Smithsonian (magazine)

Magazine published by the Smithsonian Institution

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Smithsonian

Cover of the December 2024 issue

Categories| History, science, arts, nature
Frequency| Monthly
Total circulation
(June 2016)| 1,840,077[1]
First issue| April 1970; 55 years ago (1970-04)
Company| Smithsonian Institution
Country| United States
Based in| Washington, D.C., U.S.
Language| English
Website| smithsonianmag.com
ISSN| 0037-7333
OCLC| 1359769

Smithsonian is a magazine covering science, history, art, popular culture and innovation.[2] The first issue was published in 1970.[3]

## History

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The history of Smithsonian began when Edward K. Thompson, the retired editor of 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."[4]

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."[4]

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 succeeded Carey Winfrey in 2011, and served as editor-in-chief until 2019.[5] Since that time Debra Rosenberg and Terence Monmaney have been editors.[6]

## Events held

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### Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

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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.[7]

### Museum Day

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"Museum Day" redirects here; not to be confused with 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.[8][9][10]

The offer included a free admission for the ticket holder plus one guest and this ticket was specific to the chosen museum only.[11] 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.[12][13] As of 2025[update] the web landing page redirects to the home page of the museum.

## Contributors

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Notable past and current contributors to Smithsonian have included:

* 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
* Elizabeth Royte

## References

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1. ^ "AAM: Total Circ for Consumer Magazines". Alliance for Audited Media. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
2. ^ "History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine". www.smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
3. ^ "Top 100 U.S. Magazines by Circulation" (PDF). PSA Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
4. ^ a b Winfrey, Carey (October 2005), Noxious Bogs & Amorous Elephants: Smithsonian's birth, 35 years ago, only hinted at the splendors to follow, Smithsonian, archived from the original on February 2, 2013
5. ^ "Michael Caruso Steps Down as Editor in Chief of Smithsonian Magazine". Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
6. ^ "Smithsonian Magazine". Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
7. ^ "Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards". Smithsonian.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
8. ^ Brownell, Matt (September 23, 2011). "Free Museum Day: This Saturday!". TheStreet. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
9. ^ "Museum Day: Free admission to nearly 1,500 US museums". September 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
10. ^ "Smithsonian Day". June 10, 2022.
11. ^ "| History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine". Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
12. ^ "NYC's Annual Smithsonian Free Museum Day Will Not Return This Year". September 5, 2023.
13. ^ "History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine". Archived from the original on October 7, 2024.

## External links

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* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Smithsonian Institution

Museums|

* African American History and Culture
* African Art
* Air and Space
* Udvar–Hazy
* American Art
* Renwick Gallery
* American History
* Jazz Masterworks Orchestra
* Numismatic Collection
* American Indian
* Heye Center
* Anacostia
* Arts and Industries
* Asian Art
* Freer
* Sackler
* Castle
* Cooper–Hewitt Design
* Gardens
* Archives of American Gardens
* Hirshhorn
* Latino
* Natural History
* Barcode of Life
* Encyclopedia of Life
* Global Volcanism
* Portrait Gallery
* Postal
* Women's History

Zoo|

* National Zoological Park
* Uncle Beazley

Research|

* Archives of American Art
* Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program
* Conservation and restoration
* Astrophysics
* Chandra
* Conservation Biology
* Environmental Research
* Libraries and Archives
* Biodiversity Heritage Library
* Marine Station
* Museum Conservation Institute
* Migratory Bird
* Tropical Research

Cultural|

* Asian Pacific
* Latino
* Folklife and Cultural Heritage
* Folklife Festival
* Folkways
* Global Sound

Education|

* Affiliations
* Ripley Center

Media|

* American Art
* Air & Space/Smithsonian
* STEM in 30
* Smithsonian magazine
* Smithsonian Channel
* Smithsonian Contributions and Studies Series

Awards|

* James Smithson Medal
* Charles Lang Freer Medal
* Hodgkins Medal
* Langley Gold Medal
* National Design Awards
* Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award
* Woodrow Wilson Awards

Other|

* James Smithson
* John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
* Wilson Center (The Wilson Quarterly)
* Smithsonian Police
* U.S. National Tick Collection

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