View source for Smithsonian (magazine)

{{Short description|Magazine published by the Smithsonian Institution}}
{{advert|date=June 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Smithsonian
| image_file = Smithsonian Magazine December 2024 cover.webp
| image_alt = Cover of Smithsonian Magazine
| image_caption = Cover of the December 2024 issue
| frequency = Monthly
| category = [[History]], [[science]], [[arts]], [[nature]]
| company = [[Smithsonian Institution]]
| firstdate = {{start date and age|1970|4}}
| country = United States
| based = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| language = English
| website = {{url|smithsonianmag.com}}
| total_circulation = 1,840,077<ref>{{cite web|title=AAM: Total Circ for Consumer Magazines|url=http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp|website=Alliance for Audited Media|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=December 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216173335/http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
| circulation_year = June 2016
| issn = 0037-7333
| oclc = 1359769
}}
'''''Smithsonian''''' is a magazine covering science, history, art, popular culture and innovation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/about/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.smithsonianmag.com}}</ref> The first issue was published in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 U.S. Magazines by Circulation|url=http://www.psaresearch.com/images/TOPMAGAZINES.pdf|work=PSA Research Center|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=November 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115225953/http://www.psaresearch.com/images/TOPMAGAZINES.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
The history of ''Smithsonian'' began when [[Edward K. Thompson]], the retired editor of ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine, was asked by then-Secretary of the Smithsonian, [[S. Dillon Ripley]], to produce a magazine "about things in which the Smithsonian [Institution] is interested, might be interested or ought to be interested."<ref name=smith/>

Thompson later recalled that his philosophy for the new magazine was that it "would stir curiosity in already receptive minds. It would deal with history as it is relevant to the present. It would present art, since true art is never dated, in the richest possible reproduction. It would peer into the future via coverage of social progress and of science and technology. Technical matters would be digested and made intelligible by skilled writers who would stimulate readers to reach upward while not turning them off with jargon. We would find the best writers and the best photographers—not unlike the best of the old ''Life''."<ref name=smith>{{citation |url= http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Noxious_Bogs__Amorous_Elephants.html |title= Noxious Bogs & Amorous Elephants: Smithsonian's birth, 35 years ago, only hinted at the splendors to follow |last= Winfrey |first= Carey |publisher= Smithsonian |date= October 2005 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130202154607/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Noxious_Bogs__Amorous_Elephants.html |archive-date= February 2, 2013 }}</ref>

In 1973, the magazine turned a profit for the first time. By 1974, circulation had nearly quadrupled, to 635,000, and it reached the one million milestone in 1975—one of the most successful launches of its time. In 1980, Thompson was replaced by Don Moser, who had also worked at ''Life'', and circulation reached upwards of two million, in turn, by [[Carey Winfrey]] upon his retirement in 2001. [[Michael Caruso (editor)|Michael Caruso]] succeeded Carey Winfrey in 2011, and served as editor-in-chief until 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/michael-caruso-steps-down-editor-chief-smithsonian-magazine-180972490/ | title=Michael Caruso Steps Down as Editor in Chief of Smithsonian Magazine | access-date=November 4, 2022 | archive-date=September 29, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929080318/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/michael-caruso-steps-down-editor-chief-smithsonian-magazine-180972490/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Since that time Debra Rosenberg and Terence Monmaney have been editors.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/smithsonian-magazine | title=Smithsonian Magazine | access-date=November 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007170416/https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/smithsonian-magazine | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Events held ==
===''Smithsonian'' American Ingenuity Awards===
From 2012 until 2019, the magazine sponsored the American Ingenuity Awards, a recognition of innovation in the arts, sciences and technology. Winners have included [[Bryan Stevenson]], [[Elon Musk]], [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]], [[OK Go]], [[John Krasinski]], [[Dave Eggers]], [[Aziz Ansari]], [[Rosanne Cash]], [[Jeff Bezos]], [[Fred Armisen]], [[Bill Hader]] and [[David Lynch]].

Presenters have included [[Stephen Hawking]] (twice), [[Stephen Colbert]], [[David Byrne]], [[Herbie Hancock]], [[Erin Brockovich]], [[Ruben Blades]], [[Bill Nye]], [[Art Spiegelman]], and Senator [[Al Franken]]. The American Ingenuity Award was created by the artist [[Jeff Koons]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ingenuity/|website=Smithsonian.com|access-date=January 12, 2016|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225150854/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ingenuity/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== {{anchor|Museum Day}}Museum Day ===
{{Redirect-distinguish|Museum Day|International Museum Day}}
Smithsonian arranged '''Museum Day''', alternatively '''Smithsonian Day''', when museums in all 50 U.S. states offered limited free admission. In 2018, over 1,400 museums participated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brownell |first=Matt |date=2011-09-23 |title=Free Museum Day: This Saturday! |url=https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/free-museum-day-saturday-12789872 |website=TheStreet |language=en-us |access-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315163630/https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/free-museum-day-saturday-12789872 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/museum-day-smithsonian/index.html | title=Museum Day: Free admission to nearly 1,500 US museums | date=September 19, 2018 | access-date=March 16, 2023 | archive-date=March 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316072040/https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/museum-day-smithsonian/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://nationaltoday.com/smithsonian-day/ | title=Smithsonian Day | date=June 10, 2022 }}</ref>

The offer included a free admission for the ticket holder plus one guest and this ticket was specific to the chosen museum only.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2022/faq/ | title=&#124; History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine | access-date=March 16, 2023 | archive-date=March 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316073149/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2022/faq/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The intention was for one ticket per person in contrast to the [[International Museum Day]], when participating museums generally offer entirely free admission throughout the day.

In 2023 and 2024, the event was cancelled with no further explanation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://secretnyc.co/smithsonian-museum-day-cancelled/ | title=NYC's Annual Smithsonian Free Museum Day Will Not Return This Year | date=September 5, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2023/ | archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241007162013/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2023/ | archive-date=October 7, 2024 | title=History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine }}</ref> {{Asof|2025}} the web landing page redirects to the home page of the museum.

==Contributors==
Notable past and current contributors to ''Smithsonian'' have included:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Richard Conniff]]
* [[Frank Deford]]
* [[Eileen Gunn]]
* [[Penn Jillette]]
* [[Jon Krakauer]]
* [[Jill Lepore]]
* [[Franz Lidz]]
* [[Alan Lightman]]
* [[Jo Marchant]]
* [[David McCullough]]
* [[Susan Orlean]]
* [[Nathaniel Philbrick]]
* [[Paul Theroux]]
* [[Lindsay Stern]]
* [[Jerry Adler (journalist)|Jerry Adler]]
* [[Elizabeth Royte]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{oweb|http://www.smithsonianmag.com/}}

{{Smithsonian Institution}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smithsonian (magazine)}}
[[Category:1970 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:English-language magazines]]
[[Category:History magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1970]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Science and technology magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Smithsonian Institution publications]]