Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian Magazine takes you on a journey through history, science, world culture and technology with breathtaking images from around the world.

Smithsonian Magazine

“Finally these trippy slugs get their due with a wide audience.”

A Summer Tradition • THIS YEAR’S SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN AND THE PEOPLE IT HONORS

The Wheel Deal • This space-age sensation kicked the American road trip into high gear

Taking the Scenic Route • AN INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO THE MOST SERENE, EXHILARATING AND JUST PLAIN BEAUTIFUL ROADS IN THE COUNTRY

CLASSICAL TALENT • A new show illuminates the success of a Caribbean-born painter in Paris

One For the Books • A full 82 copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio will go on view as the renovated Folger Library makes its debut

No Bard Feelings • WHEN TWO OF SHAKESPEARE’S FRIENDS COMPILED THE FIRST FOLIO, A FEW PLAYS DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT

TRACKING OUR ANCESTORS • Newly dated footprints show that humans lived in North America far earlier than we knew

Check It Out • The curious box deciphered an arcane kind of code to offer grocery shoppers a trip into the future

Absolutely. Fabulous. • A HEADY, EXQUISITELY DELIGHTFUL NEW BOOK REVEALS THE POWER BEHIND THE SEQUINS

EARTH QUEST • WHAT NEW VOLCANIC CAVES ARE REVEALING ABOUT EARLY LIFE ON OUR PLANET

The Calorie Countess • A century ago, DR. LULU HUNT PETERS INTRODUCED AMERICANS TO A REVOLUTIONARY TOOL FOR LOSING WEIGHT. WE’RE STILL LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES

EXPLORING THE LOST TREASURES OF PISIDIA • IN SOUTHERN TURKEY, AN EXTENSIVE NEW TRAIL NETWORK SPIRITS TREKKERS TO A CROSSROADS OF ancient civilizations

What Plovers Do • Camouflaged by the sand, these threatened shorebirds aim to hide from predators. Now conservationists are trying to give their breeding efforts a boost

START THE PRESSES • Before he helped launch a revolution, Benjamin Franklin was colonial America’s leading newspaper editor and printer of novels, almanacs, soap wrappers, and everything in between

Don’t Be Puzzled • YOU CAN FIND EIGHT ANSWERS IN THESE PAGES

ask smithsonian • YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS. WE’VE GOT EXPERTS