Smithsonian Institution

Let there be light! And peacocks! 🦚 The Peacock Room has captivated visitors at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art since it opened in 1923. Designed by artist James McNeill Whistler for a London dining room, museum founder Charles Lang Freer had the room disassembled and shipped to the U.S. in 1904. There, he filled its shelves with ceramics from Syria, Iran, Japan, China, and Korea. Save the dates! Though the museum typically keeps the shutters closed to avoid damage from sunlight, visitors can see the room in a whole new light at noon on the third Thursday of every month. Upcoming dates: ✨ July 18 ✨ August 15 ✨ September 19 Won’t be in town? You can take a virtual tour of the Peacock Room! https://s.si.edu/3y2STkl 🖼️ : Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room, 1876-1877, James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, F1904.61

In 2024, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) celebrates 75 years. The organization, a military alliance headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, was formed April 4, 1949, to provide a system of common defense. Twelve countries participated in the original treaty creating NATO, with membership predicated on the principle that an external attack on any member state is an attack on all. This 3-cent stamp was issued at the White House in 1952; it features a globe and two hands holding the torch of liberty. President Harry S. Truman autographed panes of the stamp for presentation to the heads of state of countries belonging to NATO. It's in the collection of our National Postal Museum.

From Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III: There are no simple answers to complex questions. At a time of great division in our nation, the Smithsonian is poised to serve the nation as a place of meaning and value, a reservoir that people can dip into to find ways to live their lives. https://lnkd.in/eJeQZfCw

THUNDER! 📣 🏈 When the director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders says she wants her uniforms to look like they’re going to be in the Smithsonian, this is what she means. This 1973 uniform is in the collection of our Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have been cheering on the football team since 1961. Learn more about our Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders uniforms and history: https://s.si.edu/4cqqaVL

🎶 Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another. I beg you, don't embarrass me, cookie-cutter (shark). This will be stuck in our heads all #SharkWeek. Why is the Isistius brasiliensis nicknamed the cookie-cutter shark? At about 20 inches long, they’re known to take large, round, cookie-cutter-shaped bites out of animals such as tuna, whales, dolphins, and seals. These sharks approach their prey from below, latch on, bite, and then twist, leaving a round hole. This shark is in the collection of our Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Join us for the education event of the summer— the 2024 Smithsonian National Education Summit (July 16-18)! Not in Washington, D.C.? Not a problem! Educators can opt to tune in to 18 online sessions on Tuesday, July 16 and livestreamed keynotes, pre-recorded premiere sessions, and a closing panel, featuring Boys & Girls Clubs of America youth on Wednesday, July 17. Sign up today—it’s free and registered participants will receive a professional development certificate and transcript, plus be the first to know when the session archives are available for on-demand viewing. More information is available at https://lnkd.in/guYWJppM #SmithsonianEdu

From Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III: It’s an honor the share this message with my valued colleagues Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, and Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States. This Fourth of July, experience American history at a museum, library or archive. Here is what you’ll find at the Smithsonian, Library of Congress and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. https://lnkd.in/eHGddGrY

Jennifer Coolidge said it best. “You look like the Fourth of July.” 🎆 The #FourthOfJuly marks the anniversary of the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. The founding document declared separation from Great Britain and outlined the ideals of the new nation—"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." 📷: Photo by Eric Long, 2010, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

From the desk of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III: As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, I think about how regular people came together to call for change—they marched, volunteered, organized, sat in, stood up, and crossed racial and economic lines to work toward a common cause. Sixty years later, we lionize these individuals and praise their heroism. We celebrate these pinnacle Civil Rights Movement moments on postage stamps, such as those shown here in the collection of our National Postal Museum. Let's also remember these were regular people with worries, hopes, and distractions much like our own. There's room for everyone to be part of change in their communities. Civic Season invites young people across the country to power up their civics skills and shape the future. Join in: thecivicseason.com

“Lovely on a postage stamp? You’d look lovely on a postage stamp!” - Viscount Mabrey, “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” On this National Postage Stamp Day, let’s celebrate the figures who have graced U.S. stamps. These are in the collection of our National Postal Museum. 👑: Grace Kelly 🎙️: Billie Holiday 🏄: Duke Kahanamoku 🎤: Selena 🎬: James Dean Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.