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Tian Tian, giant panda at our @nationalzoo, does #snowzilla better than all of us #blizzard2016

Today we remember Nichelle Nichols. She starred as Lieutenant Uhura on "Star Trek" wearing this uniform now in our @NMAAHC, making history for African American women in TV and film. Nichols also volunteered to recruit women and people of color for NASA. #BecauseOfHerStory

The Smithsonian's treasures belong to you. Now you can download, remix, reuse and share them with #SmithsonianOpenAccess, for free, for any purpose. Explore at si.edu/OpenAccess.

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk, now in @amhistorymuseum. While his words outlined the ideals of a new nation—“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”—he enslaved more than 600 people in his lifetime.

We remember Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. This 1996 portrait by Everett Raymond Kinstler is in our @smithsoniannpg's collection.

You know an animal is special when your social media manager has to check to make sure it's real. Meet the pink fairy armadillo. At about 6 inches long, it's the world's smallest armadillo. The shell’s color comes from blood vessels close to the surface. s.si.edu/2RU3U2z

Captain Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, was the first woman captain in the Star Trek franchise. Mulgrew gave this prop communicator badge, now in our @airandspace, to astronaut Sally Ride, a longtime Star Trek fan. Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983.

Elie Wiesel devoted his life to ensuring the Holocaust and its victims are never forgotten. A survivor of the concentration camps where his family was murdered, he wrote the memoir "Night." @smithsoniannpg's Miriam Baker sculpture: s.si.edu/2Ykg7gp #HolocaustRemembranceDay

It’s #WorldOceansDay! Let our @OceanPortal introduce you to the world’s smallest shark bit.ly/1JqLLLw

The first person to photograph a single snowflake captured this image. #FirstSnow

This is the first image ever of a black hole. The breakthrough discovery by the @ehtelescope is an image of Messier 87’s (M87’s) supermassive black hole in the center of the Virgo galaxy cluster, 55 million light-years away. #EHTBlackhole #RealBlackHole

Presenting the #ObamaPortraits: President @BarackObama’s portrait by @kehindewileyart and Mrs. @MichelleObama’s portrait by Amy Sherald. Both will be on view starting tomorrow at our @NPG. About the artists: bit.ly/2EuA4J9 #myNPG

We are thrilled to announce that our Board of Regents has elected Lonnie G. Bunch III as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, effective June 16. The founding director of our @NMAAHC, Bunch brings a reputation for compelling scholarship and visionary leadership.

President @BarackObama on @kehindewileyart: “What I was always struck by when I saw his portraits was the degree to which they challenged our ideas of power and privilege.” #ObamaPortraits #myNPG

Today we remember Rosalynn Carter, First Lady from 1977-1981. In this July 1978 photo, she’s visiting @amhistorymuseum, then known as the National Museum of History and Technology, to donate her gold-trimmed blue chiffon inaugural gown to the collection. She’d first worn the

Due to the #GovernmentShutdown, Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed. We will update our operating status as soon as the situation is resolved. We do not plan to update social media other than to inform you of our operating status.

Today is our birthday! The Smithsonian was officially created on Aug. 10, 1846. This Smithsonian baby photo from 1850 is the earliest-known photo of the Castle, still under construction: s.si.edu/2mTzOtN

You know it's going to be a good day if @Oprah says so. #APeoplesJourney @NMAAHC

Our @NPG just unveiled a new presidential portrait for their collection: President Frank Underwood #HouseofCards

#Juneteenth marks the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay, Texas, were notified of their freedom. It's celebrated as the end of U.S. chattel slavery and our nation's second independence day. #APeoplesJourney s.si.edu/2NecT8S

The daughter of a man who was once enslaved helps @POTUS & @FLOTUS open our @NMAAHC yesterday. 📷: Joel Mason-Gaines. #APeoplesJourney

Dr. Carter G. Woodson—known as the “Father of Black History"—started the first Negro History Week in 1926 to ensure students would learn Black history. It grew into #BlackHistoryMonth, starting in 1976. #SmithsonianBHM 📸: Scurlock Studio Records portrait in our @amhistorymuseum

We remember Congressman John Lewis, civil rights leader and champion for the creation of our @NMAAHC. This photo shows Lewis marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend Jessie Douglas and James Farmer from Selma to Montgomery. 📸: Collection of @NMAAHC, ©1965 Spider Martin

Today we welcome our 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie G. Bunch III. The founding director of @NMAAHC, he is the first African American to lead the Smithsonian and the first historian elected Secretary. More on our new Secretary in @SmithsonianMag: s.si.edu/2HWXkPy

The @HowardU marching band getting the crowd excited for @NMAAHC opening.🎶🎺 #APeoplesJourney

Update: The Smithsonian, including its museums, research centers & the National Zoo, will be OPEN Monday, Jan. 22. The Smithsonian can use prior year funds still available to us to do so. We will update our status beyond Monday as soon as we know. #governmentshutdown

This month marks 100 years since the 19th Amendment became law. With @USNatArchives and @librarycongress, we're counting down #19SuffrageStories of women who worked for the vote—before and after 1920—through the Aug. 26 anniversary. #BecauseOfHerStory s.si.edu/2Dg3n3p

In an 1852 speech, Frederick Douglass emphasized that the history of American freedom cannot be separated from American slavery. Read more about “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” from our @NMAAHC: s.si.edu/2YvkWlA

We remember Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. In this poster in our @NPG, legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser conveys the creative energy of Franklin’s performances: s.si.edu/2nJ3b1r

Our #2018Folklife Festival is open and it's going to be big. About the Catalan tradition of human towers called castells: s.si.edu/2ty2OKb See @SmithsonianFolk's schedule at festival.si.edu/schedule

The first person to photograph a single snowflake captured these images. #WinterSolstice

Her story changed history. Our Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative will tell a more complete American story and empower future generations. This #WomensHistoryMonth, we'll share stories of the women who changed ours: #BecauseOfHerStory. womenshistory.si.edu

This is the first-ever image of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy. At 27,000 light-years away, Sagittarius A* would look from Earth to be the size of a donut on the Moon. A global network of telescopes and 300 researchers, many from @CenterForAstro, captured this image.

Smithsonian scientists discover two new species of dog faced bats s.si.edu/2EMjVew

Like a raccoon but better. #RebrandASpecies s.si.edu/2KPNOyA

One hundred and ten years ago today, Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox) swept the pentathlon and decathlon at the Olympic Games, the first Native American athlete to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. This stamp is in the collection of our @PostalMuseum. ©USPS; all rights reserved.

You know the name Neil Armstrong, but what about Poppy Northcutt or Hazel Fellows? For #Apollo50, learn about the women who played essential roles in building the Apollo program: s.si.edu/2NYb17d #BecauseOfHerStory

Today is our birthday! The Smithsonian was officially created 175 years ago today, on Aug. 10, 1846. For #Smithsonian175, we're sharing our Smithsonian baby photos. This one from 1850 is the earliest-known photo of the Castle, which was still under construction.

This is Dr. Patricia Cowings, whose research helps astronauts overcome space sickness.   She was the first American woman to receive scientist astronaut training in 1978, and went on to study the psycho-physiological and biological problems astronauts experience in space. #BHM

100 years ago—at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—the fighting of #WorldWarI ended. To honor the fallen, Hartley Edwards played “Taps” on this bugle after the war. It's in our @amhistorymuseum's collection. #Armistice100 #VeteransDay

Fred Rogers, born 90 years ago today, wore a cardigan on every episode of "Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood"—all hand-knit by his mother. His sweater is in our @amhistorymuseum: s.si.edu/2GKEU3H #MisterRogers50

Today we remember "Queen of Rock 'n Roll" Tina Turner. Her powerful vocals and energetic stage presence won her superstar status, from singing on her first popular song in 1960, through her comeback in the 1980s, to her final tour in 2009.📷: @NMAAHC James L. Mitchell Johnson

Monday at 10 a.m. ET, we'll share a live broadcast of the portrait unveiling for President @BarackObama & Mrs. @MichelleObama at our @NPG. A history of the museum's presidential portraits: s.si.edu/2Bl2Cme #ObamaPortraits #myNPG

Meet our newest employee, Pepper the Robot! We're the first museum complex to explore using Pepper, a humanoid robot who can sense when people are close by and engage them in conversation. #SmithsonianPepper

Here it is, your definitive thread of Bei Bei GIFs. Tomorrow our @NationalZoo says #ByeByeBeiBei: s.si.edu/2OYyLqP

Tonight is the first night of #Hanukkah! This Statue of Liberty menorah was made by an immigrant who escaped Nazi Germany and started collecting souvenirs in his new country. Now in @amhistorymuseum: s.si.edu/2h6aOZU

He's from a galaxy far far away but he's still a national treasure s.si.edu/1rXLw0t #MayThe4th

We're not like a regular museum, we’re a cool museum. #October3rd #MeanGirlsDay x.com/i/moments/6503…

Dr. Carter G. Woodson—known as the “Father of Black History"—started the first Negro History Week in 1926 to ensure students would learn Black history. It grew into #BlackHistoryMonth, starting in 1976. This Scurlock Studio Records portrait of Woodson is in our @amhistorymuseum.

In the event of a #GovernmentShutdown, our museums, research centers and the National Zoo will be OPEN through Jan. 1. The Smithsonian can use prior-year funds still available to us to remain open. Smithsonian museums are always closed on Dec. 25.

A story that #MadMen overlooked: Caroline R. Jones, trailblazing adwoman s.si.edu/2l583vy by @amhistorymuseum #BlackHistoryMonth

Have a stellar weekend! 🎆 This image of the "Fireworks Galaxy"—nicknamed because at least 10 supernova explosions have occurred in it since the early 20th century—comes from @chandraxray.

The real-life history of #GalentinesDay, which is only the best day of the year, from our @amhistorymuseum s.si.edu/2ED741L

It's our birthday and we'll increase and diffuse knowledge if we want to! 🎂🎈 The Smithsonian was officially created on Aug. 10, 1846. This Smithsonian baby photo from 1850 is the earliest-known photo of the Castle, still under construction: s.si.edu/2mTzOtN

This is what happens when you lose the #museumsnowballfight. Photo taken in 1922 behind our Castle, from @SmithsonianArch: s.si.edu/2luEPWS

On buses, trains, cars, trucks, airplanes and on foot, people traveled from every state for the #MarchOnWashington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. An estimated 250,000 people participated. This pin was donated to our @amhistorymuseum by Virginia Beets. #ANationsStory

The name for a baby porcupine is a PORCUPETTE. And we have a new one at @NationalZoo who needs a name of his own! We are asking for your help to pick a name for our prehensile-tailed porcupine born in November. ⤵️⤵️⤵️

Today is our birthday! 🎂 This 1860s photo of our first building—the Castle—is in our newest museum, @NMAAHC s.si.edu/2upgwBO

Learn about the artists, and watch @NPG's official unveiling of the #ObamaPortraits starting at 10 a.m. ET Monday, live on Facebook or at npg.si.edu/obama-livestre… #myNPG bit.ly/2EuA4J9

The first person to photograph a single snowflake captured this image s.si.edu/2icuufN #WinterSolstice

Charlotta Bass was the first African American woman to run for vice president, running with Vincent Hallinan on the Progressive Party ticket in 1952. Her slogan: "Win or lose, we win by raising the issues." 📹: conference for the Sojourners of Truth and Justice, in our @NMAAHC

All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 29 at their regularly scheduled times. You can find hours information at si.edu/visit/hours. We look forward to seeing you!

This silky anteater rides on a scientist's arm to a safer perch on Panama's Barro Colorado Island, home to the oldest active research station in the American tropics. #OurSustainablePlanet

Fifty years ago today, the #26thAmendment was ratified, lowering the voting age for U.S. citizens from 21 to 18. Political parties and independent groups campaigned to get young people to register and vote. These 1970s pieces are now in our @amhistorymuseum's collection.

Good news! Our @NationalZoo has welcomed a giant panda cub. Mei Xiang gave birth at 6:35 p.m. and is caring for her newborn attentively. Keepers are watching Mei Xiang’s behavior and listening for loud squeals, which are signs of a healthy cub. #PandaStory

Big #SquirrelAppreciationDay plans this weekend? We got you covered. This Japanese flying squirrel (Pteromys momonga) is a cutie, but doesn't actually fly: s.si.edu/2rl8fO9

Meet the “Feather Lady," Roxie Collie Laybourne. She created forensic ornithology—CSI for birds—which has made air travel safer for us. s.si.edu/2mTOvwZ #NationalBirdDay

We have @POTUS & @FLOTUS here for @NMAAHC's dedication, along with former President George W. Bush. #APeoplesJourney

On Sept. 11, 2001, a couple used paper & pen to reach each other at the Pentagon. They survived, as did this letter: s.si.edu/2ca5iE5

How did women win the right to vote? It's a big story. So big, no single exhibit can tell it. Follow #HerVote100 today to explore three exhibits in Washington, D.C. We'll share stories from @librarycongress @USNatArchives and @smithsoniannpg. #Suffrage100 #BecauseOfHerStory

Ella Fitzgerald was born 100 years ago today.🎶 Sing along as we celebrate the "First Lady of Song" with #Ella100. Portrait on view at @NPG.

With the #IfThenSheCan exhibition, the future of women in STEM is bright. Opening tomorrow, the exhibit features the largest collection of statues of women ever assembled, highlighting STEM innovators. #WomensFuturesMonth si.edu/womensfutures

Unveiling President @BarackObama’s portrait by @kehindewileyart. #myNPG #ObamaPortraits

Today is our birthday! The Smithsonian was officially created on August 10, 1846. Now we're the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, which you can explore at si.edu.

Last night many of our museums were lit in the colors of the women's suffrage movement: purple and gold. This month we mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment's passage and explore the long struggle for voting rights. s.si.edu/3b4ZgE6 #ForwardIntoLight #BecauseOfHerStory

Today is Julia Child's birthday. The kitchen from her Cambridge, Massachusetts, home is in our @amhistorymuseum: s.si.edu/2MpMzcN Bon appétit!

Revealing Mrs. @MichelleObama’s portrait by Amy Sherald #ObamaPortraits #myNPG

As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14. We will provide updates on social media and on our website. s.si.edu/3aRj5gA

For the start of #BlackHistoryMonth, meet historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and learn about the month's origins from our @NMAAHC: bit.ly/2jvMirf #APeoplesJourney

Today in 1969: #Apollo11 launches to the Moon with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Today, right now: Neil Armstrong's spacesuit is back on display at our @airandspace for the first time in 13 years. #Apollo50

Black ballerina Ingrid Silva has used foundation to match her shoes to her skin tone. Silva was born in Brazil and moved to New York to train with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she's now a principal company member. Her shoes are in our @NMAAHC: s.si.edu/2HkEtkV #HHM

We have a new gray seal pup at our @NationalZoo! She appears to be nursing, moving and bonding well with mom. More: s.si.edu/2kt0NYM

Today in 1969: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin take the first steps on the Moon. Armstrong's suit in our @airandspace: s.si.edu/2vmM73Z

Bei Bei it's cold outside. #BeiBeiMixtape

Have you spotted our new cheetah cubs at @NationalZoo? Mom Echo has moved the four cubs (born April 8) back to a den with a webcam: s.si.edu/2AaKpcD #NatZooZen

Researchers believe this is Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser, the fourth African American woman doctor in the U.S. She attended Syracuse University College of Medicine in the years following the end of slavery. This photograph is in our @nmaahc. #RaceAndOurSharedFuture #BecauseOfHerStory

How can you see the unseen? An Earth-sized telescope. From our @saoastro, Sheperd Doeleman leads the @ehtelescope—a network of eight telescopes spanning the globe, creating a new instrument. They all had to point to the black hole at exactly the same time. 🎥: @SmithsonianChan

March 2022 marks the bicentennial of the birth of Harriet Tubman, who died on this day in 1913. This quilted and appliquéd portrait by Bisa Butler, titled “I Go To Prepare a Place For You,” is in our @NMAAHC. s.si.edu/3I0Ezb2 #Tubman200 #BecauseOfHerStory

Newly discovered #AnzuDino is one scary chicken we hope makes an appearance in #JurassicWorld bit.ly/1QrKIAN

This vial contained some of the first known COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the U.S. Our @amhistorymuseum has added it to their collection. How else can the Smithsonian help us understand our current moment? Follow along for more stories on disease and public health.⤵️

Merry Christmas! These mid-20th-century wrapping papers are from our @cooperhewitt's collection. Tear into more: s.si.edu/32k65BD

Walter Iooss, Jr. photographed Olympic athletes in his series "Shooting for the Gold," including "Dara Torres, Swimmer, Los Angeles" (1983) in our @americanart. Torres swam in a record-setting five Olympic Games and won 12 medals. s.si.edu/3Brwudj #BecauseOfHerStory