Smithsonian Books

01/19/2025

TONIGHT! Join the editors from our book IN SLAVERY'S WAKE at Politics and Prose Bookstore on Connecticut Ave for an enlightening evening. https://politics-prose.com/event/2025-01-19/paul-gardullo-johanna-obenda-and-anthony-bogues-slaverys-wake-making-black-freedom

01/16/2025

Ahead of Inauguration Day on Monday, read five fascinating inauguration trivia facts from THE SMITHSONIAN BOOK OF PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA! Even better, get yourself the book and brush up on all aspects of presidential history.

Become a presidential expert in no time

01/15/2025

fly to the moon and beyond with amazing moon and space books from Smithsonian Books! 🌙 Head to our website for books that are out of this world: https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/

This photo features:
🌕SPACE SHUTTLE STORIES
🌖SMITHSONIAN ATLAS OF SPACE
🌗SMITHSONIAN TREASURES OF THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
🌘MOON LANDER
🌑THE VALUE OF THE MOON
🌒NEVER PANIC EARLY

01/12/2025

Next Sunday, join the editors from our book IN SLAVERY'S WAKE—the companion book to Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture newest exhibition—in conversation with each other at Politics and Prose Bookstore on Connecticut Ave! Go to https://politics-prose.com/event/2025-01-19/paul-gardullo-johanna-obenda-and-anthony-bogues-slaverys-wake-making-black-freedom for more details. Can't wait to see you there!

01/10/2025

We have some winter wildlife photography from our book 60 YEARS OF WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR to enjoy as you head into the weekend! Check it out:

Enjoy animals in the snow with these award-winning photographs

12/23/2024

Happy birthday to Madam C. J. Walker, who was an incredible entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist. The self-made millionaire made her fortune developing a cosmetics and hair care line for Black women, like this “Wonderful Hair Grower." She's featured in our book SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN WOMEN, which celebrates overlooked stories and undersung accomplishments of women across history. https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/history/smithsonian-american-women-remarkable-objects-and-stories-of-strength-ingenuity-and-vision-from-the-national-collection/

Photo credit: NMAAHC, gift from Dawn Simon Spears and Alvin Spears, Sr.

12/18/2024

RAWR! Looking for a last-minute gift as the holidays approach? A HISTORY OF DINOSAURS IN 50 FOSSILS has it all-- stunning illustrations, amazing research, and (best of all) DINOS! We've got you covered across the board with this exciting title.

A beautifully illustrated and definitive crash course on dinosaur fossils, from the Allosaurus that use their teeth and jaws to dismember p…

12/17/2024

Today marks 121 years since the Wright Brothers took to the skies with the earliest versions of airplanes. THE PUBLISHED WRITINGS OF WILBUR & ORVILLE WRIGHT is a fascinating collection of writing from the two brothers throughout their design process and their flight tests through their own eyes.

For the first time, nearly seventy of Wilbur and Orville Wright's published writings are brought together in a single, annotated reference. Spanning …

12/16/2024

Got an art lover in the family you still need the right gift for? SMITHSONIAN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HISTORY, ART, AND CULTURE IN 101 OBJECTS is at the rescue. Full of pictures from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History Collection, this book is sure to stun with beautiful objects and an even more wonderful visual history of Asian Pacific American culture.

A rich and compelling introduction to the history of Asian Pacific American communities as told through 101 objects, from a fortune cookie baking mol…

12/15/2024

233 years ago today, our founding fathers ratified the Bill of Rights. Turn back time with one of our history titles, and reimagine the creation of these documents that make our country what it is today.

12/14/2024

Still looking for the right gift for your coolest friend or relative? Look no further, we've got you covered. SMITHSONIAN ROCK AND ROLL is a celebration of a genre that's defined American music, from the birth of blues to CBGB and beyond! This impressive history has got great photos and a comprehensive understanding of a genre defined by no rules.

In December 2015, the Smithsonian called on rock and roll lovers around the world to collect photos and stories of their favorite moments in music. F…

12/13/2024

Happy National Day of the Horse! We'll take any ecuse to escape to the wild West, and today is the perfect occasion to dive into AMERICAN ENDURANCE. This title follows true cowboy stories from 1800s America, all on horseback. Safe to say, this is the book you've been looking for if you want a chance to get, well, wild!

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Richard A. Serrano's new book American Endurance: The Great Cowboy Race and the Vanishing Wild West is h…

12/13/2024

Today is the official opening of IN SLAVERY'S WAKE, the exciting new exhibiton ! We published a book to commemorate this exhibiton, reflecting on America's past and present relationship to enslavement. Check out this exhibit and all the history it highlights today!

Explore the modern-day impact of slavery and colonialism in this panoramic Black history for anti-racist readers of 1619 Project and C…

12/12/2024

Check out our holiday gift guide for the readers on your nice list!

Make your shopping this year a breeze with these book recommendations!

12/11/2024

Remember that time Tony Hawk posted about our amazing book FOUR WHEELS AND A BOARD? Because we do! 🤩 With the cold and snow and early darkness, winter is the perfect time to read about skateboarding when you aren't able to ride! https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/history/four-wheels-and-a-board-the-smithsonian-history-of-skateboarding/

12/11/2024

Whether you're plannign on making resolutions, or just sticking to your routine this new year, our 2025 engagement calendar is an exciting way to jump into the upcoming year. Along with space to plan out your life, this planner features photos and illustrations from the Smithsonian collection for an engaging way to set out your to-do list.

Featuring 55 gorgeous full-color images of diverse Smithsonian objects, this wire-bound, weekly calendar is like visiting a different museum every we…

12/10/2024

Springtime might feel far away, but CHERRY BLOSSOMS, a book of photography centered around Washington's iconic cherry blossoms, makes is seem just a bit closer. Dive into the Japanese tradition behind cultivating these trees that have become an iconic part of the D.C landscape.

A beautiful gift book commemorating the nation's most cherished springtime tradition, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, through original works of…

12/09/2024

Looking for the perfect cold-weather activity? Look no firther! ABECEDARIUM, our adult take on coloring books, is chock-full of letters and designs from manuscripts in the Smithsonian collection. Bust out those markers and let coloring brighten up the darker days.

A unique Smithsonian coloring book featuring the letters of the alphabet from rare illuminated books and manuscripts Abecedarium offers artists of…