Smithsonian opens $21M human evolution hall

2010-03-17T06:45:17Z

<div id="subtitle">Smithsonian's Natural History museum opens $21 million permanent exhibit on human evolution</div><div><p>The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is opening a new permanent exhibit exploring human evolution over 6 million years.</p><p>The nearly $21 milli...

Smithsonian Harriet Tubman

2010-03-10T13:31:01Z

In this March 8, 2010 photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution, a silk shawl belonging to Harriet Tubman that was a gift from Queen Victoria, c. 1897 is seen at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. (AP Photo/Michael R Barnes, Smithsonian Instituti...

DC Holocaust museum passes 30 million visitors

2010-03-10T11:01:07Z

<div id="subtitle">DC Holocaust museum, open since 1993, now says it has had 30 million visitors</div><div><p>The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum says 30 million visitors have now come through its doors.</p><p>The museum said Wednesday that the milestone was passed this week. The museum has been open since April 1993. A museum spokesman says 1....

Michelle Obama's ball gown makes museum debut

2010-03-10T05:16:21Z

<div><p>First Lady Michelle Obama bowed to tradition Tuesday and donated the dazzling ball gown she wore for her husband's presidential inauguration last January to the Smithsonian museum institution.</p><p>The flowing, white, one-shouldered Jason Wu gown studded with appliqué embroidery, ...

First Lady's Dress

2010-03-09T14:17:39Z

First lady Michelle Obama stands with the gown that she wore to the 2009 inaugural ball as she donates it to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2010. The one-shouldered, white chiffon gown, designed by

Mrs. Obama to donate inaugural gown to Smithsonian

2010-03-05T08:01:22Z

<div id="subtitle">Michelle Obama to donate inaugural gown to Smithsonian's first ladies collection Tuesday</div><div><p>The one-shoulder, white chiffon gown first lady Michelle Obama wore to the inaugural balls is going on display.</p><p>On Tuesday, Mrs. Obama plans to publicly donate the gown to the first ladies collection...

Smithsonian turns down suit worn by OJ Simpson

2010-03-03T05:45:34Z

<div id="subtitle">Smithsonian turns down donation of suit worn by OJ Simpson during 1995 acquittal announcement</div><div><p>What O.J. Simpson wore when he was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife and her friend was the suit seen around the world during one of the most watched televised moments in history.</p><p>But the S...

OJ Simpson Suit

2010-03-02T14:02:16Z

FILE - In this Oct. 3, 1995 file photo, O.J. Simpson smiles in a Los Angeles courtroom after being aquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The Afghanistan was decorated for canine courage in a ceremony at London's Imperial War Museum We...

Tourists visit museums, monuments before snow

2010-02-22T11:12:22Z

<div id="subtitle">Tourists make last-minute museum, monument trips around DC before heavy snow</div><div><p>Tourists are making last-minute trips to Washington's monuments and museums before they likely get snowed in.</p><p>Small groups walked up slick steps of the Lincoln Memorial Friday...

Space Rock Dispute

2010-02-03T13:16:14Z

In this 2010 photo released by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, a section of a meteorite the a size of a tennis ball is shown in Washington. The meteorite that plummeted through the roof of a Virginia medical office just after dusk on Jan. 18, the same time as people reported seeing a fireball in the sky. It plunged through the ceiling of an examination room and landed near the spot where a do...

Museum Security Basics

2010-02-22T18:50:46Z

Although occasional museum heists make front-page news, most small museums grapple with more routine, day-to-day security issues. Armed thieves with an eye on iconic masterpieces are not the only security risks faced by museums. While institutions such as the Smithsonian have large security forces, the smaller community museum may be underfunded, with little to no budget for security improvements. Luckily, there are...

Travel briefs

2010-02-22T22:06:45Z

<div id="subtitle">Travel briefs</div><div><p>Battleship Missouri open for visitors again in Pearl Harbor</p><p>PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The battleship where officials from Japan and the Allied Forces signed surrender docum...

Smithsonian museums saw jump in visits last year

2010-02-23T00:57:28Z

<div id="subtitle">Despite the recession, Smithsonian museums saw increase in visits last year</div><div><p>Visitor counts at the Smithsonian Institution's museums have rebounded to more than 30 million visits in 2009 for the first time since a slump following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.</p><p>A draft report the museum comple...

Famed blue diamonds to join up at Smithsonian

2010-02-23T16:10:56Z

<div id="subtitle">Hope Diamond, Wittelsbach gem to go on display together at Smithsonian museum</div><div><p>Two of the world's most famed blue diamonds will be on display together starting in January.</p><p>The 31.06-carat Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond will join the 45....

Blue Diamonds

2009-12-14T14:00:58Z

This undated handout photo provided by the Smithsonian Institution shows The 31.06-carat Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond which will join the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on Jan. 28, the museum announced Mon...

Smithsonian exhibit on commercial holiday displays

2010-02-24T04:38:54Z

<div id="subtitle">Smithsonian exhibit on commercial holiday displays</div><div><p>Santa Claus is making an early appearance to open a new exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on the...

Arts agencies to get highest funding in 16 years

2010-02-24T12:00:10Z

<div id="subtitle">Bill heads to Obama calling for highest level of federal arts, cultural funding in 16 years</div><div><p>The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities are expected to receive their highest leve...

Celebrity Cruises introduces new activities

2010-02-24T14:09:58Z

<div id="subtitle">Celebrity Cruises introduces new seminars, activities</div><div><p>Celebrity Cruises is introducing a new program of enrichment seminars and activities on its ships called "Celebrity Life: Savor, discover, renew."</p><p>Starting in November, new culinary experiences, learning opportunities, fitness classes and spa treatments will be offered on eight Celebrity ships.</p><p&a...

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