writing assignments are offered for participants interested in practicing what will be examined in theory, along with brief exercises to stimulate creativity.
Pomeranz is the author of the novel Love Without Asterisks and Love on a Small Island, a collection of short fiction. She has also written numerous non-fiction articles, art reviews, and short stories published in a variety of newspapers and magazines. 2-session series: Thurs., Sept. 11 and 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-609; Members $50; Nonmembers $60
Seamus Heaney
“Downton Abbey” was filmed at Highclere Castle in Hampshire
Summer Wine Adventures:
Ancient Roots
A TOP SOMMELIER'S GUIDE TO WINE
Spend a fascinating evening expanding your knowledge of wine as you travel the world with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a series of delectable wine-tasting adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
SEPT 12 The Ancient World: Israeli Wines Explored Israel has over 11,000 years of viticultural history. It is the only place in the world where wines are still being produced from the same biblical-era grapes used to make those that Moses and Jesus drank. This delicious tasting explores the full range of Israeli wines, including rare indigenous varieties from the biblical era. It’s perfect for any lover of wine and history.
Fri., Sept. 12, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-648; Members $70; Nonmembers $80
See p. 24 for wine-tasting kit information
Translator or Traitor? Reading
Dante’s New Life
Reading Dante’s Divine Comedy
The Italians have a phrase, “traduttore, traditore,” which means the “translator” of a book can be a “traitor” to it if they fail to capture both its letter and its spirit. Literature professor Joseph Luzzi takes a deep dive into his forthcoming translation of the Vita Nuova, or “New Life,” Dante’s first book. It is a moving account of his youthful love for his muse, Beatrice, and discovery of his passion for poetry. Luzzi shares his experiences of trying to remain faithful to Dante’s original language while bringing his own understanding and interpretation of Dante’s work into this early masterpiece by Italy’s sommo poeta, or “supreme poet.”
Sat., Sept. 13, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-485; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
The Magic of Fred Astaire
Even though it was written seven centuries ago, Dante’s Divine Comedy is essential reading today. Literature professor Joseph Luzzi explains why as he leads three all-day seminars focusing on each of the Divine Comedy’s three canticles: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. He highlights the originality and brilliance of Dante’s poetic vision, explaining how this great poem became one of the most influential works in literary history.
OCT 4 Inferno
NOV 1 Purgatorio
DEC 13 Paradiso
3-session series: Sat., Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 13, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-490; Members $200; Nonmembers $240
Individual sessions: Sat., Oct. 4 (CODE 1J0-490A); Sat., Nov. 1 (CODE 1J0-490B); Sat., Dec. 13 (CODE 1J0490C); 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
Fred Astaire was one of the 20th century’s greatest magicians: His sorcery depended on making some of the most complex dancing ever seen on the screen seem as effortless as breathing. Whether partnering with Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, or a hat rack—or dancing on the ceiling or on roller skates—he made it appear easy and elegant. Revered as a genius by everyone from Balanchine to Baryshnikov, Astaire appeared in a total of 133 dance numbers in 31 films, many of which are considered classics of movie choreography.
Media historian Brian Rose surveys the sweep of Astaire’s remarkable career in a program illustrated with video clips.
Tues., Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-487; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Dante and Beatrice by Henry Holiday, 1882–1884
A 1910 promotional poster for an edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film Top Hat
Gene Kelly: Singin’ and Dancin’ in the Rain
Gene Kelly is one of the most engaging and influential dancers to ever set foot in Hollywood. He emerged as a star at a time when most movie dancing was basically a showcase for elegant partners in motion, but within a few years he had transformed not only the nature of male dancing but also the crucial role of the camera in making dance come alive on the big screen.
Starting in the 1940s with films like Cover Girl, Anchors Aweigh, and On the Town, Kelly choreographed and performed dozens of classic numbers that helped to define the American movie musical and that continue to delight audiences of all ages around the world. In a program illustrated with video clips, media historian Brian Rose surveys Kelly’s remarkable achievements and examines his enduring impact on Hollywood dancing.
Thurs., Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-504; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
With its magic spells, soaring lyricism, and playful plot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the most beloved and frequently performed of Shakespeare’s comedies Joseph Luzzi, a professor of literature at Bard College, explores the poetic forms and central themes of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as he situates the play within both the broader arc of Shakespeare’s career and his evolving understanding of the comic genre. Early modern notions of gender and love as well as the ways in which Shakespeare’s comedies enable characters to shift their identities in unique and innovative ways are highlighted.
NEW DATE AND TIME: Fri., Sept. 26, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-488; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
The Glorious Waltz Music, Dance, and Society in Three-Quarter Time
The waltz, that intoxicating and graceful music with its simple melodies and sinuous rhythms, has never gone out of style. The music and dance that blossomed in Vienna and then spread like a mania through Europe has long defined “romantic.” Springing from rough peasant revelries into the more refined strata of aristocratic and bourgeois entertainment, the waltz proclaimed a new freedom of sexual expression and individual liberties in the early 19th century. It was a musical form and a dance that changed history.
In Person
Classical music and opera expert Saul Lilienstein transports participants to some of the world’s great ballrooms as he traces that development through the beautiful music of great waltz composers such as Johann Strauss Sr., Josef Lanner, and Johann Strauss Jr.; film clips; vivid illustrations; and the firsthand reports of entranced and aghast observers of the phenomenon.
Fri., Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; detailed information on website; CODE 1M2407; Members $80; Nonmembers $95
The Ultimate Celebratory Bakes with Paul Hollywood
Cookbook author and host of “The Great British Baking Show” Paul Hollywood comes from a long line of bakers. Hollywood started baking as a teenager, working in his father’s bakery before going on to be head baker at some of the most exclusive hotels in the United Kingdom. Now he can be seen on screens around the world, judging amateur bakers’ creations.
SOLD OUT
Drawing on his new book, Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round, and decades of baking experience, Hollywood talks with Joe Yonan, Washington Post food and dining editor, about his career and recipes for every holiday and occasion. Celebrate (Bloomsbury) is available for sale and signing.
Thurs., Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.; Meyer Auditorium, National Museum of Asian Art; CODE 1J0-491; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Titania Sleeping in the Moonlight Protected by Her Fairies by John Simmons, 1860–1869
The Ball by Julius LeBlanc Stewart, 1885 (detail) Saul Lilienstein
Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, and Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh, 1945
Postwar Italian Cinema
Few national cinemas offer as compelling a mirror to social transformation as Italy’s. In the decades following World War II, Italian filmmakers shaped a legacy of innovation, reflection, and artistry that still resonates on the global stage. A four-part series explores pivotal moments in Italian cinema—from the birth of Neorealism to the bold experimentation of contemporary filmmakers. Art historian Jennie Hirsh guides participants through the films, directors, and cultural shifts that defined this cinematic evolution, offering a deeper understanding of how Italian film captured and questioned its time. Through clips, discussion, and visual analysis, Hirsh illuminates the aesthetic and ethical foundations of each period in Italian cinema and its enduring legacy in world film.
OCT 5 Neorealism and the Rise of Postwar Cinema (1943–1950s)
NOV 9 La Dolce Vita and the Road to Recovery (1950s–1960s)
DEC 7 Projections of Fascism (1970s–1980s)
JAN 11 Contemporary Crises and Postmodern Projections (1990s–Present)
4-session series: Sun., Oct. 5, Nov. 9, Dec. 7, and Jan. 11, 1 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-120; Members $90; Nonmembers $110
ITALIAN CINEMA
Individual sessions: Sun., Oct. 5 (CODE 1D0-120A); Sun., Nov. 9 (CODE 1D0120B); Sun., Dec. 7 (CODE 1D0-120C); Sun., Jan. 11 (CODE 1D0-120D); 1 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Haunted: Remembering Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe, the storyteller who gave us such enduring classics as “The Purloined Letter,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher,” is often referred to as America’s Shakespeare. With his tales of mystery and imagination, Poe both broke new literary ground and set the pattern for generations of writers to come. At the same time, in mysterious and lyrical poems such as “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee,” Poe struggled to perfect what he called “the rhy thmical creation of beauty in words.”
On the anniversary of his death—Oct. 7, 1849—author Daniel Stashower explores the life and art of the original “man in black,” as actor Scott Sedar offers a dramatic reading of Poe’s most powerful works, giving voice to his haunting genius.
Tues., Oct. 7, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-113; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Ballet Music: The Soul of Movement
Audiences love the spectacle and the sets, adore the costumes, and thrill to the brilliance and beauty of the choreography and the performers, and above all are moved and exalted by the music. Ballet made a rapid journey from French courtly dance to an internationally beloved artform, with its path traveling directly through the magnificent scores of composers like Debussy, Stravinsky, Copland, and, of course, Tchaikovsky.
Speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin uses live piano demonstrations and historic and contemporary film clips to illustrate how the music from such ballet masterpieces as Giselle, Swan Lake, Daphnis and Chloë, Le Sacre du Printemps, and Appalachian Spring became a treasured part of our cultural landscape.
4-session series: Tues., Oct. 7–28, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-606; Members $100; Nonmembers $120
Anna Magnani
Swan Lake, composed by Tchaikovsky
Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni
In Person
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society
2025–2026 Season
The 49th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society (SCMS) features musical masterpieces from the early 17th century to the middle of the 20th, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments. Concerts (with one exception) take place in the National Museum of American History’s intimate Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, with repertoire ranging from acclaimed masterpieces to undeservedly obscure gems by frequently overlooked composers. Veteran SCMS musicians are joined on many of the programs by emerging artists. Kenneth Slowik, SCMS artistic director and recipient of the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar Award, curates a series of pre-concert talks one hour prior to most of the programs, shedding light on the glorious music and the lives and times of the featured composers.
The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences have the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicolò Amati—in this popular four-concert series. The Axelrod Quartet welcomes its new violist Joan DerHovsepian, principal violist of the Houston Symphony, whose distinguished career includes membership in the Everest Quartet. Season-opening concerts: J. S. Bach: The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 Sat., Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Masterworks of Three Centuries
This chronologically wide-ranging eight-concert series begins in early October with the first of two appearances by the Smithsonian Consort of Viols, playing music by the Elizabethan composer Alfonso Ferrabosco the Younger and William Lawes, a favorite of Charles I. In early November, members of the Smithsonian Academy Orchestra celebrate Antonín Dvorák with two captivating works of 1878. Later that month, the Smithsonian Chamber Players offer a program of German music from around the turn of the 18th century by Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, Dieterich Buxtehude, and Johann Sebastian Bach.
At the end of January, the four-hands fortepiano team of Naoko Takao and Slowik presents the first of the season’s two Schubertiads. In late February, the full Smithsonian Academy Orchestra ventures into the second half of the 19th century with the D Major Serenade of Johannes Brahms, plus Haydn’s ever-popular “Surprise” Symphony.
The Smithsonian Consort of Viols returns in March with a concert of music by John Ward, revered until the time Henry Purcell, and Purcell himself, who penned the last—and arguably some of the greatest—essays in the contrapuntal consort genre. Catherine Manson, concertmaster of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, and Slowik perform sonatas of Bach in mid-April.
The season concludes mid-May with Schubert’s magnificent String Quintet in C Major, played by the Smithsonian Chamber Players on five Stradivarius instruments from the museum’s rich collection. Season-opening concert: Music of Alfonso Ferrabosco the Younger and William Lawes Sun., Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
All programs and artists are subject to change. For complete concert schedules, repertoire, subscriptions and individual concert tickets, and bonus offerings for subscribers visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/scms
Kenneth Slowik
Clockwise: James Dunham, Marc Destrubé, Mark Fewer, and Joan DerHovsepian
Naoko Takao and Kenneth Slowik
Smithsonian Consort of Viols
LIFELONG LEARNING
Betty Crocker
The Brand That Revolutionized American Cooking Long before Martha Stewart became a household name, there was Betty Crocker. Born in 1921 as part of a promotional campaign by the Washburn-Crosby flour company, Betty Crocker wasn’t a real person, but she quickly became one of the most trusted resources in American kitchens. Her warm, reassuring presence graced a long-running radio show, and her line of cake mixes helped homemakers embrace convenience.
When Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book debuted in 1950, its sales rivaled those of the Bible. Today, the Betty Crocker Cookbook is in its 13th edition, with more than 75 million copies sold. Cultural historian Leslie Goddard explores the remarkable story of Betty Crocker: how she was created, why her cookbook has endured, and how her brand’s lasting influence was built on emotional connection and consumer engagement.
Wed., Oct. 8, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-070; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The Socratic Method
Japanese Traditional Theater
Enter a world colored by mythology, history, romance, and spiritual exploration with Japanese traditional theater, a living art form that stretches back centuries. Its many varieties range from masked Noh dance-dramas during medieval times to the Tokugawa/Edo period’s boisterous Kabuki plays and Bunraku puppet theater to the Shingeki (literally “new drama”) forms inspired by Western stage plays and the Butoh dance-theater.
Linda Ehrlich, who has taught Asian studies and traditional theater for several universities, delves into these traditions. Ehrlich shows images of beautiful costumes, evocative masks, and a strong gestural language. She also discusses the transmission of conventions from generation to generation, as well as examples of innovation and renewal.
Thurs., Oct. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-494; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
About 2,500 years ago, Plato wrote a set of dialogues that depict Socrates in conversation. The way Socrates asks questions and the reasons why amount to a whole way of thinking. This is the Socratic method—one of humanity’s great achievements. More than a technique, the method is an ethic of patience, inquiry, humility, and doubt.
Drawing on his book The Socratic Method: A Practitioner’s Handbook, Ward Farnsworth of the University of Texas School of Law explains what the Socratic method is, how it works, and why it matters in law, politics, the classroom, or tackling life’s big questions at the kitchen table.
Thurs., Oct. 9, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-629; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
The Juedischer Kulturbund
Keeping the Arts Alive in Nazi Germany
Before the rise of Nazism, German Jewish culture experienced a renaissance in education and the arts, but that growth quickly contracted under the restrictions initiated by the Nazi regime. Established in 1933, the Kulturbund (the Culture League of German Jews) provided an outlet where many artists expelled from German institutions could present theater, cabaret, concerts, opera, and lectures before exclusively Jewish audiences. Did they provide consolation for Jewish artists and audiences in a time of oppression? Or did the emulation of “normal” cultural life contribute to the false assumption that Germany might still hold a future for them? Michael Brenner, chair of Israel studies at American University and professor of Jewish history and culture at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, explores the history of the Kulturbund and its impact on German Jews under Hitler’s rule.
Wed., Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-879; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Alcibiades Being Taught by Socrates by Marcello Bacciarelli, 1776
Kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VI in performance, 1949
The Kulturbund orchestra, 1934
Fall Wine Adventures: A Global Exploration of Great Taste
A TOP SOMMELIER'S GUIDE TO WINE
Spend three fascinating Friday evenings expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a series of delectable adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal wine tasting kit to enhance the experience.
OCT 10 Portugal Perfection
The wine culture of Portugal represents virtually every style imaginable. This wide range of options and flavor profiles, along with hundreds of indigenous grapes, puts Portuguese wine at the forefront of every wine pro’s mind. Moreover, the wines from such popular regions as the Douro Valley and Alentejo compete with the best wines of the world at a fraction of the price. Explore Portugal through the lens of some of its most compelling wines.
NOV 14 Madeira, a Gift From an Island to the World Madeira, which originated on its namesake Portuguese island, was consumed at the signing of the Declaration of Independence and at many milestones of early American history. George Washington, Betsy Ross, and Thomas Jefferson were huge aficionados of Madeira. In fact, Virginia and much of the U.S. owe their wine industry to Jefferson’s attempts to recreate Madeira at Monticello. Dig into the many styles of this glorious food-friendly wine from a gorgeous island.
DEC 12 Sonoma Uncorked
The geography of Sonoma County, California, ranges from coastal and inland mountains to sweeping valleys and high benchlands. Each distinctive geographical feature imparts its own elements of terroir, ensuring wines with both regional identity and a sense of individuality. With a seemingly endless range of microclimates and growing conditions, Sonoma’s wines run the gamut from cool coastal appellations to hot inland valleys. Enjoy this delicious deep dive into the varieties, flavors, and terroirs of Sonoma.
3-session series: Fri., Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 6 p.m.; CODE WINE2026; Members $180; Nonmembers $225
Individual sessions: Fri., Oct. 10 (CODE 1T0-036); Fri., Nov. 14 (CODE 1T0-037); Fri., Dec. 12 (CODE 1T0-038), 6 p.m.; Members $70; Nonmembers $85
Wine-tasting kit information: The cost includes a curated personal tasting kit with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Additional participants must register individually to receive their own tasting kit, which is an essential component of the workshop. Kits are available during two scheduled pick-up times the day before the program and the day of the program, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at Shilling Canning Company (360 Water St. SE, Washington, DC; Metro: Navy Yard-Ballpark station, Green line).
NOTE: Patrons will receive additional wine tasting kit pick-up information by email prior to the program. Due to state and federal laws, Smithsonian Associates cannot ship wine kits. However, SOMLYAY may be able to provide kits to participants outside the Washington, D.C., area (who must cover shipping costs). Please contact erik@thesomlyay.com for more information
What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A
Demosthenes: Democracy’s Defender
In the spring of 340 B.C.E., Philip of Macedon seized a town in central Greece, a base from which he could march on Athens. In the fierce debates about how to respond to the rising threat in the north, Demosthenes, the greatest orator of his day, goaded the Athenian Assembly into confronting Philip on the field of battle. Athens later fell into the grip of Alexander the Great, Philip’s son and successor, but Demosthenes had established himself as one of history’s most eloquent defenders of democracy.
James Romm, professor of classics at Bard College, explores the mind of the man who took on the challenge of saving Greek freedom and examines how democracies can be destroyed by internal divisions, such as those ignited by the insult-filled verbal brawls of Athenian orators. His new book, Demosthenes: Democracy’s Defender (Yale University Press), is available for purchase.
Mon., Oct. 20, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-630; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Theatrical poster for The Big Sleep, 1946
Night and the Cities
Film Noir’s Suspense-driven World
A police detective down on his luck. A beautiful woman with a shady past. Dead bodies in dark corridors and dim light seeping through venetian blinds. A world of chain-smoking deceivers, drifters, loners, con artists, and killers—double-dealing their way toward an uncertain and possibly fatal future. This is film noir, one of the most original and stunningly stylized film genres of the 1940s and ’50s, whose impact still resonates in popular culture today. The protagonists ranged from Bogart, Bacall, Mitchum, Crawford, Stanwyck, Garfield, Lupino, and Lancaster to equally impactful partners in screen crime, including Lizabeth Scott, Robert Ryan, and Richard Conte.
In a multimedia series featuring memorable sequences and archival illustrations, film historian Max Alvarez examines the origins and achievements of the actors, directors, writers, and craftspeople behind this remarkably enduring genre
3-session series: Thurs., Oct. 16–30, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-625; Members $85; Nonmembers $105
A History of Fantasy
Fantasy is now an established and lucrative genre with a dizzying array of popular iterations across literature, games, and film. But the story of how hobbits, dungeons, knights, and dragons took over our collective imaginations is a long, complex one, with many surprising twists and turns. Historian Justin M. Jacobs explores the origins of the modern fantasy genre, from the evolution of obscure Gothic novels to the iconic works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons.
OCT 22 Evolution of Fantastic Storytelling
OCT 29 Robert E. Howard and Pulp Fantasy
NOV 5 J.R.R. Tolkien and High Fantasy
NOV 12 The Creation of Dungeons & Dragons
NOV 19 Fantasy after Dungeons & Dragons
5-session series: Wed., Oct. 22–Nov. 19, 6:45 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-497; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
Individual sessions: Wed., Oct. 22 (CODE 1J0-497A); Wed., Oct. 29 (CODE 1J0-497B); Wed., Nov. 5 (CODE 1J0-497C); Wed., Nov. 12 (CODE 1J0-497D); Wed., Nov. 19 (CODE 1J0-497E); detailed program information on website; 6:45 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
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.
The Ten Greatest Westerns
While its heyday was the 1940s and ’50s, the Western is making a comeback in the third decade of the 21st century. From a list of great films, historian Clay Jenkinson has chosen 10 standouts including Red River starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift; High Noon, starring Gary Cooper; the remake of True Grit by the Coen brothers; and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, starring Clint Eastwood.
Jenkinson shares his criteria for choosing these Westerns, shows clips and stills from the films, and examines the history and future of the genre as a central expression of the American frontier.
Mon., Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-627; Members $35; Nonmembers $45
The Mystical Core of Traditional Religions
Mysticism—the awareness and the conscious unmediated experience of an ultimate reality, divinity, or God—captures the essence of religious experience. Comparative religion scholar Graham Schweig surveys the role mysticism plays in world religions and considers if there is a core mystical experience among these traditions or if each is shaped by unique cultural, linguistic, and religious contexts.
Using a selection of sacred texts, music, art, and other forms of expression, Schweig covers the meaning, role, and practice of mysticism in Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic forms. In the process, he discusses what mystical traditions reveal about the nature of relationships between humans and the divine and considers the meaning of mysticism for the contemporary world.
Thurs., Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-418; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Fairy Tales in Classical Music
Ever since early humans began to gather, they attempted to understand the universe by telling tales. While composers have frequently enjoyed exploring the macabre and Gothic horror, classical repertory is equally graced with gentler stories, some of which end happily ever after.
In the perfect follow-up to Halloween, speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin revisits her seasonal tour through the most mysterious corners of classical music and illustrates how fantasy and folklore have inspired some of history’s greatest composers. From ghouls and ghosts to faeries, trolls, and mystical maidens, she surveys the scariest of orchestral compositions, operatic explorations of the occult, and masterpieces inspired by the tales of Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Brothers Grimm.
4-session series: Mon., Nov. 3–24, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-628; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
Psycho-Analysis
A Look Inside Hitchcock’s Horror Masterpiece
Alfred Hitchcock often called Psycho “a big joke” and was horrified to discover that audiences “were taking it seriously.” But his flip attitude can’t disguise what made his 1960 film a landmark in movie history. Working without his usual menu of big budgets, big stars, and glamorous locations, Hitchcock crafted a masterful study of fear and anxiety that still has the power to shock. Psycho’s influence can be felt not only in every horror and thriller film of the last 60-plus years but also in serious works of art in every medium. Media historian Brian Rose explores Hitchcock’s achievement, examining how the film was made and how it continues to haunt our cultural imagination.
Fri., Oct. 31, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-499; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Theatrical poster for High Noon, 1952
Religious symbols for Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism
Hansel and Gretel, Vienna State Opera, 2015
Theatrical release poster for Psycho, 1960
Beyond Blue and White
Exploring Women’s Stories Through Dutch Delftware
In the fall of 2019, over 75 rare pieces of 17th- and 18th-century delftware were discovered in a historic Manhattan townhouse. Decorative arts expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown unveils the history behind this recent finding. Brown explores how these vibrant ceramics represent a beloved decorative art form and illuminate the powerful, often overlooked roles of women across the centuries.
Learn the stories of female delftware pottery owners, such as Barbara Rotteveel, founder of the influential Three Bells factory in 1671, alongside patrons like Queen Mary II, who popularized delftware in royal courts. Brown looks beyond the classic cobalt glaze, uncovering a vibrant narrative of the artistry, female agency, and cultural history embedded in delftware.
Brown’s book, Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic (Pegasus Books), is available for purchase.
Fri., Nov. 7, 12 p.m.; CODE 1CV-073; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra | 2025–2026 Concert Series
Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 35-year history as one of the crown jewels of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. 60 LIFELONG LEARNING In Person
Jazz and the Armed Services
Congressionally funded military bands date to 1798 with the establishment of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. In the 1910s, First Lieutenant James Reese Europe infused elements of jazz into military music, and today most branches have an official jazz ensemble.
In honor of Veterans Day, SJMO’s season-opening concert salutes military jazz bands and the role they play in inspiring American troops, fostering patriotic support, and promoting national interests at home and abroad. The program includes “Memphis Blues” by W.C. Handy and Carl Wolfe; “American Patrol” by F.W. Meacham and Glenn Miller; and the “Armed Forces Medley.” (Full orchestra) Program subject to change
Sat., Nov. 8, 7 p.m.; Warner Bros. Theater, National Museum of American History; CODE 1P0891; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
2025–2026 CONCERT DATES: Sat., Dec. 13; Sat., Feb. 28; Fri., April 17; Fri., June 5
Dorie Greenspan in Conversation with Carla Hall
Join five-time James Beard Award winner Dorie Greenspan for a delectable evening celebrating her new book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes. Greenspan and chef Carla Hall serve up stories, baking wisdom, and insights into the magic behind the kinds of cakes that don’t need frosting, fuss, or special occasions—just a fork and a little hunger for happiness. Greenspan and Hall share how cake can be bound in memories and offer inspiring tips to help make each recipe, including honey-buttermilk loaf, poppyseed lemony wonder, and jammy snacking cake, to individual tastes. The evening includes a Q&A session.
Dorie’s Anytime Cakes (HarperCollins Harvest) is available for purchase.
Wed., Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-040; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
JACLYN
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra in concert
Dorie Greenspan Carla Hall
A Whirlwind History of the English Language
written primarily in the West Saxon dialect of Old English
How is the word “lord” related to a loaf of bread? Where did the pronoun “she” come from? Who first said (erroneously) that two negatives make a positive? Is “must” being replaced by “hafta?” Why and how does a living language like English change? The answer, in a word, is fascinating.
Linguist and English-language historian Anne Curzan, a professor of English and linguistics at the University of Michigan, covers the language’s shifting landscape from Beowulf to blogging. English continues to evolve, says Curzan, especially given the impact of modern technologies. Despite a fear that texting and tweeting could destroy the written language, linguists who track the effects of the internet and social media don’t suggest a decay in the language. After what English has undergone over the past millennium, you “hafta” believe it will survive.
Thurs., Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m. CODE 1M2-416; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Masterworks of the Choral Tradition
Choral music is a glorious genre in which the sound of a multitude of voices embraces an audience. Opera and classical music expert Saul Lilienstein leads an in-depth consideration of the great choral works and the composers who wrote them from the Renaissance through the Romantic century, including compositions by William Byrd, Palestrina, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Berlioz, and Verdi.
Emphasis is placed on the most enduring and beloved masterpieces, with special focus on compositional technique, polyphonic nature, influences among composers, and the relationship between the secular and the sacred. Programs are highlighted by film clips and musical recordings.
5-session series: Tues., Nov. 18–Dec. 16, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-420; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and dozens of other books, brought a unique voice to children’s literature, taking classic folk tales and giving them a decidedly American spin. Baum’s goal, he said, was simply to “please children,” but a legion of contemporary fans continues to find playful hidden meanings scattered along the Yellow Brick Road. He might have offered an amused reply: “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”
From the landmark 1939 film through this year’s release of Wicked: For Good, Baum’s fantastical creations continue to shape our cultural landscape. Click your heels three times to join a celebration of the wonderful world of Baum as author Daniel Stashower explores his life and legacy and actor Scott Sedar reads from Baum’s most beloved works.
Thurs., Nov. 20, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-125; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Rooted in Fire with Pyet DeSpain
A
Celebration
of Native American and Mexican Cooking
As both a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and someone with deep roots in her Mexican heritage, chef Pyet DeSpain works to reflect a balance of these rich cultures in her cooking. In her new cookbook, she shares how to incorporate an array of key ingredients— including venison, dandelion greens, honey, and habanero peppers—into dishes that invite home cooks to honor the seasons. DeSpain talks with Andi Murphy, producer for NPR’s “Native America Calling,” about the cookbook and the stories, traditions, and philosophies of Indigenous people that flavor each recipe.
DeSpain’s book, Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking (HarperOne), is available for purchase.
Thurs., Nov. 20, 12:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-041; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
MARGOT
SCHULMAN
Saul Lilienstein
The Washington Chorus
The first folio of the epic poem Beowulf,
L. Frank Baum
RISA RYAN
Margaret Fuller
An Extraordinary Transcendental Woman
While many people have some idea who the 19th-century author and feminist Margaret Fuller is, few have read her work or know her life story.
The author of the first major work of feminism in the United States, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, was also a precocious polymath: an editor of the nation’s first avant-garde magazine; and the first foreign correspondent for a major American newspaper. She also led a series of conversations that arguably sparked the beginning of the American feminist movement.
Scholar Randall Fuller of the University of Kansas recounts the remarkable life and work of a brilliant and often-misunderstood woman.
Tues., Nov. 25, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-647; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Shakespeare’s London: A Living Stage
When young Will Shakespeare showed up in London some time before 1592, it was becoming the largest and most important city in Europe. It was full of travelers from all over the world—a polyglot of languages and cultures crammed together in narrow streets and taverns. The work of writing and performing plays was changing for playwrights and actors as permanent playhouses and acting companies were established. Shakespeare was primed to make his mark.
Tudor scholar and historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores how London served as a backdrop and inspiration for Shakespeare’s works, revealing how he was inspired by the humanity he observed—the city’s nobility, merchants, artisans, laborers, actors, beggars, thieves, visitors, and more—to create the unforgettable worlds of his plays.
Tues., Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-425; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
The Films of Humphrey Bogart and Burt Lancaster
Two of the most powerful actors ever to appear before Hollywood studio cameras, Humphrey Bogart and Burt Lancaster both hailed from Manhattan. But that’s where the similarities end. “Bogie” was shoved around by the old studio system, playing tough guys who often hid a softer core. Lancaster rose as stars gained more freedom, dazzling audiences with quiet intensity and magnetic charm. Film historian Max Alvarez examines their cinematic achievements and the personal and professional turbulence that shaped their artistry.
DEC 2 The Films of Humphrey Bogart: Dark Passages and Dead Reckonings
DEC 9 Burt Lancaster: Cinematic Legend
2-session series: Tues., Dec. 2 and 9, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-635; Members $60; Nonmembers $80
Individual sessions: Tues., Dec. 2 (CODE 1K0-636); Tues., Dec. 9 (CODE 1K0-637); 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $35; Nonmembers $45
Smithsonian Associates’
Unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and essential membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and registration revenue. If the joy of learning enriches your life, please consider a charitable gift in support of the vibrant educational experiences that open the Smithsonian's world of knowledge to audiences across the country. SmithsonianAssociates.org/donate
Margaret Fuller (detail) by Thomas Hicks, 1848
Classical Sounds of Christmas
From sleigh bells and sugarplums to the mystical beauties of the Nativity, December is filled with the music of Christmas. Speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin revisits the most beloved seasonal repertory, exploring how classical Western composers created a canon of both secular and sacred musical experiences that are now deeply rooted in the celebration of the holidays.
Some is ancient and folk-based, some grandly Baroque, and more recent masterpieces evoke images of feasting, snowy Christmas trees, brightly colored candy, and jolly Santas. Enjoy the stories behind works by composers including Bach, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Gerard Finzi—and Duke Ellington’s jazz take on The Nutcracker.
2-session series: Thurs., Dec. 4 and 11, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-640; Members $50; Nonmembers $70
America’s Favorite Holiday Movie: The Story of It’s a Wonderful Life
Voted by the American Film Institute as the most inspirational movie ever made, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life has been a beloved Christmas classic for generations. Yet when the film was released in 1946, it was a box office flop, won no Academy Awards, and was largely forgotten until it was rediscovered through endless airings on local TV stations beginning in the 1970s. Media historian Brian Rose examines the fascinating story of It’s a Wonderful Life, looking at the challenges of making the film, its surprisingly dark portrait of small-town life, and how it became the ultimate portrayal of holiday goodwill and cheer.
Thurs., Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-507; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Notre-Dame’s Grand Organ Magnificence and Rebirth
The great organ in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is as magnificent an instrument as it is historically significant. Its expansions over the centuries incorporated sections from earlier instruments, providing it with an exceptional variety of sounds in addition to its sheer power. Though preserved from the flames and water during the catastrophic fire that engulfed the cathedral’s roof in 2019, the instrument had to be taken apart and its 8,000 pipes cleaned individually, then carefully reconstructed and tuned.
Olivier Latry, titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral for 40 years, joins Bach expert Thierry van Bastelaer for a conversation about the history of the organ, the impact of the cathedral’s restoration on its sounds, and how Latry’s relationship with the instrument was reignited after five years of silence.
Sat., Dec. 6, 11 a.m.; CODE 1M2-426; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
James Stewart, Donna Reed, and young Karolyn Grimes in It's a Wonderful Life, 1946
PHOTOS COURTESY
Olivier Latry
Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
The Story of CO2
Every year, the climate is affected by gigantic amounts of carbon dioxide that enter the air. But CO2 isn’t merely the dangerous byproduct of burning fossil fuels—it is also fundamental to how the Earth works. It has kept the planet’s climate livable, its air breathable, and its oceans hospitable to complex life for hundreds of millions of years. In short, says science journalist Peter Brannen, it is the most important substance on Earth. But how can something so essential to life be capable of destroying it?
Brannen examines how CO2 has been responsible for the planet’s many deaths and rebirths, for shaping the evolution of life, and for the development of modern human society. His book The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything: How Carbon Dioxide Made Our World (HarperCollins) is available for purchase.
Thurs., Sept. 4, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-603; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Wild, Wonderful Wetlands
Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death
Celebrating the Author’s 135th Birthday
Mystery writer Agatha Christie, who was born on Sept. 15, 1890, is renowned for her captivating plots and creative ways of killing off victims—including poison. The surreptitious ways it can be administered, the characteristic symptoms different ones produce, and the difficulty in detecting some of these killer chemicals make them perfect for a whodunit.
Kathryn Harkup, a former chemist, investigates the science behind some of Christie’s more unusual choices of deadly substances, their use in real-life murder cases, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering, and detecting them in Christie’s time and today.
Harkup’s new book, V is for Venom: Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death (Bloomsbury), is available for purchase.
Mon., Sept. 15, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-029; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Whether it be fish nurseries, migratory bird pit stops, or natural water filterers, wetlands provide near-limitless value to humans and wildlife around the world. Since the Revolutionary War, more than 100 million acres of wetlands have been drained for human use.
Liana Vitali, a naturalist and educator at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, offers an audio-visual journey into the marshes, ponds, swamps, and peat bogs of North America to discover just how important these ecosystems are to life on Earth. Through images and films, Vitali shares how wild and wonderful wetlands can be.
Tues., Sept. 16, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-612; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Related program: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary tour, p. 57
A Natural History Road Trip
The Everglades to the Great Smoky Mountains
Embark on a virtual journey with interpretive naturalist Keith Tomlinson, traveling from the subtropical wilderness of Florida’s Everglades to the towering peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains through some of the United States’ most biodiverse regions.
In Florida, explore the vibrant Myakka River and Highlands Hammock state parks and visit the crystal-clear Ichetucknee River. Venture into Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp, teeming with alligators, black bears, and migratory birds. Discover South Carolina’s Congaree National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the tallest temperate forests in the world. Head to the Great Smoky Mountains, known for their amazing biodiversity. Along the way, Tomlinson explores topics including landscape ecology, wildlife, geology, and climate and shares the myriad recreational opportunities these exceptional natural areas offer.
Wed., Sept. 17, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-147; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates I NSI DE SC I ENCE
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
American black bear, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Paradise Found
Nature in North America at the Time of European Discovery
Cephalopod Life Cycles
From Alien Larvae to World’s Most Patient Moms Octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish captivate us with their clever disguises and sophisticated behavior, and nowhere are these features more prominent than in the realm of reproduction. When it comes to finding a partner, cephalopods pull out all the stops. Pygmy squid squirt inky backdrops to highlight their dazzling courtship displays. Cuttlefish multitask, decorating one half of their bodies to seduce a mate while the other half flashes a warning to rivals.
Among the Sierra Nevada by Albert Bierstadt, 1868
If we had a time machine to take us back five centuries, we’d find the natural abundance before us astonishing: skies filled with birds, seas and rivers teeming with fish, and forests and grasslands of a hunter’s dream, alive with diverse populations of game.
For one part of the world, such a time machine exists. In North America, countless historical reports, books, paintings, and documents describe firsthand the extraordinary sights that greeted European explorers, settlers, and pioneers. Drawing from his book Paradise Found: Nature in America at the Time of Discovery, wildlife filmmaker Steve Nicholls discusses these historical sources to present a picture of the spectacular environment found in an unknown America.
Fri., Sept. 19, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-608; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
The Martians
A mere century ago, Martians were thought to be real, not fictional, creatures. “Mars is inhabited by a highly civilized and intelligent race of beings,” proclaimed Alexander Graham Bell. When in 1899 Nikola Tesla detected radio signals he believed came from Mars, an all-out craze swept society. You could read about Martians in The New York Times, hear of them in Sunday sermons, and see them depicted on the Broadway stage.
In a lively program filled with period photographs and depictions of the putative Martians themselves, journalist David Baron reveals what the episode says about the human mind: the fallibility of our senses, the power of belief, and the lure of sensationalism. Baron’s book
The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America (Liveright) is available for purchase.
Mon., Sept. 29, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0605; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
After fertilization, the situation gets even more incredible. Market squid carpet the seafloor with ghostly egg fingers that repel predators even as the parents are devoured. Deep-sea octopuses set a world record: The mothers guard their eggs for over four years. Biologist Danna Staaf leads a journey through the bizarre beauty of cephalopod life cycles.
Tues., Sept. 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-489; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Feelings About Our Changing Planet
Climate change isn’t happening just in the computer models used to test out disaster scenarios—it’s also happening to us. As such, it is important to focus not only on the challenges we face on our rapidly changing Earth but also on how these changes make us feel, says climate scientist Kate Marvel
Interweaving earth science, mythology, natural history, and personal narrative, Marvel charts an inspiring and surprisingly funny course through our world. She tells a story of villains and heroes; glee at the marvels of Earth and the workings of physics; and volcanoes, hubristic emperors, and ancient sequoia groves.
Marvel’s new book, Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet (HarperCollins), is available for purchase. Thurs., Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1T0-034; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
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LIFELONG LEARNING
How Things Are Made
The Hidden World of Manufacturing
We live in a world surrounded by a multitude of manufactured products—furniture, technology, clothing, even food. Yet the processes behind how these things come into our lives remain largely invisible. Where do the things we buy come from? How are they made? How do they end up in our hands?
Tim Minshall, a professor at the University of Cambridge, traces the paths everyday items travel, from design and creation to delivery. He explores the world of manufacturing, uncovering the workings of a system that produces and distributes everything from cars and cakes to phones, planes, medications, and medical devices—shaping nearly every aspect of our daily lives. His book, How Things Are Made: A Journey Through the Hidden World of Manufacturing (Ecco), is available for purchase.
Tues., Sept. 30, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-112; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
Famous Orchids in History
Humans and orchids have a long and storied history. Confucius wrote about them in 500 B.C.E., and over the millennia, orchids have found their beautiful place in society. Learn about highlights, including the Vanilla orchid, Darwin’s orchid, ghost orchid, and the Cattleya orchids named after first ladies. Orchid expert Barbara Schmidt discusses the sometimes unexpected presence of orchids throughout history.
Tues., Sept. 30, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZT; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
The following programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
Birding Along the California Coast
Through photography and storytelling, naturalist Matt Felperin explores the variety of avian species found on the seaside and inland ecosystems of the California coast. In virtual explorations, follow Felperin into the lush redwood forests, home of the American Dipper, Wilson’s Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, and the threatened California Spotted Owl. The open chapparal and oak woodlands at Pinnacles National Park host birds such as the Canyon Wren, Prairie Falcon, California Scrub-Jay, and the rare California Condor.
The rocky coastline is home for wading and diving birds such as Wandering Tattler, Black Oystercatcher, Pelagic Cormorant, and Pigeon Guillemot. Offshore, discover an array of ocean-going birds such as the Black-footed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Leach’s Storm-Petrel, and Parasitic Jaeger—and there’s a chance of something rarer flying in from across the Pacific.
Tues., Oct. 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-050; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
John Muir, ca. 1902
John Muir, Conservation Pioneer
John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892, igniting a national passion for nature through his vivid storytelling that made plants and animals come alive. Born in Dunbar, Scotland, in 1838, Muir did farm work for years before attending the Wisconsin–Madison. At age 31, while working as a shepherd in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Muir discovered his true calling—the great outdoors. For the next 45 years, he explored and wrote passionately about the California mountains, the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, the Arizona desert, and the glaciers of Alaska.
Zoologist Fred Bercovitch traces Muir’s life and enduring legacy and reveals his surprising connection to the Smithsonian.
Tues., Oct. 21, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-071; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Ghost orchid
Canyon Wren by Matt Felperin
The World According to the James Webb Space Telescope
Launched in December 2021, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is a space-based observatory optimized for infrared light and designed to complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. Astrophysicist and author Mario Livio showcases the remarkable images obtained by the mission and interprets the telescope’s discoveries to date.
The latter include the detection of Neptune’s auroras; the determination of the composition of the atmospheres of extrasolar planets; and the detection of some of the earliest, most distant galaxies that formed in the universe. They were revealed to be bright, massive, and characterized by unusual chemical features. Another discovery is that the early universe was populated by an abundance of compact red-color sources of unknown origin. Livio guides participants through these findings, as well as others.
Thurs., Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-412; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Our Universe in a New Light
Exploring Chandra X-Ray Observatory’s High-Energy Wonders
For over 25 years, NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory has revealed a dramatic, invisible universe where black holes collide, stars explode, and galaxies erupt with high-energy light. Join Chandra visualization scientist Kimberly Arcand of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for a dynamic journey through some of space telescope Chandra’s most breathtaking discoveries, transformed into stunning images, immersive experiences, and even sound.
From the birth of stars to the aftermath of supernovas, Arcand showcases how astronomers “see” the X-ray universe—and how those data are translated into visual and sonic masterpieces. Explore stellar nurseries, hear the echoes of black holes, and experience deep space like never before.
Thurs., Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-510; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Houseplants: The Science Behind the Scenes
By understanding how plants work, you can be more successful at caring for them, since knowledge of basic plant biology can be a valuable tool for indoor gardeners fascinated by plants and their unique characteristics. Virginia Velez Thaxton, a horticulturist with the Interiors Section of Smithsonian Gardens, explores the essential factors plants need from their environment and offers an overview of the physiological processes at play. She examines how plants respond to varying light, water, temperature, and nutrients so that optimum growing conditions can be provided. The presentation also provides a range of practical facts on topics from bromeliads to succulents and pruning to propagation.
Tues., Oct. 28, 12 p.m.; CODE 1NV-153; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
A Physicist’s Journey
From Hiroshima to the Extinction of the Dinosaurs
During World War II, physicist Luis W. Alvarez achieved major breakthroughs in radar, played a key role in the Manhattan Project, and served as a scientific observer at the bombing of Hiroshima. In 1968 he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. At the end of his life, he collaborated with his son on a project to demonstrate that an asteroid impact was responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Alvarez was also a combative, ambitious figure who testified as a government witness at the security hearing that destroyed the public career of his friend J. Robert Oppenheimer. Author Alec Nevala-Lee shares ideas, lessons, and anecdotes from Alvarez’s life.
Nevala-Lee’s book Collisions: A Physicist’s Journey from Hiroshima to the Death of the Dinosaurs (W.W. Norton) is available for purchase. Mon., Nov. 3, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-072; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates I N SI DE S C I ENCE
An image of the star cluster NGC 602 captured by the James Webb Space Telescope
Smithsonian horticulturist Alexandra Thompson’s indoor garden
Artist’s illustration of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Revealing Lost Texts in the Sinai Desert
One of the oldest libraries in the world is also one of the most remote, located at the Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai Desert. Within fortress-like walls at the base of Mount Sinai is a trove of handwritten manuscripts in ancient languages, including many that were scrubbed off and overwritten. Michael B. Toth, president of R.B. Toth Associates, discusses how technical experts, scientists, and scholars used advanced imaging systems in such an isolated spot amid political and security risks to reveal the hidden undertexts. As a result of this work, images of the monastery’s texts are now available online for digital research.
Thurs., Nov. 6, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-502; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Humanish
A Crash Course on Anthropomorphism
From naming hurricanes to throwing birthday parties for dogs, the tendency to see human traits in animals, objects, and natural forces is a cognitive impulse known as anthropomorphism. Science writer Justin Gregg delves into the science and psychology behind the phenomenon—which sparks the urge to treat pets like babies, fall in love with chatbots, and talk to cars.
Drawing on surprising research and curious examples—from emotional support alligators to AI-generated companions to a woman who married her briefcase—he reveals how anthropomorphism enhances both empathy and connection but can carry complex consequences including its darker inverse, dehumanization. Gregg’s book Humanish: What Talking to Your Cat or Naming Your Car Reveals About the Uniquely Human Need to Humanize (Little, Brown and Company) is available for purchase.
Mon., Nov. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-123; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Rock Creek Park
A Virtual Exploration
Rock Creek Park is the oldest urban national park in the country and covers twice the size of New York’s Central Park. This forested gem running through the heart of Washington, D.C., delighted residents long before it was declared a national park by an act of Congress in 1890—and continues to offer a welcome destination for outdoor lovers.
Drawing on vivid photographs and her knowledge of Rock Creek Park through the seasons, author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley introduces the story and natural history of a national park landscape as old as Yosemite. Learn about the Indigenous peoples who hunted, fished, and quarried on the land; the presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, who enjoyed recreation here; and the flora and fauna that find a wild refuge in their urban surroundings.
Mon., Nov. 17, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-156; Members $25; Nonmembers $35 Related program: Urban Oasis, p. 59
Volcanoes That Changed the World
Over the course of history, volcanoes have had an effect on society and the environment in many ways—not just through spectacular destruction. In fact, volcanoes and their eruptions have influenced culture, art, agriculture, scientific innovation, and even media. Was the French Revolution sparked by volcanic activity? Did a volcanic eruption influence Edvard Munch’s The Scream? Could volcanic mining be a solution to electrification for the future? Volcanologist Samuel Mitchell explores all the ways in which volcanoes have shaped our world, drawing on examples from the beginning of our planet through this year.
Fri., Dec. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-511; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates
Michael Toth examining an ancient manuscript during spectral imaging
Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
The Art of Gandhara
Where India Met Greece
Situated between India, Persia, and the Greco-Roman world, the region of greater Gandhara produced artwork that blended influences and ideas from many cultures. Treasure hoards including glasswork from Rome, Central Asian jewelry, and South Asian ivory are a testament to the region’s central role in long-distance commerce. Art historian Robert DeCaroli examines the origins of the region’s material culture and the role of trade in the exchange of ideas.
Sat., Sept. 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-478; Members $100; Nonmembers $120
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
Expressionism: The Art of Emotions
Expressionism as an artistic movement developed in the early 20th century, a period in which new and influential explorations of psychology and human behavior were taking place. Artists began to look at the world much more subjectively, often distorting its depictions to achieve an emotional effect. For these creators, personal experiences and feelings became more important than physical reality, and the art inspired by Expressionism still holds the power to move and challenge viewers.
Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar traces the movement’s roots, meaning, influences, and most notable practitioners, including artists of the Die Brücke collective and the Der Blaue Reiter group.
4-session series: Wed., Sept. 3–24, 10:30 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-598; Members $100; Nonmembers $120
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Sculpting Space: The Architecture of Frank Gehry
Few architects have reshaped the way we see buildings—and experience space—quite like Frank Gehry. Famed for his deconstructivist style, Gehry blurs the boundaries between architecture and sculpture, creating structures that ripple, fold, and shimmer like living works of art. From the soaring curves of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to the gleaming surfaces of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, his imaginative designs have made an indelible mark on skylines around the world.
Art historian Jennie Hirsh surveys Gehry’s remarkable career, examining his contributions to residential, commercial, cultural, and educational buildings in North America and Europe. Beginning with the Gehry Residence—the suburban California home he reimagined for his family—Hirsh traces the evolution of Gehry’s unique postmodern vision.
Mon., Sept. 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-110; Members $20; Nonmembers $25
You love art. Now go deeper.
Art is all around us. It excites us, enriches our lives, and enlivens our imaginations. To truly appreciate any work of art, we need to understand the context and culture in which it was created. That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers a World Art History Certificate Program.
The wide-ranging offerings are designed to provide a global perspective on art and architecture and draw on the Smithsonian’s world-class collections, the rich resources of other Washington institutions, and museums from around the world.
Look for World Art History Certificate throughout the program guide to see current listings. Get started today and complete the certificate requirements at your own pace. Registration is ongoing; Credits are counted from day of registration and are not given retroactively.
SmithsonianAssociates.org/artcertificate
Monumental Bodhisattva head, 5th century
LIFELONG LEARNING
Promenade by August Macke, 1913
The Walt Disney Concert Hall
Creative Writing Workshops
Write Into Art
Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Mary Hall Surface leads workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts.
The sessions spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. Each workshop has a limited enrollment to maximize interaction among the instructor and students.
SEPT 2 Sunlight, Shadow, and Story
SEPT 9 Surprise, Connect, and Experiment
SEPT 16 Journey, Imagine, and Dream
3-session series: Tues., Sept. 2–16, 10 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-617; Members $105; Nonmembers $115
Individual sessions: Tues., Sept. 2 (CODE 1K0-618); Tues., Sept. 9 (CODE 1K0-619); Tues., Sept. 16 (CODE 1K0-620); 10 a.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $40; Nonmembers $45
NOV 4 Shifting Perspectives
NOV 18 Surprising Stories
NOV 25 Capturing Memories
3-session series: Tues., Nov. 4, 18, and 25, 10 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-641; Members $105; Nonmembers $125
Individual sessions: Tues., Nov. 4 (CODE 1K0-642); Tues., Nov. 18 (CODE 1K0643); Tues., Nov. 25 (CODE 1K0-644); 10 a.m.; detailed program information on website; Members $40; Nonmembers $50
Reflective Writing Workshop
Advent’s Anticipation
Ponder the possibilities that the contemplative season of Advent provides, inspired by Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting The Annunciation and a poem by Wendell Berry. Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, the workshop led by Mary Hall Surface invites you to look outwardly at art and to look inwardly through writing. These reflections can become creative fertile ground for memoir, poetry, and more.
Sun., Dec. 7, 4 p.m.; CODE 1K0-646; Members $40; Nonmembers $50
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.
Breakfast in the Loggia by John Singer Sargent
The Annunciation by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898
Charing Cross Bridge by André Derain, 1906
The Old Violin by William Michael Harnett, 1886
These programs are part of Smithsonian Associates’ 60th Anniversary offerings
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Complex Beauty of Japanese Gardens
Japanese gardens are among the calmest and most restorative spaces ever conceived by the human imagination. Their aesthetic seems effortless, but they are the product of great artifice. Often they evoke broad landscapes distilled in a tiny space. Sometimes they refer to famous poems or to ideas. Others are spaces for quiet and profound contemplation. Timeless yet constantly evolving, apparently simple and yet carefully constructed, these gardens express the fruitful contradictions that lie within the Japanese soul.
Art historian Nigel McGilchrist explores centuries of breathtaking Japanese gardens, tracing the historical and cultural influences—both foreign and domestic—that have shaped their distinctive artistry of plants, rocks, and water.
Tues., Sept. 9, 12 p.m.; CODE 1M2-403; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
An Armchair Tour of Oxford and Cambridge
The histories of the two greatest academic centers of England—Oxford and Cambridge—reach back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Many notable people have studied and taught at both institutions, such as Charles Darwin at Cambridge and J.R.R. Tolkien at Oxford—not to mention royals, prime ministers, and Nobel Prize winners.
The college libraries evoke the Middle Ages; the quads, chapels, and gardens remain places of serene beauty; the River Thames and the River Cam enhance the landscape with natural beauty; and the significant amounts of preserved historical and cultural material continue to attract scholars. Historian Gary Rendsburg of Rutgers University, who has resided and conducted academic research at both Oxford and Cambridge, brings the verve and culture of these great university towns to life, sharing history flavored with a pleasant dose of Anglophilia.
Oxford
Sat., Sept. 20, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-404; Members $40; Nonmembers $50
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
The Splendors of the English Country House
The country houses of England are among the country’s greatest treasures. Art historian Bonita Billman surveys a selection of these grand estates, known for their architectural magnificence, spectacular decorative art and art collections, and glorious gardens.
They represent a wide range of styles and periods, among them the Elizabethan and Jacobean influences reflected in Hardwick Hall and Chatsworth; the Baroque exuberance of Castle Howard, the inspiration for Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead; Chiswick House, in the Palladian style; the Gothic Revival majesty of Balmoral Castle; and Eltham Palace, a medieval structure with an Art Deco addition. Two Rothschild family estates, Ascott, with its medieval half-timbered look, and Waddesdon Manor, in the style of a French Renaissance chateau, are mansions in historicist styles.
Sat., Sept. 27, 10 a.m.–4:15 p.m.; detailed information on website; CODE 1M2-408; Members $100; Nonmembers $120
LIFELONG LEARNING
Water garden at Tenryu-ji Temple, Kyoto
Cambridge
Balmoral Castle
Art-full Fridays | Live from Italy, with Elaine Ruffolo
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Elaine Ruffolo, a Florence-based Renaissance art historian, examines the rich heritage of Italian art and architecture
The Renaissance Court of Urbino
The most powerful of Renaissance Italian courts competed to become centers of literary and artistic patronage, scholarly research, and learning. In Umbria, Federico da Montefeltro was nicknamed “The Light of Italy” for his contributions to the era’s culture. With his beloved wife Battista Sforza at his side, Federico’s court of Urbino came to reflect the virtues of the period in art, intellect, justice, governance, and public welfare.
Artists from Italy and abroad, including della Francesca, Raphael, and Titian, flourished under patronages here, shaping the Montefeltro family’s aristocratic identity and the politics of style. With the Ducal Palace providing the splendid backdrop, Urbino became the ideal princely court among the most illustrious of Europe. Return to the 15th century with Ruffolo to experience a Renaissance court in all its glory.
Fri., Sept. 19, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-111; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Assisi: Where the Past and Present Live
The spirit of the Middle Ages is potently felt in the Umbrian hill town of Assisi. A holy city for Christians and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Assisi has long been a destination for pilgrims wanting to see the places where St. Francis was born, worked, and died.
Many of the most important examples of Umbria’s incomparable patrimony of paintings and architecture are found here. The great frescoes portraying Francis’ life— attributed to Giotto—are often referred to as bellwethers of Renaissance art. They hang in the Basilica of St. Francis, an architectonic complex that has heavily influenced the development of art and architecture. Ruffolo leads a journey into Assisi’s extraordinary art, breathtaking architecture, and enduring sacred legacy. Fri., Oct. 3, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-115; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Siena: A Gothic Dream
Draped across three hills, Siena—often called the most beautiful city in Tuscany—is a flamboyant medieval collection of palaces and towers cast in warm brown brick. Its soaring skyline is dominated by the fantastical Gothic-style Duomo and the taut needle of the Torre di Mangia.
In the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, Siena developed an artistic identity distinct from that of nearby Florence. While Florentine art embraced humanism and realism, Sienese painting remained more spiritual, decorative, and mystical. The Sienese School—led by Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers—produced works celebrated for their graceful lines, luminous color, and deep devotion, especially to the Virgin Mary. Examine how this art-filled cityscape and a fierce sense of civic pride combined to make Siena a world of its own.
Fri., Nov. 21, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-126; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
St. Francis Preaching to the Birds by Giotto, 1299
Ducal Palace, Urbino
Madonna and Child with Saints Jerome and Mary Magdalen by Neroccio de' Landi, ca. 1490
Lesser-Known Museums and Churches of Italy
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit for each
In this ongoing series, Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero spotlights the significant collections of sometimes-overlooked museums and churches throughout Italy.
The Kiss (detail) by Francesco Hayez, 1859
Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera, or Brera Art Gallery, is the main public gallery for paintings in Milan. It grew out of the Brera Academy, an academy of fine arts in Milan, and in 2024 added a new modern art wing. With masterpieces by Andrea Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Piero della Francesca, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, and Francesco Hayez, the Pinacoteca is a pre-eminent collection of Italian paintings from the 13th to the 20th century. Ruggiero analyzes this impressive art gallery.
Mon., Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-486; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
The Capitoline Museums
The Capitoline Museums are a group of art and archaeological museums located on top of Capitoline Hill, which was the political and religious center of ancient Rome. The museums’ collections focus on the history of Rome and include masterpieces such as the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, the “Capitoline Wolf,” the “Dying Gaul,” both a reconstruction of the Colossal Statue of Constantine and fragments of the original, and a bust of Medusa by Bernini. Ruggiero highlights these impressive collections.
Wed., Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-495; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
Wolf
The Church and Museum of Santa Croce
The Basilica of Santa Croce, located in Florence, Italy, is the largest Franciscan church in the world and an excellent example of Italian Gothic architecture. Many of its 16 chapels are decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his disciples. The museum complex consists of the church, chapels, monastery, bell tower, and an area for exhibitions. Ruggiero leads a visual journey of the church and museum of Santa Croce, focusing on key artworks, architectural features, and notable moments from the church’s history.
Mon., Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-503; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
The National Gallery of Parma
In 1734, the Duke of Parma (and soon-to-be King of Naples) had most of the extensive art collection established by his family moved from Parma to Naples. Filippo Borbone, who became Duke of Parma in 1748, was determined to hold on to what works were left. This collection eventually would become the National Gallery of Parma. Ruggiero delves into the museum’s artworks, including important pieces by Correggio as well as La Scapigliata by da Vinci.
Mon., Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-509; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Capitoline
Basilica di Santa Croce
La Scapigliata, (detail) by Leonardo da Vinci, ca. 1506–1508
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Golden Age of Vienna
The Art of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele
At the turn of the 20th century, Vienna was the capital of a great empire ruled by the Hapsburgs. The city was a center of political power as well as avant-garde culture, home to some of the world’s greatest composers, architects, writers, and artists. Two who helped define this age of glamour, elegance, and decadence were artists Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
Art critic and adviser Judy Pomeranz explores the lives and art of these extraordinary individuals and the age in which they lived. She examines how they were influenced by their time and place and illustrates how powerfully they reflected them in works both beautiful and shocking.
Tues., Sept. 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1K0-613; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit
The 10 Greatest Photographs of All Time, Part II
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Book of Kells
The Flowering of Celtic Art
The Book of Kells, housed at Trinity College in Dublin, is one of the most spectacular works of art in history. Yet it nearly did not survive the tumultuous era in which it was created, when Viking raiders plundered the monasteries of Ireland and Britain and even held similar manuscripts for exorbitant ransoms.
Historian Jennifer Paxton looks at the diverse strands that influenced the Book of Kells, from indigenous Irish elements to motifs imported from the Christian Near East and the Germanic and Scandinavian north. She also discusses its influence on the revival of Celtic art from the 19th century to the present.
Mon., Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-409; Members $30; Nonmembers $40
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Secrets and Symbols in Art
An Introduction to Iconography
The study of iconography—how symbols and allegories function in art—offers a way to understand masterpieces that have puzzled scholars for generations. In the first program of a series, art historian Noah Charney demonstrates how learning the meaning of a few dozen recurring symbols allows viewers to decode most pre-modern Western art.
“Faith and Confidence,” 1958 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Photography
Historian Clay Jenkinson, who has previously shared his list of notable photographs, returns with another selection of 10 magnificent images— this time Pulitzer Prize winners—to explore how great photographs epitomize a moment or an era, capture an extraordinary event, provide a window into the human condition, or fill us with appreciation and wonder. Jenkinson’s list includes William Gallagher’s photo of the hole in Adlai Stevenson’s shoe (1953); William Beall’s “Faith and Confidence” (1957), capturing a policeman bending down to a 2-year-old boy; Yasushi Nagao’s “Tokyo Stabbing” (1961); and Nat Fein’s “Babe Ruth Bows Out” (1949), among others. Jenkinson covers the backstory of each image and its influence on the world. Audience members are encouraged to nominate their own favorites to add to the discussion.
Mon., Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-621; Members $35; Nonmembers $45
Artworks once served as books for the illiterate, with a limited number of literary sources forming the basis for most Old Master paintings. Charney examines how viewers of the time decoded images through an allegorical and symbolic lens as he focuses on Jan Van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait of 1434, a masterpiece filled with symbolism that opens the door to this lost visual language. Mon., Oct. 6, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-881; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Book of Kells, Folio 7v, Madonna and Child
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, 1907–1908
The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck, 1434
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
Impressionist and PostImpressionist Painting in France
The style of 19th-century French painting known as Impressionism filled with color, light, and brilliant brushwork—was seen as an act of rebellion when it appeared in the 1870s. The work of these modern masters, notably Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, and Morisot, led in turn to the radical art of the Post-Impressionists.
During the 1880s and ’90s Seurat, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh used vivid colors to depict subjects from real life but in ways that were not always fully realistic.
In a richly illustrated series, art historian Nancy G. Heller explores the sources, masterpieces, and later influences of these rebels, including their impact on 20th-century art.
5-session series: Tues., Oct. 7–Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-410; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
Exploring the Arts of Latin America
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
Cave Art to the Renaissance
In a 4-session survey, art historian Joseph P. Cassar traces how the creative legacies of centuries of ancient civilizations affected the art of the Early Renaissance. He examines the collective influences of the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras; the ancient Near East; Egypt and its pharaohs; the Aegean world; and Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art.
Cassar discusses several works from each period—including paintings from Altamira and Lascaux caves, Neolithic monuments from Malta, the Temple of Knossos in Crete, the pyramids of Giza and Hatshepsut, and Etruscan burial art—leading up to the artistic climax reflected in Giotto’s magnificent Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.
4-session series: Wed., Oct. 8–29, 10:30 a.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-610; Members $100; Nonmembers $120
From colossal Olmec heads to the paintings of Frida Kahlo, Aztec temples to Mexican murals, this survey of Latin American art sweeps through the centuries and locations including ancient Mesoamerica, coastal Peru, and the top of the Andes. Michele Greet, professor of art history at George Mason University, traces the significant creators, works, influences, and trends that defined and shaped the arts of Latin America from their earliest expression through the 19th and 20th centuries.
4-session series: Thurs., Oct. 9–30, 12 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0493; Members $100; Nonmembers $120
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Frank Lloyd Wright and the Arts and Crafts Movement
Emerging in late 19th-century Europe, the Arts and Crafts movement was a response to the Industrial Revolution’s mass-produced goods and poor labor conditions. Emphasizing craftsmanship, simplicity, and honesty in materials, the movement championed design that clearly expressed a building’s structure and function—free of excessive ornamentation.
In the United States, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright consistently reflected the core values of the Arts and Crafts movement, reinterpreted through his modern lens. His outlook is reflected in designs from the geometric clarity of the Robie House and Unity Temple to later works like the textile block houses, Fallingwater, and the Usonian homes. Architectural historian Bill Keene explores how Wright’s vision aligned with—and redefined—the Arts and Crafts movement.
Wed., Oct. 8, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-149; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
Woman with a Parasol-Madame Monet and Her Son by Claude Monet, 1875
Mosaic of Justinian I (detail), Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, 547
Omniscience, by José Clemente Orozco, 1925 (mural detail)
Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Contemporary Portraiture
Portraiture often suggests dusty oil paintings in ornate frames—static likenesses frozen in time. Building on centuries of tradition, contemporary creators are reimagining portraiture in provocative ways through painting, sculpture, photography, and video. Art historian Jennie Hirsh surveys portraiture in the late 20th and early 21st century, highlighting artists who have expanded its visual language to explore questions of memory, performance, and presence.
From self-portraits to intimate depictions of others, their work invites viewers to consider how likeness is constructed and understood from visual and cultural perspectives. The artists discussed range from Dawoud Bey to Lucian Freud, Alice Neel to Cindy Sherman—each challenging and redefining what it means to see and be seen.
Mon., Oct. 20, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-119; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Leonardo Among Friends
Inspiration at the Milanese Ducal Court
Leonardo da Vinci epitomizes the ideal of the Renaissance man: He was a brilliant artist, visionary thinker, engineer, and scientist. Educated in Florence, he began his career in the service of Ludovico Sforza, the duke of Milan, where he lived and worked from around 1482 to 1499.
During that time, he connected with poets, mathematicians, philosophers, musicians, and other humanists at the ducal court, stimulating his creative and intellectual practices. Art historian Jill Pederson explores how Leonardo’s presence in this dynamic environment shaped his artistic output in works like The Last Supper, Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani (also known as Lady with an Ermine), and the Vitruvian Man.
Mon., Oct. 20, 12 p.m.; CODE 1T0-035; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Edward Hopper: American Modernist
Edward Hopper is widely regarded as one of the great American realists of modern art. Trained by Robert Henri, he is considered an heir of the Ashcan School. His work captures a quintessential view of New York City during a specific moment that became part of our cultural fabric. Many of the noir films of the 1940s and 1950s reflect Hopper’s personal vision of city life as seen in his paintings: austere, silent, moody, and lonely.
Art historian Bonita Billman explores the highlights of Hopper’s career and examines the sociopolitical and cultural contexts in which he lived and worked. Drawing on images of such paintings as Automat, Chop Suey, New York Movie, and Nighthawks, she discusses Hopper’s influences and his enduring relevance.
Thurs., Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-415; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Smithsonian Associates’ Digital Digest is a lively monthly e-newsletter filled with information about programs and experiences that are entertaining, informative, eclectic, and insightful. Be sure to see the current issue at: smithsonianassociates.org/digital-digest
The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, ca. 1492
Mother and Child, Havana by Alice Neel, 1926
Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, 1942
World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit
Understanding Northern Renaissance Art
Northern Renaissance artists were famous for imbuing their paintings with religious and philosophical symbolism. Grounded in the medieval belief of the world as the book of God, this approach remained central to the visual culture of the Low Countries throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, especially in the wake of the Protestant Reformation.
In a daylong seminar, art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine highlights these “painted treatises” and explores their symbolic content in a range of genres, from beautiful domestic interiors to market scenes and images of children’s games.
Fri., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1K0-626; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
A Game of Thrones: The Assyrian Crown Prince
Between about 900 and 630 B.C.E., Assyria (in today’s northern Iraq) became an empire that dominated the Middle East from Iran to Egypt. Assyrian kings ordered the construction of magnificent royal palaces whose internal walls were lined with huge stone reliefs that illustrate accomplishments of these rulers. The monarch is sometimes depicted accompanied by the crown prince, a bearded man wearing a diadem. He was central to the future of Assyria, and magnificent installation ceremonies intended to ensure a stable future were held.
There was often intense rivalry for the position of crown prince that led to rebellion and murder. Paul Collins, head of the Middle East department at the British Museum, explores some of the dramatic moments when the transfer of royal power threatened Assyria. Mon., Oct. 27, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-498; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
“Assyrian Crown-Prince,” a relief fragment, ca. 704–681 B.C.E.
Masterpieces of the Middle Ages
A Romanesque Reawakening
Despite widespread fears, the world didn’t end in the year 1000. Instead, the new millennium sparked a remarkable revival of artistic expression, particularly in 11th- and 12th-century France. From that renewal emerged the Romanesque style—bold, inventive, and deeply rooted in faith—reshaping the spiritual and cultural landscape of medieval Europe.
Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton explores this vibrant period through its cathedrals, churches, cloisters, and monasteries—beautiful spaces created to instruct and inspire.
Through the lenses of architecture, sculpture, painting, and the decorative arts, Benton reveals how Romanesque art defined an age of cultural awakening and communal devotion, stretching from mountain monasteries in France to pilgrimage centers from Italy to Spain and beyond.
2-session series: Sat., Nov. 1 and 8, 1–3:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1D0-118; Members $90; Nonmembers $110
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.
Mont Saint-Michel
The Adoration of the Magi in the Snow by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, 1567
Looking Up: The Rise of the Modern Skyscraper
From the 19th century to the early years of the next, technical developments in electricity, heating and cooling, and building methods—as well as innovations such as the elevator—offered new opportunities in construction that set off rivalries in the race to create the tallest building in the world.
During the first three decades of the 20th century, high-rise architecture incorporated the prevailing historic styles. Modernism, with its simplified forms and rejection of ornamentation, became the dominant style during the post-World War II period, with the “glass box” skyscraper becoming ubiquitous across the world. Bill Keene, a lecturer in architecture and urban studies, traces developments in technology, materials, and regulations that accelerated the rise of the skyscraper.
Mon., Nov. 3, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-154; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Frick Collection, Then and Now
Helen Clay Frick’s Vision Renewed
The early 20th century witnessed a transformation in the way art was collected, studied, and shared with the public. At the heart of this cultural evolution stood Helen Clay Frick, a force whose devotion to art, scholarship, and public access helped shape one America’s most esteemed art collections. Building on the legacy of her father, industrialist and collector Henry Clay Frick, Helen expanded the mission of the Frick Collection beyond private connoisseurship to a cultural institution rooted in education, conservation, and curatorial excellence.
Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores Helen’s pivotal role in building the Frick Collection, her influence on American art philanthropy, and the enduring impact of her life’s work—which entered a new chapter with the museum’s reopening this year.
Thurs., Nov. 6, 12 p.m.; CODE 1D0-124; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Splendor of Words
An Introduction to Manuscript Illumination
Early manuscript illuminations are astonishing for their beauty and detail.
Some early books are witness to a mixture of various artistic styles, others are religious books that inspire awe.
Heidi Catherine Gearhart, associate professor of art history at George Mason University, presents the most luxurious and fascinating examples of illuminated manuscripts from western Europe dating from late antiquity to the later Middle Ages.
Some of these collectors’ books, like the Très Riches Heures of the Duke de Berry, contained full-page, highly naturalistic, and richly detailed illuminations, as if they were paintings in and of themselves. Gearhart introduces the story of manuscript illumination beginning with the oldest surviving codices, considers their relation to older traditions of scrolls and tablets, and discusses how practices of illustration evolved over time.
Mon., Nov. 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1H0-885; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Peggy Guggenheim and the Art of Collecting
Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, designed by Lorenzo Boschetti
Peggy Guggenheim inherited two and a half million dollars when she turned 21 in 1919, and she decided to use it to fund her passion for art. A free-spirited and tireless woman who visited prominent artists of the time in their studios, she became a visionary collector who established galleries in New York and London.
After consulting with some of the most knowledgeable minds in art—including Marcel Duchamp and Samuel Beckett—she decided to invest in modern art. Today these works are found in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, housed in the palazzo on the Grand Canal that was her former home. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar discusses Guggenheim’s background and provides a critical analysis of key works in her collection.
Wed., Nov. 12, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-632; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, Folio 44v, ca. 1415
Portrait of Helen Clay Frick, 1910
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit
Art Nouveau: New Style for a New Century
Noted for its organic, sinuous, and seductive styles, the Art Nouveau movement in art and design flowered only for a decade or so but had a long-lasting influence and popularity. Art historian Bonita Billman explores Art Nouveau’s characteristics; its French origins; major creators including Louis Comfort Tiffany, Rene Lalique, Alphonse Mucha, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh; and its interpretations in Britain and America.
Sat., Nov. 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1M2-419; Members $100; Nonmembers $125; Related program: The Age of World’s Fairs, p. 10
Crossing Borders
Art, Trade, and Pilgrimage in Pre-Modern Asia
The merchants, explorers, pilgrims, and refugees who traveled the often-treacherous trade routes of Asia from the second century B.C.E. through the 15th century brought treasured commodities and new ideas with them. Crossing massive mountain ranges, unforgiving deserts, and dangerous open seas, these routes could be a source of untold riches or of disaster. Although many trade networks extended beyond Asia into Europe and Africa, Robert DeCaroli, professor of art history at George Mason University, focuses on the ways Asian societies participated in, benefited from, and were changed by trade and travel.
4-session series: Tues., Nov. 18–Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m.; detailed program information on website; CODE 1J0-501; Members $100; Nonmembers $125
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Contemporary North American Native Art Tradition and
Experimentation,
Tragedy and Humor
The Indigenous peoples of North America—like their counterparts all over the world—have a rich and diverse history of creativity reflected in stunning baskets and clay pots, rugs, beadwork, jewelry, intricately embroidered garments, and more. Contemporary Indigenous artists produce both 21st-century variations on age-old tribal traditions as well as highly experimental works in a variety of media in which artists combine reverence, humor, political protest, and aesthetic beauty with original perspectives.
Art historian Nancy G. Heller surveys the most significant work by contemporary Native artists from the U.S. and Canada, placing it in a broader socio-political context and celebrating the accomplishments of North American Indian artists.
Tues., Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-421; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
Read more about programs in this guide on the website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.
All Smithsonian Associates online programs are closed captioned
The Soil You See by Wendy Red Star, 2023
Crescent Lake, on the Silk Road, Dunhuang
Alphonse Mucha book illustration for Clio, 1900
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Pienza: An Ideal Renaissance City
To visit Pienza today is to step into the late 15th century. Located in the picturesque Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany, it constitutes a remarkable example of an ideal Renaissance city. Following his election to the papacy, Pope Pius II sought to elevate the status of his humble hometown through an ambitious project of urban renewal overseen by architect Bernardo Rossellino. In 1459, construction began on the Palazzo Piccolomini, the pope’s private palace; the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta; and other structures surrounding a central square, an arrangement that corresponds to the utopian notion of an ideal city.
Art historian Sophia D’Addio of Columbia University surveys the history, art, architecture, and urban planning of Pienza, which glorified the ambitions of its illustrious patron.
Mon., Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-424; Members $30; Nonmembers $45
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Arts and Crafts Movement in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Museum of Art curator David Barquist highlights the Arts and Crafts movement by focusing on Philadelphia artists who sought to correct what they saw as the poor quality of factory production by embracing the British Arts and Crafts movement’s principles of handwork, simplicity in design, and what they called “truth to materials.”
The Arts and Crafts movement in Philadelphia began with the 1876 Centennial Exposition in the city and the founding that year of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, where many of the artists taught or were trained. Following World War I, Arts and Crafts artists shifted from workshops to individual studio practices, while European Modernism inspired stylistic and technological change.
Fri., Dec. 5, 12 p.m.; CODE 1J0-508; Members $20; Nonmembers $30
Related program: The Age of World’s Fairs, p. 10
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
The Travels of Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin is a key French Post-Impressionist artist who worked in Brittany’s PontAven and later with Vincent van Gogh in Arles until he decided to travel to Tahiti in 1891. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar discusses Gauguin’s unusual childhood in Peru, his many travels with the French Navy, and his time as a successful stockbroker before committing himself to painting. Focusing on Gauguin’s main masterpieces and his legacy, Cassar also provides a critical analysis of the works by the artist during his first visit to Tahiti and his second and final return in 1895 until his death in 1903.
Wed., Dec. 10, 12 p.m.; CODE 1K0-648; Members $25; Nonmembers $35
What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A
Secretary cabinet designed by George Washington Jack, ca. 1889
Watermill in Pont-Aven by Paul Gauguin, 1894
Color Theory and Practice
INSTRUCTOR: Theresa Otteson
ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 15–Oct. 20, 6:45 p.m., no class Sept. 22 and Oct. 13; CODE 1E0AAR; Member $165; Nonmember $190
Lecture
By Peter Donahue
The Science of Mixing Paint
Learn how pigment properties influence the way paints mix and get a map for navigating, planning, and predicting paint mixtures. This is a good introduction to science-based color theory for artists.
INSTRUCTOR: Peter Donahue
ONLINE: Sat., Sept. 20, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ADC; Members $25; Nonmembers $30
Color Theory and Chroma-psychology
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue
ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 18, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABS; Members $55; Nonmembers $70
Hues in Harmony
Maximizing Your Palette
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman
ONLINE: Sun., Sept. 21–Oct. 19, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ACS; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
By Theresa Otteson
Lotus by Janet Fish (detail) Retail: $1200 Members: $950*
August Breakfast/Maine by Carolyn Brady (detail) Retail: $1200 Members: $800*
Two Roses, 1997, by Art Hansen (detail) Retail: $320 Members: $220*
By Nick Cruz Velleman
Visual Journaling: Creativity Workout
INSTRUCTOR: Renee Sandell
TWO ONLINE OPTIONS: Sat., Sept. 27, 1 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ACH); Sat., Dec. 6, 1 p.m. (CODE 1E0-ACR); Members $80; Nonmembers $95
Developing Your Creative Practice
INSTRUCTOR: Kate Lewis
ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 29–Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m., no class Oct. 13, CODE 1E0-AAL; Members $215; Nonmembers $240
By Kate Lewis
DRAWING
Beginning Drawing
INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze
TWO IN-PERSON OPTIONS: Tues., Sept. 16–Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m., no class Sept. 23 and Nov. 11 (CODE 1E0-AAV); Tues., Sept. 16–Nov. 18, 2 p.m., no class Sept. 23 and Nov. 11 (CODE 1E0-AAW); Ripley Center; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain
INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan
IN PERSON: Sat., Nov. 1–Dec. 13, 10:15 a.m., no class Nov. 29; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0ACC; Members $235; Nonmembers $270
By Renee Sandell
Artful
Mind, Tranquil Mind
INSTRUCTOR: Sushmita Mazumdar
ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 29–Nov. 10, 12 p.m., no class Oct. 13; CODE 1E0-AAM; Members $105; Nonmembers $140
Curating a Life: Art as Memoir
INSTRUCTOR: Renee Sandell
ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 8–Nov. 12, 3:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABH; Members $225; Nonmembers $260
Developing Your Sketchbook
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue
ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 9 and 16, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABT; Members $105; Nonmembers $130
Keeping Up with the Sketchbook Habit
INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston
SOLD OUT
ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Nov. 22, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ACL; Members $160; Nonmembers $185
By Sue Fierston
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Composition Studies
INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan
ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 5−19, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0ABN; Members $135; Nonmembers $160
Digital Drawing Fundamentals
INSTRUCTOR: Mike O’Brien
ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 17, 6:15 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABK; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
SOLD OUT
Drawing Techniques Line, Shape, and Shading
INSTRUCTOR: Desarae Lee
ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 18 and 25, 7:15 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABW; Members $90; Nonmembers $115
Beginning Drawing
INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter
ONLINE: Sun., Sept. 21–Nov. 9, 10:15 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ACT; Members $270; Nonmembers $305
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
By Mike O’Brien
By Desarae Lee
NEW CLASSES
Still Life in Charcoal
Working in charcoal, set up interesting still-life compositions and learn how to accurately represent the objects in your drawing using a variety of techniques.
INSTRUCTOR: Michelle Cobb
ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 8–Nov. 5, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZF; Members $185; Nonmembers $220
Introduction to Biological Illustration
SOLD OUT
Scientific illustration is art in the service of science. In this class on biological illustration, work with traditional media to learn how to create visuals that interpret data and scientific concepts.
INSTRUCTOR: Scott Rawlins
ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 8–Nov. 12, 11 a.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZE; Members $225; Nonmembers $260
Sketching the Smithsonian Weekly Lunchtime Drawing Series
Pull out your sketchbook and pencil to take an artful break as you explore the Smithsonian while drawing fall-themed objects from vast, fascinating collections.
INSTRUCTOR: Morgan Kuster
ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 9–Nov. 13, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ADB; Members $95; Nonmembers $125; individual sessions also available
Digital Drawing: Remixing the Collection
Procreate for iPad contains powerful editing features, empowering artists to reference and remix existing images. Combine with Smithsonian Open Access— where you can download, share, and reuse millions of the Smithsonian’s images—and you have a recipe for tremendous artistic expression.
SOLD OUT
INSTRUCTOR: Mike O’Brien
ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 5, 6:15 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZG; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Drawing Techniques Perspective
INSTRUCTOR: Desarae Lee ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 2 and 9, 7:15 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABY; Members $90; Nonmembers $115
Drawing Birds from Around the World
INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 23–Nov. 20, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABZ; Members $170; Nonmembers $210
Complete Colored Pencils
INSTRUCTOR: Lori VanKirk Schue
ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 23 and 30, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABV; Members $135; Nonmembers $160
PAINTING
IN PERSON
An Introduction to Watercolor: Loose and Beautiful
INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid
SOLD OUT
IN PERSON: Wed., Oct. 8–29, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ABG; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Intermediate Oil Painting
INSTRUCTOR: Shahin Talishkhan IN PERSON: Sun., Nov. 2–Dec. 14, 2:15 p.m., no class Nov. 30; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACX; Members $255; Nonmembers $290
LIFELONG LEARNING
By Mike O’Brien
By Michelle Cobb
By Scott Rawlins
By Morgan Kuster
By Lubna Zahid
NEW CLASSES
Watercolor Magic
Historic House Portraits
Learn about the principles and elements of design as you compose your own “portrait” of a historic house. Choose from locations like Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall, Monticello, Highland, and the White House or your own home.
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon McKittrick Boyle
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Oct. 28, 12:30 p.m., no class Sept. 23; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-0ZZ; Members $185; Nonmembers $220
Beginning Acrylic Painting
Step into the vibrant world of acrylic painting in this introductory course, which provides foundational information. You work on guided projects, from abstract to landscape to still life, exploring basic composition principles to create visually engaging pieces.
SOLD OUT
INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Marshall Wright
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Oct. 28, 6 p.m., no class Sept. 23; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0AAA; Members $235; Nonmembers $270
Wonder of Watercolor
In this beginner class, learn critical components of the foundations of watercolor such as the paint-to-water ratio to mix the right value of colors, painting techniques, and value studies.
SOLD OUT
INSTRUCTOR: Lorrie Herman
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Nov. 4, 11 a.m., no class Sept. 23 and Oct. 14; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AAY; Members $200; Nonmembers $235
By Sue Fierston
Autumn Sketching in the Smithsonian Gardens
October and November are magical in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Sketch in this stunning garden using watercolors to capture the changing light of the season.
INSTRUCTOR: Sue Fierston IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 5 and Nov. 2, 10:15 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AAF; Members $125; Nonmembers $150
Functional Floor Art Painting
Express your flair as you paint a floor art piece. With expert guidance, you design a distinctive mat to accent your home or give as a gift.
INSTRUCTOR: Mel Curtin IN PERSON: Wed., Oct. 15, 1 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-0ZP; Members $215; Nonmembers $230
Jump into Acrylics
Jump-start your journey into acrylic painting with this one-day immersive workshop. Get introduced to the basics and first steps, including how to use materials; touch on essential color theory; and explore this exciting medium with hands-on guided projects.
INSTRUCTOR: Carolyn Marshall Wright IN PERSON: Sat., Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AAE; Members $140; Nonmembers $155
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
60
The 1860s Vision of Cézanne Figures, Portraits, Landscapes, and Still Lifes
Absorb yourself in the vibrant, expressive realm of Cézanne. Peer into the mindset of the beloved Impressionist and create inspired art in your choice of watercolor, pastel, or oils.
INSTRUCTOR: Sandra Gobar IN PERSON: Sun., Nov. 2–16, 11 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-AAG; Members $125; Nonmembers $150
By Lorrie Herman
By Sharon McKittrick Boyle
CAROLYN MARSHALL WRIGHT
LIFELONG LEARNING
Student work
By Carolyn Marshall Wright
The Gardener Vallier (detail) by Paul Cezanne, 1906
LIFELONG LEARNING
Exploring Color in Watercolor
INSTRUCTOR: Lubna Zahid
SOLD OUT
ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 30–Dec. 2, 5 p.m., no class Nov. 11 and 25; CODE 1E0-ABF; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
Portrait Painting in Oil and Acrylic
INSTRUCTOR: Eric Westbrook
ONLINE: Wed., Oct. 8–Nov. 12, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABM; Members $225; Nonmembers $260
NEW CLASSES
By Jean Pederson
Continued Watercolor
SOLD OUT
World Art History Certificate elective:
Earn ½ credit
Sketching Turner
Expressing Atmosphere and Skies in Watercolor
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman
ONLINE: Mon., Oct. 20–Nov. 17, 2:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAN; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit Drawing Light
How the Masters Did It in Color
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Cruz Velleman
ONLINE: Mon., Oct. 20–Nov. 17, 10 a.m.; CODE 1E0-AAQ; Members $190; Nonmembers $225
Watercolor Beginning Techniques
This three-day watercolor workshop over the course of one week covers the basics that you need to get your watercolor practice started.
INSTRUCTOR: Jean Pederson
SOLD OUT
ONLINE: Mon., Sept. 15, Wed., Sept. 17, and Fri., Sept. 19, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZN; Members $125; Nonmembers $150
If you have some watercolor experience, go beyond the basics of paint application and learn how to construct strong, vibrant, personalityfilled painting while still receiving guidance on foundational components.
INSTRUCTOR: Josh Highter
ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 18–Nov. 13, 10:30 a.m., no class Oct. 2; CODE 1E0-ABQ; Members $275; Nonmembers $310
Still Life in Oil
Exploring Color Through Observation
Discover the secrets of the Impressionists through the timeless art of still-life painting as you work from life to develop observational skills and explore the study of color.
INSTRUCTOR: Michelle Cobb
ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 7–Nov. 4, 1 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAB; Members $200; Nonmembers $235
FALL
Beginning Oil Painting
INSTRUCTOR: Theresa Otteson
ONLINE: Mon., Oct. 27–Nov. 17, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAT; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Amaryllis in Watercolor
INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs
ONLINE: Tues., Dec. 2 and Wed., Dec. 3, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAC; Members $135; Nonmembers $150
Reverse Painting on a Glass Clock
Aloha Palette
Learn how to do a personalized painting on glass and add components to craft a functional clock.
INSTRUCTOR: Mel Curtin
ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 5 and 12, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZQ; Members $90; Nonmembers $120
Watercolor Escape to Hawai’i
Capture Hawai’i’s dramatic skies, shimmering sea, and sunlit essence with expressive, flowing watercolors.
INSTRUCTOR: Cindy Briggs
ONLINE: Wed., Nov. 19 and Thurs., Nov. 20, 6 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAD; Members
By Michelle Cobb
By Mel Curtin
By Cindy Briggs
By Josh Highter
By Eric Westbrook
By Cindy Briggs
MIXED MEDIA
Dissecting Design with Collage
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m., no class Sept. 23; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0ABC; Members $165; Nonmembers $200
Paper Frenzy
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson
IN PERSON: Sat., Sept. 20–Oct. 11, 1 p.m., Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACB; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Holiday Keepsake Ornaments
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sun., Dec. 7, 12 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACE; Members $70; Nonmembers $85
Resist!
Gel
Prints Beyond the Ordinary
Oppose and defy the ordinary and mundane to create mixed-media gems using an array of resist materials on gel plates.
INSTRUCTOR: Sharon Robinson IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 5 and 12, 12 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-0ZS; Members $85; Nonmembers $110
Mixed Media Art Warmups
INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
ONLINE: Mon., Oct. 27–Nov. 10, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAP; Members $150; Nonmembers $175
NEW CLASS
FIBER ARTS
Knitting for Beginners
INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m., no class Sept. 23; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ABB; Members $155; Nonmembers $190
Wool Embroidery from the Andes
INSTRUCTOR: Susana Romero
IN PERSON: Sat., Sept. 20–Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACA; Members $160; Nonmembers $185
When Good Patterns Go Bad Avoiding and Fixing Knitting Mistakes
INSTRUCTOR: Ann Richards
IN PERSON: Tues., Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ABP; Members $45; Nonmembers $60
Landscapes in Collage and Mixed Media
Discover the essence of what you see in landscapes near and far and respond by creating art in collage and mixed media. You are introduced to the materials, tools, and technologies to use.
INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard ONLINE: Thurs., Oct. 23–Nov. 20, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0ABU; Members $175; Nonmembers $210
Embroidery on Paper and Photographs
INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Howard ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 4 and 11, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ACK; Members $110; Nonmembers $135
Quiltmaking for the Non-perfectionist
INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Kingsland ONLINE: Sun., Nov. 9–23, 3 p.m.; CODE 1E00ZM; Members $125; Nonmembers $150 Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio Meet our Instructors View portfolios of
By Sharon Robinson
By Sharon Robinson
By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
By Sharon Robinson
By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
NEW CLASSES
Rigid Heddle Loom Weaving Continued
Make a Table Runner
Level up your beginning weaving skills and create a distinctively textured, colorful table runner on your rigid heddle loom. Build on the plain weave structure with striking warp and weft float techniques.
INSTRUCTOR: Tea Okropiridze
ONLINE: Tues., Sept. 30–Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZK; Members $115; Nonmembers $140
Constructing Quilts from Vintage Textiles
Create spectacular color combinations in your quilts as you build your color theory vocabulary and learn how to beautifully incorporate many types of printed fabric.
INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Kingsland
ONLINE: Sat., Oct. 4–Nov. 8, 10:30 a.m., no class Oct. 25; CODE 1E0-0ZL; Members $210; Nonmembers $245
Exploring Encaustic
INSTRUCTOR: Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
IN PERSON: Sun., Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACY; Members $170; Nonmembers $185
The Art of Floral Design
INSTRUCTOR: Arrin Sutliff
ONLINE: Wed., Sept. 17–Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., no class Oct. 1; CODE 1E0-ABL; Members $160; Nonmembers $195 Related program: Famous Orchids in History, p. 33
NEW CLASSES
Inspired by the Collections
Cold Connections and Alternative Materials
The jewelry in the Cooper Hewitt’s Susan Grant Lewin Collection embodies the ingenious use of alternative materials. Using the collection as an inspiration, students learn to refine readily available trash items into unique works of contemporary jewelry.
INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer
ONLINE: Sat., Sept. 27–Nov. 15, 12 p.m., no class Oct. 25 and Nov. 1; CODE 1E00ZV; Members $225; Nonmembers $260
By Mïa Vollkommer
Read more about programs in this guide on the website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org
Introduction to Beading
INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer
ONLINE: Thurs., Sept. 18–Oct. 9, 7 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ABX; Members $195; Nonmembers $215
Contemporary Glass Mosaics
INSTRUCTOR: Bonnie Fitzgerald
ONLINE: Tues., Oct. 14–Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZU; Members $165; Nonmembers $190
Handmade Holiday Cards
INSTRUCTOR: Karen Cadogan
ONLINE: Sat., Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m.; CODE 1E0-ACQ; Members $95; Nonmembers $115
Upcycled Aluminum Holiday Ornament
Select a pattern inspired by early 20th-century paper ornaments and learn simple metal embossing to transform an aluminum can into a holiday ornament or objet d’art for everyday decorating.
INSTRUCTOR: Mïa Vollkommer
ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 6, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZX; Members $70; Nonmembers $85
By Mïa Vollkommer
LIFELONG LEARNING
LIFELONG LEARNING
By Arrin Sutliff
By Marcie Wolf-Hubbard
By Karen Cadogan
By Tea Okropiridze
By Lauren Kingsland
PHOTOGRAPHY
Introduction to Photography
INSTRUCTOR: Andargé Asfaw
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Nov. 18, 3 p.m., no class Sept. 23 and Nov. 11; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0AAX); Members $250; Nonmembers $285
On-Location Photography
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky
IN PERSON: Sun., Oct. 12–Nov. 16, 1:45 p.m., Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ACU; Members $205; Nonmembers $240
The Exposure Triangle
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky
IN PERSON: Tues., Oct. 7–28, 6 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ABD; Members $160; Nonmembers $185
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Cyanotype: Photography with the Sun
INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Howard
ONLINE: Sat., Sept. 20 and 27, 12 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ACG; Members $85; Nonmembers $110
Night Photography in Washington, D.C.
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky
ONLINE: Mon., Nov. 10 and 17, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAU; Members $90; Nonmembers $115 (Note: The first session of this class is conducted on Zoom, and the second session is in person in Washington, D.C.)
Studio Arts classes are taught by professional artists and teachers. View detailed class descriptions and supply lists at SmithsonianAssociates.org/studio
Main Street USA
Get out in your city or town and capture the unique qualities and attractions of your downtown area. Discuss techniques to capture vintage storefronts, signage, brickwork, alleys, mannequins, and reflections in the first session and participate in a photo review during the second session.
INSTRUCTOR: Joe Yablonsky
ONLINE: Thurs., Nov. 6 and 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-AAJ; Members $95; Nonmembers $120
SCULPTURE
Figure Sculpture
INSTRUCTOR: George Tkabladze
SOLD OUT
IN PERSON: Tues., Sept. 16–Nov. 18, 6 p.m., no class Sept. 23 and Nov. 11; Ripley Center; CODE 1E0-ABA; Members $315; Nonmembers $350
n n n n
CALLIGRAPHY
Introduction to Foundational Hand Calligraphy
INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani
ONLINE: Sat., Sept. 20–Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ACF; Members $140; Nonmembers $165
Introduction to Pointed-Pen Calligraphy
INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani
ONLINE: Sat., Nov. 1–22, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-ACN; Members $140; Nonmembers $165
Jazz It Up
Holiday Cards Using Pointed-Pen Calligraphy
Step up your card- and gift-giving game this holiday season with hand-drawn holiday-themed illustrations and borders using pointed-pen flourishes.
INSTRUCTOR: Sharmila Karamchandani
ONLINE: Sat., Dec. 6, 1:30 p.m.; CODE 1E0-0ZW; Members $70; Nonmembers $85 NEW CLASS
By Sharmila Karamchandani
By Joe Yablonsky
By Joe Yablonsky
Smithsonian Associates expert-led Study Tours offer one-of-a-kind in-person experiences. They’re the perfect way to learn more about the places and topics that fascinate you, and you’re sure to discover plenty of new favorites along the way.
Walking Tour
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 400,000 American veterans and family members. As the largest military cemetery in the world, it preserves the history of the United States’ past. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a visit to the 640-acre cemetery that includes stops at the graves of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy, Arlington House, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Since 1864, Arlington National Cemetery has served as the final resting place for veterans of every military conflict. Learn about the fraught origins of the cemetery in the midst of the Civil War, view the original home of the Custis-Lee family, and enjoy beautiful vistas across the Potomac River of Washington, D.C. Visit two presidential burial sites: those of Kennedy, including the eternal flame, and William Howard Taft. See the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Historic Chestertown
With a Cruise on the Schooner Sultana
TWO OPTIONS: Fri., Sept. 19 (CODE 1CWB07); Sat., Sept. 20 (CODE 1CW-C07); 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $50; Nonmembers $65
Spend an unforgettable day exploring the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay with regional historian Hayden Mathews. The journey begins as Mathews weaves together the geological, environmental, maritime, cultural, and architectural threads that have shaped the region. This legacy comes to life as you explore historic Chestertown, Maryland, and embark on a 2.5-hour sail aboard the Sultana, a replica 1768 topsail schooner.
Founded in 1704, Chestertown enjoyed a lucrative maritime trade that fueled the local economy and funded construction of the Georgian brick mansions that still line the streets. The original Boston-built Sultana patrolled the coastline of colonial North America in the 18th century, enforcing the hated Townsend Acts or “tea taxes.” The replica Sultana was built by the city’s Sultana Educational Foundation to serve as a floating classroom where the public can learn about regional maritime history and have a hands-on experience focused on Chesapeake Bay ecology.
Meet Chris Cerino, a former Chestertown mayor and vice president of the Sultana Education Foundation, who leads a walking tour of the town’s National Register Historic District in which he spotlights buildings of special interest and shares stories about local history. The tour concludes at the headquarters of the foundation, where Cerino orchestrates a unique multimedia presentation on the bay’s cultural and natural histories.
Participants have midday lunch at a restaurant and have afternoon free time following the last tour and sailing. Sun., Sept. 21, 7:45 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-016; Members $225; Nonmembers $285
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 reproduction of the 1768 schooner Sultana under full sail on the upper Chesapeake Bay
Bus Tour
Gettysburg: The Battlefield and Beyond
Some 160,000 soldiers, both Union and Confederate, fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. For three days, farmers, teachers, factory workers, and students turned soldiers—many of whom had never picked up a weapon before the war—confronted the horrors of battle. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a journey across the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, exploring soldiers’ personal stories.
Beginning on the battlefield, explore sites like Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and East Cemetery Hill while discussing the psychological toll of combat and living in the trenches. A visit to the Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center adds another layer to understanding the soldiers’ experience. The cupola of the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg served as a key lookout for Union Brig. Gen. John Buford and Lt. Aaron Jerome. From July 1 to July 5, the building was held by Confederates, then used to house wounded Union soldiers. After the Confederate retreat, the Union army reclaimed it, turning it into one of Gettysburg’s largest field hospitals.
Lunch is served at Dobbin House Tavern, a historic landmark built in 1776. During and after the battle, the tavern was repurposed as a temporary field hospital.
Sun., Sept. 28, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-061; Members $211; Nonmembers $271
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.
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Nature at Its Best
Step into the wild at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, where nature unfolds in vivid detail just 25 miles from Washington, D.C. Wander through a landscape of 70-foot-tall tulip trees and fragrant sassafras saplings, home to graceful swallowtail butterflies, curious river otters, and slow-moving box turtles.
Spend the day with naturalist Liana Vitali and a team of volunteers as you explore the sanctuary’s rich mosaic of ecosystems. Stretching across 1,700 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows, Jug Bay offers a glimpse into one of the most biologically diverse areas along the Patuxent River.
Venture along some of the sanctuary’s 19 miles of scenic trails—binoculars in hand—to spot any of nearly 300 species of birds, from elegant osprey to seasonal waterfowl. Then climb aboard a pontoon boat for a ride through the wetlands to a hands-on archaeological dig site. Modeled after real excavations, this site invites you to uncover clues about a Native American settlement that thrived here more than 8,000 years ago. A catered lunch is included.
Sat., Oct. 11, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CS-001; Members $114; Nonmembers $175; NOTE: Tour participants meet on site; Related program: Wild, Wonderful Wetlands, p. 31
Gettysburg battlefield monuments
Walking Tour
View from Otter Point pier, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Autumn Splendor in Seneca Regional Park
A guided hike through Seneca Regional Park, located upriver from Great Falls, Virginia, makes a fall morning an adventure. This mature forest is renowned for its vibrant fall colors, making it a perfect seasonal escape. Journey with interpretive naturalist Keith Tomlinson through upland forests that wind down into secluded ravines, finally reaching the woodlands along a deeply channelized stretch of the Potomac River.
Along the way, explore the forest’s natural history, with a special focus on landscape ecology— examining how topography, vegetation, and waterways shape this unique ecosystem. The area also holds historical significance as the site of early colonial canal construction, featured on the cover of National Geographic more than 35 years ago. Expect a moderate 3-mile hike on well-established but hilly trails. Wear sturdy footwear and be ready to immerse yourself in the rich natural and historical tapestry of this beautiful park.
TWO OPTIONS: Sun., Oct. 19 (CODE 1NW-A01); Sat., Oct. 25 (CODE 1NW-B01); 8–11 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $60; Nonmembers $80
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.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
Private Visions, Public Treasures
Exploring Hillwood and The Phillips Collection
Tucked away in the charming, tree-lined neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., are two remarkable gems where art, history, and personal passion meet. Join art historian Judy Pomeranz for an insider’s look at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens and The Phillips Collection—two of the city’s most intimate cultural landmarks, both housed in the former homes of their visionary collectors.
Start the day with opulence at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, former residence of heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. A guided tour of the 36-room mansion showcases Post’s extensive art collection, which focuses on French and Russian imperial art. Marvel at some of the 17,000-plus objects, including two Fabergé eggs and exquisite French porcelain. Step into the estate’s gardens, set on 25 acres adjacent to Rock Creek. Stroll through the French parterre, reminiscent of a world of European elegance, and step across the bridge in the Japanese-style garden. Don’t miss the greenhouse, the source of the tropical plants that fill Hillwood with color and fragrance year-round. During a three-course lunch on the estate grounds, enjoy a special talk from a Hillwood curator.
Nestled in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, The Phillips Collection stands as America’s first museum dedicated to modern art. Established in 1921 by art collector and philanthropist Duncan Phillips, this private institution began as his residence and has evolved into a renowned museum housing over 5,000 works of modern and contemporary art. Docents lead you through the displayed collection, where you view works by Renoir, Rothko, O’Keeffe, and other luminaries, with a discussion of how the collection has grown.
Thurs., Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-001; Members $236; Nonmembers $300
Bus Tour
Hiking Tour
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
The Phillips Collection
Walking Tour
Urban Oasis
Rock Creek Park History Hike
Established in 1890, Rock Creek Park was the first national park created in a major city. More than 2,000 acres winding through Northwest Washington, D.C., were set aside as a refuge for wildlife and an escape for District residents. While the landscape feels natural today, much of the park was meticulously laid out by a noted landscape architectural firm, Olmsted Brothers. In addition to its natural beauty, Rock Creek Park contains historic structures, memorials, ruins, and other remnants of the past.
The tour begins outside the Smithsonian’s National Zoo before plunging into Rock Creek Park via a little-known entrance. Follow the course of an abandoned road to a secluded stone mansion, one of the oldest structures in the park. Then trek across the park’s western ridge before dipping down into the valley to see Peirce Mill, built in 1829, and going up along the Theodore Roosevelt Side Trail to beautiful Boulder Bridge.
Passing the ruins of another old mill, stroll back along Beach Drive before hiking one more stretch on a recently renamed trail while tour leader Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, shares its history. Finally, emerge onto bustling Connecticut Avenue and wrap up at the Cleveland Park Metro station.
THREE OPTIONS: Thurs., Oct. 23 (CODE 1CW-A02); Fri., Oct. 24 (CODE 1CW-B02); Sat., Oct. 25 (CODE 1CW-C02); 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $55; Nonmembers $70; Related program: Rock Creek Park, p. 35
A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island
Enjoy a fall morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.
Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city.
TWO OPTIONS: Tues., Nov. 4 (CODE 1CW-A04); Wed., Nov. 5 (CODE 1CW-B04); 8:30–11:30 a.m.; detailed tour information on website; Members $60; Nonmembers $75
Lincoln’s Legacy at Congressional Cemetery
Congressional Cemetery in southeast Washington, D.C., is the resting place of more than 67,000 Americans—heroes and villains, famous and forgotten—making it a powerful place to explore our shared history. The cemetery holds surprising ties to President Abraham Lincoln, although he wasn’t buried there. Lincoln walked these grounds during one of the Civil War’s most heartbreaking moments, and the cemetery is the final resting place for many individuals whose lives intersected with his.
Author Chuck Raasch explores some of those connections during a walk through the grounds. The stories he tells include those of an assassination conspirator in an unmarked grave, pioneering photographer Mathew Brady, and unsung heroes who became victims of one of the Civil War’s most tragic non-combat events.
THREE OPTIONS: Fri., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (CODE 1CW-A03); Sat., Nov. 8, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (CODE 1CW-B03); Sat., Nov. 8, 1–3 p.m. (CODE 1CW-C03); detailed tour information on website; Members $50; Nonmembers $60
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Grave of Civil War photographer Mathew Brady
Walking Tour
Walking Tour
Honor and Legacy
A Journey Through the 250 Years of U.S. Army History
Founded on June 14, 1775, the United States Army stands as the oldest branch of the U.S. military. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a compelling day exploring the Washington, D.C., area’s collection of memorials and museums dedicated to the Army.
Highlights include a before-hours visit to “The Price of Freedom” exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History with an introduction from a curator. The exhibition reflects on the human cost of war and honors the sacrifices of military personnel. The National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, features immersive exhibits showcasing the Army’s journey from its militia roots to its modern-day missions. In a special lunchtime session, a museum educator explores the commitment, challenges, and bravery of African American soldiers in World War II. Commemoration of the Army’s legacy is reflected in the many monuments and memorials dedicated to its generals, soldiers, and defining battles. Among these is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. Hamner discusses the memorial’s design and Eisenhower’s role in U.S. history. En route to the Eisenhower memorial, he highlights other sites, including the World War II Memorial, First Division Monument, and Second Division Memorial.
Fri., Nov. 21, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CD-002; Members $140; Nonmembers $200
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn ½ credit
An Art + History Mystery Tour
Are you a mystery fan? Experience a unique immersive adventure with study leader and storyteller Paul Glenshaw inspired by his Smithsonian Associates’ Art + History series. Here’s the twist: Participants register for a full-day tour without knowing where the journey will lead. Travel with Glenshaw to three to five distinctive sites around the Washington, D.C., area as he reveals hidden stories, lesser-known facts, and fascinating connections among art, architecture, and the historical moments they represent. The day includes a 3-course meal at a leading D.C. restaurant. The tour’s itinerary is provided to registrants as they gather at the departure point (which won’t be a mystery). Are you game for this artfully secretive—but rewarding—excursion?
LIFELONG LEARNING
Sat., Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1ND-001; Members $215; Nonmembers $275
Jewels of Queens
Arts journalist Richard Selden continues his series of overnight trips to New York City’s outer boroughs with this visit to the largest of all, Queens—home of the Mets, the U.S. Open, and two of the metropolitan area’s three major airports. Site of the fictional Astoria residence of TV’s Archie and Edith Bunker and the actual former Corona residence of Louis and Lucille Armstrong, Queens in recent decades has transformed into the most ethnically diverse of the five boroughs. The Number 7 train on the Flushing Line is now nicknamed the International Express.
SOLD OUT
Among the jewels of Queens on the itinerary are Flushing Meadows Corona Park, site of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs; the Museum of the Moving Image, a movie and television museum located in the historic (and reborn) Astoria Studio complex; the Noguchi Museum, where the full range of the Modernist sculptor’s work is displayed; and the Louis Armstrong House Museum. To sample the borough’s international cuisine, an Asian lunch in Flushing and a Greek dinner in Astoria are included.
The overnight accommodations spotlight another of the borough’s standouts: the TWA Hotel. Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 TWA Flight Center at Idlewild (now JFK) airport was restored and reimagined as a first-class hotel that celebrates the Jet-Age glamour of the 1960s.
Sun., Nov. 9, 7 a.m.–Mon., Nov. 10, 9 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NNQUE; Members $685; Nonmembers $850
TWA Hotel
2-Day Tour
National Museum of the United States Army
2-Day Tour
Unearthing Egypt at The Met and the Brooklyn Museum
Step back in time to the land of the pharaohs and take a journey through two of New York’s most prestigious cultural institutions: the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. Each museum offers a captivating lens into the world of ancient Egypt.
The Brooklyn Museum houses a rich, thoughtfully curated Egyptian collection that illuminates the daily life, religious beliefs, and funerary practices of ancient Egyptians. On your guided visit, learn about Charles Edwin Wilbour, a self-taught Egyptologist whose numerous acquisitions in Egypt, including eight Elephantine papyri, form the core of the Brooklyn Museum collection. Visit the Assyrian collection, which features 12 huge reliefs from the palace of Ashur-nasir-pal II at Nimrud, excavated by A. H. Layard in the 1840s.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art boasts the most extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities in North America, featuring monumental sculptures, intricate artifacts, and the awe-inspiring Temple of Dendur, completed by 10 B.C.E. by the Roman emperor Augustus. A full-day visit includes a guided tour through the Lila Acheson Wallace Galleries of Egyptian Art with your study leader. Learn how the artifacts illuminate many of the best-known stories in the Bible, especially from the book of Exodus. The visit also includes a docent-led tour of highlights of the museum’s collections and time to view other galleries, including the relatively recently renovated Byzantine and medieval wing.
Biblical scholar and historian Gary Rendsburg leads this exploration of ancient Egyptian culture.
Sun., Nov. 16, 7:30 a.m.–Mon., Nov. 17, 10:30 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1CN-EGY; Members $653; Nonmembers $871; Related program: Exploring Ancient Egypt, p. 5
Holidays in the Brandywine Valley
Led by regional historian Hayden Mathews, step into a world of elegance and holiday splendor in a journey through the historic Brandywine Valley, where the legacy of the du Pont family comes to life in grand estates filled with seasonal decorations. Spanning Pennsylvania and Delaware, the region is home to some of the most opulent mansions and gardens in the country, each with a connection to the du Pont family, who shaped the cultural and economic landscape of the region, leaving behind a heritage of architecture, horticulture, and art.
At Hagley Museum and Library, birthplace of the du Pont legacy (and a Smithsonian Affiliate), explore the original gunpowder works and the family’s first home in America, decorated for the season. Visit Winterthur Museum Garden and Library, the former estate of Henry Francis du Pont, where seasonal displays complement an outstanding collection of American decorative arts.
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The Brandywine Museum of Art, housed in a historic grist mill, showcases works by the Wyeth family and features holiday decorations, including its famous model train exhibition. The tour concludes at Longwood Gardens, where more than 500,000 lights, spectacular fountain shows, and floral displays make for a memorable experience. An overnight stay at the charming Mendenhall Inn offers a chance to relax and reflect on a visit filled with festive beauty and rich history.
Sun., Dec. 7, 7:30 a.m.–Mon., Dec. 8, 9 p.m.; by bus; detailed tour information on website; CODE 1NN-BRV; Members $689; Nonmembers $915
Model train display at the Brandywine Museum of Art
Hagley Museum and Library
2-Day Tour
The Temple of Dendur at The Met
Effective April 1, 2025
Smithsonian Associates Membership Levels and Benefits
Members-only priority program registration before programs go on sale to the public (some exclusions apply)
Ability to purchase one registration per program at the discounted member price
Subscription to the monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide
Subscription to the monthly Smithsonian Associates digital program guide
Access to members-only in-person and online programs
Access to free Associates in-person and online programs as available (notification sent via email)
3-day viewing access to Associates Encores recordings of online programs (some exclusions apply)
Subscription to the Smithsonian Associates Digital Digest
Ability to purchase up to four registrations per program at the discounted member price
Smithsonian magazine delivered to your home
Ability to purchase up to six registrations per program at the discounted member price
Member discounts on Art Collectors Program fine-art prints
Advance digital copy of the monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide
Two complimentary registrations for an online program, in-person lecture, or performance (value equal to $35 per registration or less)
Priority consideration for wait-listed programs (some exclusions apply)
Advance registration for high-demand programs (notification sent via email)
Ability to participate in Smithsonian Summer Camp registration lottery
Two complimentary registrations for a Smithsonian Insider event
No $3 phone order processing fees for program registrations conducted over the phone
Monthly donor preview digital communications for select upcoming programs
NEW: Registration access to complimentary Associates Insider Tours in Washington, D.C. (notification sent via email)
Copy of the Smithsonian’s annual report
Recognition on the Smithsonian Associates website, in the program guide’s annual donor list, and on the annual plaque at our headquarters in Washington, D.C.
One gift membership at the Explorer level to give to a family member or friend (restrictions apply)
Reserved seating at most Smithsonian Associates in-person programs
Invitations to backstage meet-and-greets at select Smithsonian Associates in-person programs
Dedicated concierge phone line for inquiries and program registration
Invitation for two to the prestigious annual Smithsonian Weekend
Recognition in the Smithsonian’s annual report
Four complimentary registrations for an online program or in-person lecture (value equal to $35 per registration)
Additional 20% discount on member prices for Art Collectors Program fine-art prints
Two gift memberships at the Explorer level to give to family members or friends (restrictions apply)
Special event invitations as available
Quarterly Director’s Roundtable digital communications (opportunities to gather in person when applicable)
Invitation to a private event with members of Associates’ leadership
Courses,
Performances, and Lectures—Multi-Session
Tues., Sept. 2–16
Write
Wed., Sept. 3–24
Expressionism:
Thurs., Sept. 4–25
Exploring Ancient Egypt
Thurs., Sept. 4–Nov. 13
Smithsonian Chorus • ..................................................................................17
Thurs., Sept. 11 and 18
Nov. 1 and
Nov. 18–Dec.
Nov. 18–Dec. 9
Films of Humphrey Bogart and Burt
Dec. 4 and 11
Lectures and Seminars—Single Session
Sept. 19
Sept. 20
National Cemetery
Sun., Sept. 21 Historic Chestertown and the Schooner Sultana 56
Sun., Sept. 28
Gettysburg: The Battlefield and Beyond 57
Sat., Oct. 11 Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary: Nature at its Best 57
Sat., Oct. 18 Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn 3
Sun., Oct. 19 Architecture on the Nation’s Front Lawn 4
Autumn Splendor in Seneca Regional Park 58
Thurs., Oct. 23 Private Visions, Public Treasures 58
Urban Oasis: Rock Creek Park History Hike 59
Fri., Oct. 24 Urban Oasis: Rock Creek Park History Hike ..............59 Sat., Oct. 25 Autumn Splendor in Seneca Regional Park ...............58 Urban Oasis: Rock Creek Park History Hike ..............59
Tues., Nov. 4 A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island 59
Wed., Nov. 5 A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island 59
Fri., Nov. 7 Lincoln’s Legacy at Congressional Cemetery 59 Sat., Nov. 8 Lincoln’s Legacy at Congressional Cemetery
An Art + History Mystery Tour
Sun., Nov. 16 Unearthing Egypt 61
Fri., Nov. 21 Honor and Legacy: U.S. Army History 60
SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES
Please visit SmithsonianAssociates.org for more details
MEMBERSHIP Depending on your level of support, you will receive special benefits, including significant savings on most Smithsonian Associates program registrations and a monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide, and much more. Visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/join for more information. Become a member today!
REGISTRATION FOR PROGRAMS
Online.......................SmithsonianAssociates.org
Phone .........................202-633-3030, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Phone registration orders are subject to a $3 handling fee.
CONTACT US
Email CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org
Mail Smithsonian Associates, P.O. Box 23293, Washington, D.C. 20026-3293
Phone 202-633-3030, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
ZOOM PROGRAM LINKS
Confirmed registrants receive an email from no-reply@zoom.us at least 24 hours prior to the program date that provides a link to join your session on Zoom.
PROCESSING FEES
All program registrations are subject to a 10% processing fee to defray administrative costs. Registrants will see this fee applied during the checkout process. Exclusions are transactions for Discovery Theater, Smithsonian Summer Camp, Studio Arts, and Study Tours.
CREDIT TO YOUR SM ITHSON IAN ASSOCIATES ACCOUNT
Credit for cancellations or exchanges are only available for orders that cost more than $40. If in compliance with the specific guidelines below, credit is issued to your Smithsonian Associates account, not your credit card. Credits are non-transferable.
Important note: Cancelling your program in the Zoom personal link that you received does not initiate the Smithsonian Associates credit or refund process. Please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks in advance to request a change to your registration
For all Smithsonian Associates online programs, study tours, and Studio Arts classes: If you wish to cancel or exchange an order costing more than $40, please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the program date to request a credit. Please note that there is a $10 cancellation fee, as well as a cost adjustment when there is a price difference if you are applying your credit to another program.
Courses: To receive credit to your Smithsonian Associates account for a course, (excluding Studio Arts classes), please contact Customer Service via email at least two weeks before the first session. Credit will also be issued within two weekdays after the first session, provided that Customer Service is contacted within that period. Credit will be prorated to reflect the cost of the first session. No credit will be given after the second session.
REFUNDS are only issued when a program is cancelled or if it sells out before we receive your order.
CHANGES I N PUBLISHE D SCHE DU LES Smithsonian Associates reserves the right to cancel, substitute speakers and session topics within a course, and reschedule any program, if needed. Occasionally, a time or date of a program must change after it has been announced or registrations have been reserved. Participants are notified by email. Check SmithsonianAssociates.org for latest updates.
MOVING? If you are receiving our print publications, please email or write us with your new information and allow 6 weeks for the change of address to take effect.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO Smithsonian Associates reserves the right to take photographs or videos (or audio) during programs for the educational and promotional purposes of the Smithsonian Institution or authorized third parties. By attending a program, the participant agrees to allow their likeness to be used by Smithsonian Associates or Smithsonian-authorized third parties without compensation to the participant. Participants who prefer that their voice and/or image not be used must notify us in writing prior to the beginning of the program.
