Smithsonian Magazine5h
Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom Stopped the United States Post Office Department From Launching on This Day in 1792
The American Revolution cemented the importance of a federally protected post office in the minds of the people and politicians Sarah Holzmann On February 20, 1792, George Washington made sure the ...
Smithsonian Magazine13h
This 17th-Century ‘Lovers’ Ring’ Unearthed in England Is Marked by a Romantic Inscription
A centuries-old romantic ring, engraved on the inside with the words “Present my affection,” has been discovered by a metal ...
Smithsonian Magazine15h
See the Adorable Video of Wisdom, the World’s Oldest Wild Bird, Tending to Her New Chick at Age 74
First banded in 1956, the Laysan albatross has become a mother once again at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge ...
Smithsonian Magazine15h
From Shears to Sweaters, an Experimental New Exhibition Examines the Long, Wooly Relationship Between Humans and Sheep
The Amsterdam show features an eclectic mix of wool garments, life-size sheep replicas and philosophical musings about the ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
Donner Party Survivors Were Rescued on This Day in 1847 After Weeks of Frigid Conditions, Starvation and—Eventually—Cannibalism
Bad luck and poor decisions turned the already dangerous trek from Missouri to California into a fatal affair for roughly ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
The World’s First Astronaut With a Physical Disability Is Cleared for Long-Duration Space Missions
Paralympian John McFall has passed all the required medical exams and is now eligible for future travel to the ISS with the ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
You Can Buy a Rare Letter by George Washington Written at a Crucial Turning Point in the Revolutionary War
In the optimistic missive, Washington extols the revolutionary spirit of the American people—even in defeat—and makes a rare ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
Couples Exchange Bacteria During Intercourse, Known as the ‘Sexome.’ It Might Help Track Down Sexual Assault Perpetrators
In a study of 12 heterosexual couples, researchers noted the presence of a partner's genital bacteria after sex, even when ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
The Railroad Workers Behind the Civil Rights Movement
Pullman porters did more than carry bags, they paved the way for higher education opportunities, the professional working ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
What Does a Cowboy Look Like?
The legend of the cowboy—celebrated in literature and film—has become central to the history of the American West. This ...
Smithsonian Magazine1d
The Fascinating, and Delicious, History of Malta
Traditional Maltese bread, known as Ħobż tal-Malti, is a sourdough loaf that can trace its roots back to Roman times. Its ...