Smithsonian Spotlight
A Capital City
Explore the nation's capital city as viewed through the collections.
Welcome to the Smithsonian
When you visit the Smithsonian, you’re entering the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with approximately 154 million artifacts and specimens in its trust for the American people. We are dedicated to public education; national service; and scholarship in art, design, science, technology, history, and culture. Most of our museums are located in the Washington, DC, area with two in New York City. Many of our research centers also host visitors.
Visit the Hours page for regular and seasonal hours for each museum. See Tips for Visiting for helpful information including guides and maps to download.
