Smithsonian (magazine)

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."

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."{{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 }}

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.{{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 }} Since that time Debra Rosenberg and Terence Monmaney have been editors.{{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 }}

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.{{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}}

{{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.{{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 }}{{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 }}{{cite web | url=https://nationaltoday.com/smithsonian-day/ | title=Smithsonian Day | date=June 10, 2022 }}

The offer included a free admission for the ticket holder plus one guest and this ticket was specific to the chosen museum only.{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2022/faq/ | title=| 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 }} 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.{{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 }}{{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 }} {{Asof|2025}} the web landing page redirects to the home page of the museum.

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
• Elizabeth Royte

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{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

Category:Webby Award winners