Smithsonian Books
See the Wonders of Bird Engineering in These Photos of Intricate Nests
In a new book, a curator at England's Natural History Museum describes rare and interesting nests and eggs—from the house sparrow to the village weaver—and the lessons they hold for avian conservation
See Photos From the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition That Led to the Vanishing of Two Explorers
A century later, a new book captures the grand scale of the mountain and uncovers more about the expedition and the people at its center
How a Smithsonian Curator Discovered the Hope Diamond’s Many Secrets
The storied past of the 45.52-carat sapphire-blue gemstone hails back to the days before the French Revolution
Legendary Bluesman Robert Johnson Had Demons. So Did His Biographer
The long-awaited “Biography of a Phantom” unravels some of the mystery and intrigue
In 1946, a Black Pilot Returned to the Cockpit After a Double Amputation
Neal V. Loving, whose memoir will soon be released by Smithsonian Books, built his own planes, ran a flight school and conducted research for the Air Force
Virtually Celebrate Peak Bloom With Ten Fun Facts About Cherry Blossoms
This year's National Cherry Blossom Festival will feature a mix of in-person and online events
Ten Exquisite Creatures That Once Roamed the Earth
From Smithsonian Books, comes a magnificent tome to highlight evolution's greatest hits
Twelve Ancient and Enduring Places Around the World
From Smithsonian Books, towering temples, dramatic works of art and early settlements that have stood the test of time
Why National Marine Sanctuaries Are Another of America's Best Ideas
Chart the waters of America's 14 aquatic sanctuaries in this new offering from Smithsonian Books
How History Records the Peculiar Role of America’s First Ladies
A new exhibition, "Every Eye is Upon Me," pays tribute to the ever-changing role of the women who hold this unelected office
The Remarkable and Complex Legacy of Native American Military Service
Why do they serve? The answer is grounded in honor and love for their homeland
The Complicated Relationship Between Latinos and the Los Angeles Dodgers
A new Smithsonian book and an upcoming exhibition, '¡Pleibol!,' recounts the singular importance of baseball in Latino history and culture
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction With Horten's All-Wing Aircraft Design
New research dispels some of the myths behind the world's first jet-powered flying wing
The World's Most Interesting Insects
A new title from Smithsonian Books highlights the diversity of Earth's 10 to 100 million insect species
Not All Cherry Blossoms Are the Same
View these vivid illustrations by Japanese artist Kōkichi Tsunoi of the varieties of trees presented to the United States in 1912
If Aliens Existed Elsewhere in the Universe, How Would They Behave?
In a new offering from Smithsonian Books, James Trefil and Michael Summers explore the life forms that might exist on a dizzying array of exoplanets
A Great Wave of Hokusai
The Freer Gallery—home to the largest collection of the popular Japanese artist’s paintings—unveils 120 rarely seen works
Chandra Telescope Observes Two Decades of Turning Theory Into Reality
A new book, 'Light From the Void,' showcases the telescope’s images of nebulas, supernovae, supermassive black holes and more
Smithsonian Elevates the Frequently Ignored Histories of Women
For many, the personal—tea cups, dresses, needlework and charm bracelets—really was political. A new book tells why
Jim Crow Compounded the Grief of African American Mothers Whose Sons Were Killed in World War I
Smithsonian Books presents ‘We Return Fighting,’ a groundbreaking exploration of African American involvement in World War I
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